Earth Dreams: Zen Buddhism and the Soul of the World

In this talk we explore illumination as an aspect of our awakened nature, sometimes experienced as clarity, brightness, lucidity, alertness. We also look at what happens when illumination is overly emphasized in our spiritual practice and our culture. We are following the teachings of Zen Master Hongzhi from his poem on Silent Illumination, in this stanza he reminds us:If illumination neglects serenity, then aggressiveness appears. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amykisei.substack.com/subscribe

We all have had experiences of being in the flow of life. What is this flow? How do we find it? What do learn from the times that we feel obstructed, and what do we learn from being in the flow?Inspired by Zen Master Hongzhi's poem Silent Illumination, this talk explores the flow of the natural world as well as the research on flow & the flow-state by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amykisei.substack.com/subscribe

Inspired by the lines from Dogen Zenji's Being-Time: For the time-being stand on top of the highest peak.For the time-being proceed along the bottom of the deepest ocean. An exploration of the interplay of highs and lows, bright times and darkness. What is the wisdom of the night, and how can we open up to it? How do we practice un-knowing? How do we befriend the dark? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amykisei.substack.com/subscribe

In this Dharma Talk the theme of completion is taken up, from the Zen and Non-dual perspective. How is this moment, this breath, this body, already + always complete?As we enter the New Year our attention can be drawn towards what we need to improve, change, fix, make better.In this talk, we are invited to step back from the inner critic and see the abundant fullness of our lives!What is working well? What do you want to celebrate? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amykisei.substack.com/subscribe