“How can I arouse the spirit of reconciliation and harmony right now?”In this recent dharma talk, Koshin Sensei invites us to reflect on what it means to truly grow up and live with wisdom. Quoting Uchiyama Roshi, the author of this summer Commit to Sit's (https://www.zencare.org/commit-to-sit-summer-2025) guiding text, he reminds us that while we may look like adults, our hearts and our behavior often remain immature.Koshin also reflects on how, even in times of conflict and pain, we can choose harmony over division. After speaking with sangha members in Israel and Iran, both asking how not to create enemies, he encourages us to pause and ask ourselves: “How can I arouse the spirit of reconciliation and harmony right now?”May we have the courage to turn inward and live with greater peace.

When illness and loss touch our community, how can we transform uncertainty into deeper practice?In this recent dharma talk, Koshin Sensei explores how life's fragility can awaken rather than paralyze us. Drawing from Shakyamuni Buddha's third awareness, he reveals how we trap ourselves in narrow self-concepts and offers practice as the antidote.“Let the forms of the practice dismantle your self-image,” he guides, echoing Uchiyama Roshi's wisdom to “let go of the small self to realize the vastness of life itself.”Discover how to break free from the stories that keep you limited and step into true spaciousness.

“What would it be like to realize that you're not missing anything, that the brightness is not somewhere else and it's not someone else.”We share one final excerpt from last winter's Commit to Sit as the next 90-day summer practice period (https://www.zencare.org/commit-to-sit-summer-2025) starts this Wednesday!In this talk, Koshin Sensei captures the essence of Zen practice through the lens of lineage and transmission. Speaking on the 90th day, he weaves together ancient wisdom stories with intimate personal reflections from his time training in Japan earlier this year.The talk centers on a profound paradox: how “setting down the small self” actually leads to greater intimacy and connection. Through stories of Buddha's flower-twirling at Vulture Peak and Bodhidharma's encounter with Emperor Wu, Koshin Sensei illustrates how genuine spiritual transmission happens not through concepts or credentials, but through complete presence and receptivity.He transforms lofty spiritual concepts into immediate, practical questions: How do we really receive what life offers us? Are we dividing up the world into what we like and don't like? Can we see the light that's already emanating “through every pore”?Koshin insists that awakening isn't somewhere else or for someone else—it's the “vivid alertness” available right now, in this moment, through whatever role we're given, whatever circumstances we face. This is Zen practice at its most immediate and heartfelt: not escape from the world, but complete engagement with it through the ancient practice of “turning the light inward” to illuminate what we've been missing all along.

“It’s one of the challenges of our school: to be prepared, and then to drop it.”What can a 13th-century Zen master teach us about the courage needed to challenge institutional barriers?This week, we continue to share excerpts from our winter Commit to Sit (http://zencare.org/commit-to-sit-summer-2025), with a talk from our dear dharma friend, Konjin Godwin, the abbot of the Houston Zen Center and Director of the International Division of Soto Zen.Konjin offers an intimate and accessible exploration of one of Zen's most influential figures, Eihei Dogen; revealing him not as a remote historical figure but as a “mild and peaceful” yet boldly revolutionary teacher whose thunder still roars today. Her talk illuminates Dogen's famous awakening moment in China when he heard his teacher say “studying Zen is the dropping off of body and mind,” leading to his profound realization.Particularly compelling is Konjin's focus on Dogen's radical stance on women's spiritual equality—extraordinary for medieval Japan. Through carefully selected quotes from Dogen's writings, we see a teacher who directly challenged the male-dominated Buddhist establishment, calling those who refused to learn from accomplished female teachers “close to beasts and far from Buddhism.”Her talk also explores the tension between solitary awakening and awakening within sangha (community), emphasizing how our practice is enriched by studying and honoring our ancestral lineage, not as dusty relics but as living teachings that continue to guide and challenge us.P.S. Connect with Konjin: If you enjoy the talk, Konjin will be one of the returning guest teachers for our Summer Commit to Sit (http://zencare.org/commit-to-sit-summer-2025) (starting June 18th).

“My storehouse having burnt down, nothing obscures the view of the bright moon. All of our previous conceptions, our preferences, our ideas, our understandings of the way the world works have to go up in flames.”What happens when 40 years of perfect dedication still isn't enough?In this excerpt from her captivating talk at our Winter's Commit to Sit (http://zencare.org/commit-to-sit-summer-2025), Jisho Sara Siebert, of Zen Fields in Ames, Iowa, tells the remarkable story of Ananda—the Buddha's personal attendant who had a photographic memory, knew every teaching by heart, and served with unwavering devotion for four decades. Yet despite all his knowledge and service, something was still missing.Through Ananda's ancient story and her own experiences living in war-torn countries and practicing at historic temples in Japan, Jisho explores profound questions we all face: Why isn't intellectual understanding enough? What does it really mean to “let go”? And how do we move from simply repeating what we've learned to truly understanding it?This isn't just a Buddhist teaching—it's a universal story about the difference between knowing about something and actually experiencing it. Whether you're interested in personal growth, spiritual development, or simply love hearing transformative stories from across cultures and centuries, you'll find wisdom and inspiration in this accessible exploration of this profound moment of awakening.Jisho's warm, personal storytelling brings ancient wisdom into our modern lives, showing how an attendant's moment of clarity 2,500 years ago can illuminate our own journey toward understanding and peace.P.S. Connect with Jisho: If you enjoy the talk, Jisho will be one of the guest teachers for our Summer Commit to Sit (http://zencare.org/commit-to-sit-summer-2025) (starting June 18th) and will also be offering her own Zen Study course through NYZC in the fall (more info & registration will be available soon).

What’s the difference between empathy and compassion—and why does it matter so deeply for those in caregiving professions?

Each of us is carrying so much—lugging around feelings and stories of deficiency, blame, or unworthiness. How can what we carry no longer separate us, but instead become the very ground of connection?In this poignant dharma talk, Koshin Sensei reflects on the life of Jianzhi Sengcan, the 30th ancestor after Shakyamuni Buddha, who bore the visible burden of leprosy and the invisible weight of shame. At age 40, he approached his teacher Huike and pleaded, “Cleanse me of my wrongdoing.” What followed was an intimate encounter of great healing—and the heart of Zen practice.Koshin invites us to pause and ask: What is the story I’ve been living in? What am I still carrying that keeps me from being truly present? He reminds us that it is not enough to simply be aware of our suffering. Liberation comes when we learn to put down our story and take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha—not as abstract ideals, but as living, breathing relationships that can hold us in the midst of struggle.

In this powerful and poignant talk from the midst of our Commit to Sit practice period, Koshin Sensei explores the teachings of Punyamitra, the 26th ancestor in the Zen lineage. As a crown prince seeking home-leaving, Punyamitra is asked by his teacher: “What must you do?” His answer—“I must do Buddha’s work”—echoes through the centuries as a timeless call to presence, compassion, and responsibility. Koshin challenges us to examine what ordinary habits we are willing to set down and how we might take up the work of awakening with more precision, more kindness, and more courage. With personal stories, humor, and deep reverence for the lineage, this talk offers an invitation to return to this moment—and to discover what is possible when we let go of our tightly held stories.

Spanish philosopher, José Ortega y Gasset once remarked: “Tell me what you pay attention to and I will tell you who you are.”A capacity to pay attention grows as we continually practice being receptive to what is happening within and around us. How do you pay attention to life? What holds you back from fully receiving reality as it is?In this recent dharma talk, Koshin Sensei emphasizes the important of attention and the way of awakening.Too often, he says, we indulge the thoughts, fantasies, excuses of our small minds instead of being receptive to what is directly available to us.This overindulgence keeps us from actually changing and truly experiencing freedom. Maturity means taking responsibility for how we are participating in life.We can learn from our Soto Zen ancestors how to live an expansive life, not a little one; how to ask big questions and practice unbounded receptivity to this vibrating, excruciating, beautiful, ordinary, and wild life. 

‍In this recent dharma talk from our winter silent retreat, Koshin Sensei offers teachings on the eve of the Hossenshiki ceremony, a rare occasion in which a teacher entrusts their head student, the Shuso, to give a dharma talk before the sangha.‍This tradition, known as Honsaku Gyocha, reflects the deep process of training, trust, and surrender at the heart of Zen practice.‍The talk focuses on Case #2 from The Book of Serenity—Bodhidharma’s famous exchange with Emperor Wu:‍"What is the highest meaning of the holy truths?""Empty—there is no holy.""Who are you facing me?""Don’t know."‍This powerful koan is often seen as what makes Zen, Zen, revealing why we sit zazen facing the wall and the radical nature of Bodhidharma’s teaching. Koshin Sensei reflects on recognition and humility, the tension between wanting acknowledgment and letting go, and the lifelong practice of meeting the moment as it is—without clinging to status or certainty.‍How do we learn to trust what is already here? How do we let go of how we wish things were and meet life with dignity, care, and compassion? With warmth, humor, and deep encouragement, Koshin reminds us that Zen practice is about showing up—imperfect, caring, lively, and human.‍Listen now to explore what it means to embrace the unknown and walk the path of practice with an open heart.‍‍MUSICHeart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji – Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.‍NYZC PUBLICATIONS* Untangled here: https://bit.ly/untangled-book* Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up here: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t* Awake At The Bedside here: https://amzn.to/3aijXdL‍CONNECT WITH US—Instagram—Facebook—X (Twitter)—Donate‍

What does it really take to build a lasting, loving relationship? In this special episode from the 10% Happier Podcast (https://www.meditatehappier.com/podcast), Koshin Sensei and Chodo Sensei join Dan Harris and his wife, Bianca, for a candid conversation about marriage, connection, and the deep work of being in relationship.Together, they explore:* How early childhood experiences shape the way we relate to our partners* The importance of understanding each other’s “operating manuals” and co-creating a shared path forward* The role of humor—when it helps and when it hurts* Why doing your own inner work outside of the relationship is essential* How learning to be uncomfortable—together—can strengthen intimacyRooted in wisdom, honesty, and humor, this conversation offers insight into the realities of partnership and how we can show up with more awareness, compassion, and presence.  MUSIC Heart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji – Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto. * NYZC PUBLICATIONSUntangled here: https://bit.ly/untangled-book* Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up here: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t* Awake At The Bedside here: https://amzn.to/3aijXdLCONNECT WITH US—Instagram—Facebook—X (Twitter)—DonateThe post Unearthing Beauty | Chodo Campbell (https://zencare.org/unearthing-beauty-chodo-campbell/) appeared first on New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care (https://zencare.org/).

“…when you practice and practice in this way and there is agreement between thoughts and words, it will truly be like intimate friends meeting, or self nodding to self. ” – Keizan Zenji     Even in the darkest of days, a faint light may be shimmering in the distance. Sometimes the dharma emerges as […]

“Completing the ordinary things we do every day, one by one, with all of our heart—this is enlightenment itself.”     At the end of January, 120 members of the NYZC sangha gathered for a five-day retreat, together cultivating an ever-deepening sense of community practice, responsiveness, and connection.   This remarkable sesshin concluded with a […]

“How do we trust what is actually fresh and coming from a soft, unknowing place? This is the whole reason to practice.” – Koshin Sensei    Each moment is an opportunity to notice from where our thoughts, feelings, and actions come. Do we live out of our discursive mind and entrenched reactions, or are we […]

“This sangha, here and on Zoom, represents 88 generations of practitioners—how incredible to be part of this living lineage.”   Our upcoming Commit to Sit is starting this week and so we share one final dharma talk from last summer’s Commit to Sit with you.   In this moving talk, Chodo Sensei weaves personal stories with […]

“The world will always need compassion and wisdom. In our lifetime and after our lifetime.” – Koshin   The interconnectedness of everything is not an idea or a belief. No separation is a truth to experience. How can we allow the thorough, inherent relatedness of all things to inform how we think, feel, and act […]

“Taking refuge in sangha is taking refuge in diversity—diversity inside and diversity in the world.”   We share this profound and tender opening dharma talk from our recent Summer Commit to Sit in honor of our upcoming Commit to Sit starting January 22nd.   In it, Koshin Sensei opens the 90-day practice period by weaving timeless teachings […]

“There is not a moment when you can’t practice.” – Koshin The busyness of life often pulls us away from presence. In this powerful dharma talk, Koshin Sensei invites us to pause, to soften, and to return to the stillpoint at the heart of movement.Opening with a moving ritual of gratitude for his teacher, Koshin continues his reflections on Keizan Jokin Zenji’s Zazen-Yojinki. He reads: “Do nothing at all. The six senses produce nothing.” Through this lens, we explore how zazen can help us stop habitually following the sights, sounds, and sensations that shape our self-made world.What opens when we stop grasping for identity or perfection? Keizan Zenji writes: “Trying to think of it, the thought vanishes. Trying to speak of it, words die.” In this talk, we are reminded that true aspiration is not about achieving something, but about allowing boundlessness to arise.Drawing on the mythic figure of Baba Yaga, Koshin invites us to show up fully and foolishly—to live in truth rather than fear, and to meet life as it is, not as we wish it to be. This is the heart of our practice: setting down the demand for perfection, and opening to the spaciousness available in every moment.‍ ZENTALK NOTES Koshin Paley Ellison Sensei is a Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, leader in contemplative care, and co-founder of an educational non-profit called the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. His books, grounded in Buddhist wisdom and practice, have gained national attention. Through its numerous educational programs, contemplative retreats, and Soto Zen Buddhist practices, the New York Zen Center touches thousands of lives every year.  MUSICHeart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji – Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto. NYZC PUBLICATIONS* Untangled: https://bit.ly/untangled-book* Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t* Awake At The Bedside: https://amzn.to/3aijXdLCONNECT WITH US—Instagram—Facebook—X (Twitter)—DonateThe post Boundlessness Not Perfection | Koshin Paley Ellison (https://zencare.org/boundlessness-not-perfection-koshin-paley-ellison/) appeared first on New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care (https://zencare.org).

“What do you need to set aside?”   How often do we get stuck on ‘rightness’ and ‘wrongness’?  These judgements separate us from actually experiencing our lives moment by moment. Keizan Jokin invites us to free ourselves from such considerations and rest comfortably in our true nature for the sake of all beings. In this […]

“Zazen is an attitude for how you live.”   For many of us, showing others who we really are is rare. But why? What causes and conditions; stories and identities do you drape around yourself? Keizan Jokin says that the practice of sitting zazen is like coming home. How can we set down what is […]