The Stoic Handbook by Jon Brooks

Zen Teacher Henry Shukman on the Balance of Meditation, Introspection, and Healing

Sep 17, 2023

Zen Teacher Henry Shukman discusses the balance between meditation, introspection, and healing. Topics include embracing suffering with love and acceptance, the relationship between healing and awakening, the role of trauma in the awakened state, and the importance of deep acceptance and openheartedness in the healing process.

01:03:21

Episode guests

Henry Shukman

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Quick takeaways

Embracing trauma with love and acceptance leads to healing and a deep sense of wholeness and peace.

The practice of Coens in Zen allows for profound awakening and insights through silence and stillness.

Deep dives

The Relationship Between Healing and Awakening

Healing and awakening are not separate processes. Healing is the journey of becoming whole again, improving what needs improvement, and integrating what has been separated. Awakening, on the other hand, is the realization of the non-dual nature of reality, the recognition that nothing is broken or needs fixing. The key is to embrace trauma with love and acceptance, allowing it to be washed through with love. This acceptance leads to a deep sense of wholeness and peace.

Introduction

5min

The Journey to Becoming a Zen Meditation Teacher

11min

Healing Trauma through Awakening

28min

Coins: Tools for Introspection and Meditation

8min

The Power of Asking 'What is this?' Throughout the Day

2min

Exploring Zen and Eastern Spirituality

9min

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“If we’re in a fully awakened state, trauma’s not a problem. In a sense, it’s not trauma. It just becomes something beloved. It becomes washed through with love and acceptance. That’s the healing.”
— Henry Shukman, HEx Podcast #55

While Western mental health often focuses on eliminating trauma and pain as if they were thorns to be plucked, Eastern philosophies offer a contrasting perspective: embracing suffering through unconditional love and acceptance, thereby neutralizing its negative impact.

The terms "awakening" and "healing" are frequently used interchangeably, though they convey distinct concepts. Healing is the act of mending what is fragmented, optimizing what can be improved, and integrating what has been divided. In contrast, awakening refers to the awareness of reality's non-dual nature, a realization that there is nothing to mend or improve because everything is inherently perfect and whole.

So, should we bypass healing and jump straight to awakening? According to Henry Shukman, our guest for this episode, the answer is more nuanced.

Henry is a seasoned meditation instructor who has harmoniously blended various meditative disciplines with psychotherapy, plant medicine, and other therapeutic practices to create a synergistic path toward wholeness in his own life. From the depths of eczema and despair to profound enlightenment and peace, Henry has navigated a balanced pathway that he shares in this illuminating discussion.

Join us as Henry generously lays down the stepping stones for us to traverse the intricate landscapes of healing and awakening.

What We Explore:

Henry's transformative awakening journey and the subsequent emotional challenges
How awakening alters our relationship with trauma
A powerful solution to combat loneliness
Initiating the journey into non-duality while dealing with trauma
Practical approaches to working with Zen koans
Can ordinary individuals achieve true awakening?
Henry’s top Zen resources and recommendations
Strategies for finding the right spiritual mentors and practices
The viability of making substantial progress via online spiritual training courses

Tune in for an enlightening episode that bridges the gap between healing and awakening, and offers practical guidance for those navigating both realms.

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