269 | Zen Buddhist Wisdom on Love, Self-Awareness & Fulfillment with Peter Coyote

Jan 20, 2025

Peter Coyote, an actor, author, and Zen Buddhist teacher, shares his compelling journey from heroin addiction to Zen enlightenment. He discusses the transformative power of self-awareness and love, revealing how embracing impermanence can lead to fulfillment. Coyote emphasizes interconnectedness and challenges listeners to shift their perceptions of reality. He offers practical meditation techniques, highlighting the importance of dissolving boundaries that separate us and exploring the depth of love in living a meaningful life.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

ANECDOTE

From Addiction to Zen Priest

Peter Coyote transformed from a heroin addict in the 1960s to a Zen Buddhist priest through discipline and meditation.
His journey included therapy, structured practice at San Francisco Zen Center, and eventual ordination and transmission.

INSIGHT

Interconnectedness vs. Separate Self

Everything is interconnected; the idea of the separate self is an incomplete story.
Recognizing this interdependence invites a fuller understanding beyond individual ego and identity.

INSIGHT

Essence of the Eightfold Path

The Buddhist Eightfold Path guides view, speech, action, effort, concentration, and mindfulness.
Regular reflection on these aspects balances the small self with the larger connected reality.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

What does it take to turn a life of addiction and struggle into one of wisdom, compassion, and fulfillment? In this episode, Peter shares his extraordinary journey from the depths of heroin addiction in the 1960s counterculture to finding peace and purpose as a Zen Buddhist priest. Through his story, we explore the profound teachings of interconnectedness, the balance between individuality and the larger universe, and the transformative power of self-awareness. Peter’s raw honesty and profound insights will inspire you to reflect on your own path and the narratives you may be living by.

We also dive deep into the practical side of Zen—meditation techniques that anyone can try, the beauty of embracing impermanence, and how love and compassion can dissolve the boundaries we think separate us. Have you ever wondered if happiness is less about seeking and more about letting go? Or how understanding paradoxes can reveal your true nature? This conversation offers timeless wisdom for anyone seeking clarity, fulfillment, and a deeper connection to life. Don’t miss this heartfelt and eye-opening discussion!

Ways to Connect with Peter Coyote:

https://petercoyote.com/

https://petercoyote.com/zen-in-the-vernacular/

About Peter Coyote:

PETER COYOTE has performed as an actor in over 160 films for theaters and TV. His work includes some of the world’s most distinguished filmmakers, including: Barry Levinson, Roman Polanski, Pedro Almodovar, Steven Spielberg, Martin Ritt, Steven Soderberg, Sidney Pollack and Jean Paul Rappeneau. He is a double Emmy-Award winning narrator of over 150 documentary films, including Ken Burns, National Parks, Prohibition, The West, the Dust Bowl,The Roosevelts , for which he received his second Emmy in 2015. Recently he has done Vietnam, The History of Country Music and a six hour series on Ernest Hemingway for Mr. Burns.

Mr. Coyote’s memoir of the 1960’s counter-culture Sleeping Where I Fall which received universally excellent reviews, and has been in continuous print since 1999. His second book, The Rainman’s Third Cure: An Irregular Education, about mentors and the search for wisdom, was nominated as one of the top five non-fiction books published in California in 2015. Last year he published The Tongue of a Crow, his first book of poems, and The Lone Ranger and Tonto Meet the Buddha, about his workshops with masks and improv exercise to induce altered states. Hie newest book, Zen in the Vernacular will be released in early 2020 by Inner Traditions Press. Mr. Coyote is also an ordained Zen Buddhist priest and “transmitted” teacher, which means that he is free from his teacher’s authority and can ordain his own priests.