In this enigmatic encounter between Dizang and Fayan, we witness the essence of Zen distilled into its purest spirit. Dizang's question, "Where are you going?" is an invitation to a deeper inquiry into the purpose of our actions and the meaning we try to ascribe to life itself.

In our journey towards self-discovery, it is easy to become fixated on extraordinary moments of insight or profound experiences. However, the true essence of Zen lies in embracing this moment with single minded devotion. The koan urges us to see the inherent beauty and perfection in the ordinary, mundane routines of life.

By cultivating a mindfulness and meditation practice, we can learn to seize the day and embrace the infinite possibilities that lie within each passing moment.

It is often tempting to rely on ideologies as filters on how we experience the world and define truth.

If we can simply return to and be present with our activity in this very moment, the ordinary, everyday wonder of our lives shines forth.

Behind the closed door of our judgments is where the magic of our everyday life resides.

There's a parable the Buddha gifted us to relate with suffering more skillfully. Any time we suffer affliction, two arrows are let loose in our direction. To be pierced by the first arrow is painful. To be struck by the second arrow is even more excruciating.

Our daily practice helps us widen our window of tolerance so we can face what is coming up for us openly and without judgment. When we experience this way, our relationship with pain and suffering transforms…

Sometimes we get so fixated on our point of view that we see everything through the lens of our conceptual understanding. There's an old saying that "if you only have a hammer, then everything looks like a nail".