A monk asks for directions. An old woman gives him a simple answer. But as he walks away, she remarks, “This good honest priest goes off that way too.”

What did he miss? What did she see? And why does Jōshū say, “I’ve seen through the old woman for you”?

When we seek too hard, we often overlook what’s right in front of us.

Go straight on.

Before a pilot takes off, they check the wind, the visibility, the conditions as they are—not as they wish them to be. Yet in life, we often rush forward without this same awareness. What happens when we stop resisting and start working with reality as it unfolds? The key to soaring isn’t perfect conditions—it’s skillful navigation.

What happens when we stop grasping for meaning? What remains when we let go of the stories we attach to our suffering? The answers are not found in ideas—but in direct experience. In this new Dharma talk, Sensei Michael Brunner explores Hekiganroku Case 20: Ryūge Asks Suibi and Rinzai.

From the moment we are born, we begin constructing a self—layer by layer, shaped by experiences, fears, and societal expectations. But what happens when we start to see through this illusion?

We don’t chant to summon something outside of us—we chant to awaken what has always been here. The Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo is more than words; it is an invitation to step beyond hesitation and allow compassion to move through us.

To live by vow is to place our attention with intention, to meet suffering directly, and to transform it. But before we can do this, we must recognize what pulls us away.

We often cling to the illusion that we are nothing more than this physical body, bound by time and form. But next time you pass a cemetery, stop for a moment. Look—not because it is bad news, but because it is good news.

The Three Pure Precepts—Cease from Evil, Practice Good, and Practice Good for Others—are not rigid rules but a way of meeting life fully. Our judgments don’t just color reality—they become reality, shaping how we engage with the world.

Mumonkan Case 36 asks: If you meet a woman who has accomplished the Way, how will you greet her? The answer isn’t found in words or silence but in direct experience. When we truly meet what is before us, without hesitation, the gap between self and other disappears.

In Zen practice, compassion is not something we do—it is what we are. When Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, saw the suffering of the world, her head shattered under its weight. In response, she was reborn with a thousand arms, each bearing an eye in its palm. Eyes to see. Hands to act.

How often do we find ourselves wearing different masks—one for work, another for home, yet another for the sangha? These personas may seem harmless, but what happens when we hide parts of ourselves even from our own awareness? In this reflection, we explore the importance of aligning our inner and outer selves, bringing hidden aspects into the light of conscious awareness, and living with authenticity.

In this reflection, Sensei Michael Brunner shares how facing resistance—whether it’s the pull of the covers or the deeper habits of aversion—becomes the gateway to transformation. Learn how stepping into discomfort, both on and off the cushion, reveals the resources already within us to meet life with courage and clarity.

What is “Mu,” and why does it matter? In this reflection, we explore Joshu’s famous koan from the Mumonkan: “Does a dog have the Buddha nature?” Joshu’s simple response—“Mu”—is more than a word; it’s an invitation to go beyond our habitual thoughts and labels. How do we free ourselves from the fences we build with judgments and fears? How do we rediscover the vast openness of life?

“What about when sweeping out the dust, you see the Buddha?” Sensei Michael Brunner explores this timeless question from the 68th case of the Book of Serenity. Is the Buddha a concept to hold onto, or something far beyond? Through the interplay of Kasan and Sekisō’s responses, we explore the balance between practice and realization, relative and absolute, and the meeting point where life truly manifests.

When life feels like an endless cycle of appearances and disappearances, how do we find stability? In this teisho, we explore the subtle shift from concepts to direct experience, uncovering the boundless clarity that lies beyond the small self.

When the cold strips away our judgments, what remains is our true nature—compassionate, resilient, and ready to shine. Discover how embracing the essence of each moment transforms not just ourselves, but the world around us.

Zen practice isn’t a shield to protect us from life’s challenges—it’s an invitation to meet them fully. In this talk, we explore the timeless question, “Why am I here?” through the lens of Joshu’s koan, “The oak tree in the garden.”

Discover how letting go of the “why” and immersing yourself in what’s right in front of you can transform life’s struggles into nourishment—not just for yourself, but for everyone around you.

What do a Zen master and a philosopher of language have in common? Joshu’s razor-sharp koans and Wittgenstein’s probing questions both point us beyond the limits of knowing. In this post, explore how their insights invite us to step out of conceptual thinking and into the boundless freedom of direct experience. Can we throw away our need to know and truly join the dance of life?

Discover the magic wand you already possess—the power of awareness. Learn how to transform suffering, bring comfort, and manifest wisdom in this inspiring reflection on mindful living!

Discover how examining the stories we retreat into can transform our practice into a seamless harmony of realization and everyday life. Explore the path to balance, courage, and equanimity in this inspiring reflection.

Sensei Michael Brunner reminds us that life demands action—whether it’s the work of bearing witness or the discipline of training. Standing still is not an option. Dive into this Early Morning Light reflection and discover the call to saddle up and ride!

When we’re stuck in a mindset of scarcity, life moves too fast. There’s never enough time, and we feel like we’re drowning in the current. But when we step into the gap, time transforms. It slows down, opens up, and reveals its true nature. Suddenly, we have all the time we need—not to accomplish everything on some endless list, but to be fully present with what’s here.

Our mistakes are not deviations from the path; they are the path. In reflecting on his own misstep—an affair that caused immense pain—Sensei Michael shares how the process of facing it openly, guided by deep practice and the support of his teacher Roshi Diane Martin, brought profound transformation. Mistakes, when worked with instead of avoided, become Dharma gates, leading to growth and awakening.

To live this way, we have to do something that might seem counterintuitive: walk toward the things that challenge us. Look for those moments when you want to recoil, to retreat and regather your forces. Instead of retreating, step forward. Meet the challenge. Absorb it. Let it teach you. When you stop seeing it as outside, you’ll realize that you have all the resources of the vast universe at your disposal to transform that challenge into wisdom.

In this talk, Sensei Michael explores how clinging to the small self—its judgments, labels, and stories—keeps us trapped in cycles of attachment and delusion. Drawing from Dōgen's teaching, “To study the self is to forget the self,” this reflection offers a path to clarity and freedom.