Dharma, Art, Inspiration Michael Herzog Dharma, Art, Inspiration Michael Herzog

A Thousand Selves

One cold midwinter day, I went through my old notebooks—my collections of creative ideas, sketches, and scribbles. As I turned the pages, I was struck by the sheer volume of thoughts, half-formed concepts, and expressions.

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Zen Life, Dharma Michael Herzog Zen Life, Dharma Michael Herzog

The Sound of the Bell

Each time I struck the bell, for an instant, there was a contact of form meeting form. The striker meets the metal, a precise point in time, already gone the moment it happens. The sound arises, full and clear, filling the space. But even as we hear it, it is vanishing.

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Dharma, Zen Life Michael Herzog Dharma, Zen Life Michael Herzog

A New Year Rooted in Practice

The New Year opened gently during the first weekend as our sangha gathered for a three-day online meditation retreat. Together, we sat in the silence of shared presence, each turning inward while remaining connected through the digital thread of the virtual zendo.

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Dharma, Zen Life Michael Herzog Dharma, Zen Life Michael Herzog

Winter Solstice

The winter solstice arrived last Saturday, the longest night and the shortest day, marking the year’s quiet turning point. For me, it is not a time to dwell on what has been or might come but an invitation to rest in the turning itself—a subtle shift that is always happening.

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Dharma Michael Herzog Dharma Michael Herzog

Paring Down

In winter, the Temple garden pares itself down to its essence. The trees shed their leaves, leaving only bare, graceful forms against the sky —stark, quiet, and profoundly beautiful. The open spaces of winter are invitations to rest, reflect, and discover what is truly essential.

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Dharma, Art Michael Herzog Dharma, Art Michael Herzog

Perfection

The great Zen masters taught that everything has inherent perfection. So, despite how it may sound, my art is perfect from the moment I begin.

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Zen Life, Dharma Michael Herzog Zen Life, Dharma Michael Herzog

A Hermitage

Over the past week, I've been reflecting on a recent three-week Zen retreat. Now, alone in the Temple, I still feel the presence of those who practiced with such devotion. But, like the faint decay of a meditation bell, the feeling is fading.

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