There is no magic formula to living a genuine spiritual life. No adequate map that charts the exact terrain–we each walk into the mystery of our lives–blind, unable to see the future that will unfold.

We don’t know what we will encounter when we turn our attention inward during meditation (especially long periods of meditation like retreat). We don’t know what is waiting in the unconscious to rise up into awareness–what parts of ourselves, our family karma or the world’s–that is looking to be healed and integrated in our growing heart.

Zen teachings are radical. They go to the root of our suffering and offer the deepest freedom imaginable. There is something so utterly honest and true about them. They speak to our deepest heart’s longing for awakening. They speak to the freedom and joy we intimate as our true nature.

The teachings of Zazen offer an inconceivable freedom. This is the first of a five part video series exploring the Five Radical Practices of Zazen. The first is the Dharma Gate of Joyful Ease.

Allowing joy and ease in our lives can be radical, even on a basic biological level. Zen empowers us to recognize the ease and joy that are inherent in awareness itself. It also empowers us to open our awareness and notice the joy and ease that may be present, even in the midst of depression or chronic pain.

In this series Kisei will explore the Five Radical Practices of Zazen.

The dharma gate of joyful ease

Befriending ourselves

Reclaiming wonderment

Taking the backward step: recognizing spaciousness

Turning the light to shine within: recognizing luminosity

Emptiness is one of the core teachings of Mahayana and Zen Buddhism. I have found that within Zen communities emptiness is often misunderstood. Because emptiness is misunderstood it can also be avoided.

We can come to practice looking for relief, ease, calm and/or stability in our lives and find that meditation helps with that–without realizing that there is more to the path. Genuine insight into emptiness can help us know a freedom beyond conditions, the inherent rightness in being itself!

Hidden Lamp Case 9: Seven Wise Sisters Awaken in the Charnel Grounds. In this talk, we explore the Koan Case from the Hidden Lamp. I appreciate the tradition of writing a pointer, poem and commentary to the case koans, and take up the opportunity to do so with one of the koans from the new collection of teachings by women ancestors.

The three poisons: greed, hatred and delusion, obscure our access to clear-seeing and functioning from love. And yet, these poisons are part of human life. In this post I explore three ways from the Buddhist tradition to meet, embrace and find freedom within these poisons: they are replace, transmute and non-abide. Read more to discover these practices for yourself.

Hongzhi says, alertly seeing through confusion is the way of silent illumination

Alertly seeing through confusion.

What does this mean for you? How do you do it…

First–how do you recognize confusion? And what practices help you come back to present moment experience, to a moment of thought-free awareness, to the silence, spaciousness, stillness and brightness of this!