Shinzan would say “do you want decaf coffee or do you want the real thing, it’s up to you”. Joko would say, please remember, I’m not your teacher, your life is your teacher. Sesshin, (Zen Intensive practice) in a way, is like drinking the real thing and learning how to experience life, this very moment, as your teacher.

Winter foreshadows the new year. It's incredible to think we are nearing the end of 2019, let alone a decade. Time swiftly passes ...Our last weekend retreat has come and gone. What an opportunity it was to practice. …

I am a Zen Buddhist monk. I have a shaved head. I wear a lot of black, and I have a habit of talking about how awesome meditation is. Basically, I’m Mr. Miyagi—that’s what the deli guys downstairs from our Zen Center call me, anyway.

To me, some of the best practice lies within service. That’s ironic for me to say because I use to believe that service was for lower rank practitioners. That is false because ultimately there are no ranks. Moreover, being of service has allowed me to deepen my practice in ways I could not have fathomed.