Mountain Cloud Zen Podcasts Dharma Talk: “The World and Us” with Henry Shukman
Jul 8, 2025
Join Henry Shukman, a Zen teacher and guiding figure at Mountain Cloud Zen Center, as he delves into our interconnectedness with the world through the lens of koans and poetry. He discusses the essence of Zen practice focusing on stillness, confronting discomfort, and the journey towards awakening. Shukman also contrasts various cultural perspectives on existence, urging listeners to confront emotional obstacles like greed and hate. His reflections are beautifully complemented by a poignant poem about rain, encouraging deep introspection.
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Purpose Of Zen Practice
- Zen practice aims to cultivate the wish that all beings be well until it suffuses our being.
- Practice trains us to enact that wish despite evolutionary wiring that resists it.
The Water Jug Koan
- A teacher asks a student, "What is awakening?" and answers, "Pass me the water jug."
- The student passes the jug twice and reports understanding nothing, ending the exchange.
Koans As Living Rock
- A koan is described as a chip off the living rock of reality that reveals truth if examined deeply.
- Looking at a koan long enough can lead you to discover who you've been all along.
