Who are you beyond identity, beyond the stories you tell yourself? In this episode, Sensei Michael Brunner explores Shōyōroku Case 38, where Rinzai speaks of the true person of no rank—the one who moves freely, unbound by self-construction. But when a monk asks about this person, Rinzai grabs him, forcing the moment to be seen directly. We construct our identities to navigate pain, fear, and expectation, but what happens when those layers fall away? What happens when we stop defending an illusion? Join us as we explore: 🔹 How we construct the self in response to suffering 🔹 The illusion of identity and the karmic bind that keeps it intact 🔹 Rinzai’s radical teaching on breaking free from conceptual selfhood 🔹 Why true awakening is not something to attain, but something to embody This is not just a talk—it is a direct invitation to meet the true person of no rank and to step into the freedom that has always been here. 🔔 Subscribe for more Dharma talks & Zen teachings! 📖 Explore upcoming classes & retreats: oneriverzen.org
In this episode, Sensei Michael Brunner explores Shōyōroku Case 38, where Rinzai challenges us to see the true person of no rank—the one who moves freely, unbound by illusion.
We spend our lives constructing a self, reinforcing it with experiences, roles, and beliefs. But what happens when that self collapses? What remains when there’s nothing left to defend?
🔹 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
This talk is a confrontation with the illusion of self and an invitation to step into the freedom that has always been here.