This episode features Dr. Richard Jaffe, a Duke University Religious Studies professor and Buddhist scholar specializing in Zen Buddhism. Professor Jaffe recounts how his journey began in the 1960s when he left college to practice full-time at the San Francisco Zen Center, including three years at a monastic retreat, before earning his PhD in Buddhist studies from Yale.

The conversation explores fundamental Buddhist concepts, including the nature of Zen Buddhism with its emphasis on meditation and paradoxical teachings called koans. Professor Jaffe explains the Buddhist perspective on suffering and "beginner's mind." He also discusses D.T. Suzuki's pivotal role in introducing Zen to Western audiences in the early 20th century. Professor Jaffe shares how the practice of decades of meditation has impacted his life, making him less reactive and more present to the joy found in each moment.