In this episode, Sensei Sōen Michael Brunner explores Case 33 of the Shōyōroku, Sanshō’s Golden Carp, and the subtle dynamics of spiritual pride, performance, and silence. What do we really want when we speak? Connection—or control? What happens when we start practicing for applause? And what does it mean to practice without needing to be seen, affirmed, or even understood? With clarity and warmth, Sensei invites us to see through the traps of identity and accomplishment, and return to what’s real: the grit of this very moment, where nothing needs proving and the heart can finally rest. Let the dust settle. Then, true practice begins.