In this episode, recorded during the closing of a September 2024 sesshin at One River Zen, Sensei Michael reflects on the bittersweet nature of ending deep practice. While sesshin may come to a close, the insights gained remain available—it's just a matter of shifting our gaze. Sensei explores Shōyōroku Case 32, "Kyōzan’s State of Mind," as a guide for stepping beyond the seductive stories we create about ourselves. He emphasizes Kyōzan's instruction to observe directly, without clinging to our constructed identities. Through the lens of both Zen and Carl Jung’s Red Book, Sensei Michael encourages listeners to let go of fixed ideas about who they should be. He draws on Jung’s metaphor of growing like a tree—naturally, without a gaining idea—pointing to the importance of embracing life as it is in each moment. The talk is a call to leave behind self-imposed narratives and embrace the true, boundless nature of being. The episode concludes with a powerful reminder: while insights can’t be unseen, their impact can fade if we don’t continue practicing diligently. The journey of awakening requires ongoing effort, as the weeds of delusion are always ready to grow back.
In this episode, Sensei Michael shares reflections from the closing of a September 2024 sesshin at One River Zen. As the retreat draws to a close, he explores the powerful insights that arise when we step out of the stories we've created about ourselves and engage with the present moment. Drawing from Shōyōroku Case 32, "Kyōzan’s State of Mind," Sensei Michael invites us to observe our thoughts and experience life directly, without being swept away by mental constructs.
The episode also weaves in the teachings of Carl Jung from his Red Book, emphasizing the importance of letting go of fixed ideas and embracing the natural growth of our true selves. Just as Jung encourages growth without knowing the law of it, Sensei Michael reminds us that our practice is about meeting life as it is—not as we think it should be.
Join us as we explore how to shift beyond intellectual understanding and step into the boundless nature of being. Remember, once you’ve seen your true nature, you can’t unsee it—but continued practice is essential, as the weeds of delusion can quickly grow back.
Key Points:
Takeaway: Let go of who you think you should be, and find your life where it is, right here and now. But don’t stop practicing—true insight requires ongoing effort.
Tune in and reflect with us at oneriverzen.org!