Mountain Mind, Endless Way - Kisei Costenbader, Sensei

In this talk, Kisei reflects on the rare gift of meeting in practice and the simple, yet profound, invitation of the Buddha: “try it out for yourself.” From the experience of sesshin and mountain practice, to Dogen’s teaching that enlightened and deluded beings share the same boat, we are reminded of the stillness and stability always present within us. Through the story of the Zen ancestor Fa Chung, who devoted thirty years to practice in the mountains, we explore what it means to have faith, to make vows, and to let the way be endless. This is a call to trust in the continuity of practice—moment by moment, year by year, and even for the next thirty years.
This talk was given during Sunday Program at the end of 2025 Grasses and Trees Sesshin on August 17.