Zen Practice

In the embrace of early spring, nestled within the tranquil walls of Boundless Way Zen Temple, I had the privilege of teaching at a Sesshin (Zen retreat).

The retreat was a meeting of silent introspection and profound Zen teachings, an exploration into the interplay between silence and speech, stillness and movement, teaching and learning.

As a teacher at this retreat, I navigated the subtle balance between offering words and embracing silence. Teaching is like a dance with the inexpressible: guiding without leading and speaking without talking. We, as teachers, strive to illuminate the path not through informational instruction but through demonstration of our true nature.

Zen practice is an invitation to experience life beyond the confines of the intellect. It encourages a leap into the unknown, a surrender to the moment that can be frightening and exhilarating.

This retreat underscored the paradoxical nature of Zen teachings, where profound insights often come wrapped in the mystery of a koan —Zen teaching stories with questions or statements that defy logical understanding yet stir the depths of our being.

Being a teacher in such a setting means walking a tightrope between saying enough to provoke thought and saying too much, which might stifle discovery.

The essence of Zen cannot be captured in words or teachings. It must be lived, felt, and experienced in the fullness of your life. As we journeyed through this three-day sesshin, the boundaries between teacher and student often blurred, and we were all learners in the vast school of life.

As an artist and Zen teacher, this retreat reaffirmed my faith in the transformative power of my practice to guide me on a deep, personal journey into the heart of my life.

- Sokei