Episode Description: As the winter solstice descends, Henry Shukman explores Unmon’s Single Treasure, Case 62 of the Blue Cliff Record. This puzzling koan helps us turn our habitual views upside down. Roshi Henry describes the great invitation of Zen which is to abandon our cherished opinions and find the single jewel that makes the “one true fact” apparent. Henry talks about Christmas, the death penalty and his encounter with a Navy Seal in this elucidation of Unmon’s Single Jewel.

Image Credit: Frozen by Noah, CC BY 2.0

Featured Image Credit: Tree of Truth, by Hartwig HKD, CC BY-ND 2.0.

Episode Description: Continuing with the Blue Cliff Record, this talk explores Case 75, Ukyu’s Blind Stick. Find out what happens when Ukyu wields his stick. Roshi Henry discusses the background of this intriguing koan and ponders the nature of emptiness. We learn about the five types of Zen blindness and that all beings are blessed because there is no separation.

Image Credit: IMG_4768 via photopin CC BY-SA 2.0

Featured Image Credit: Zen-Mind, by Hartwig HKD, CC BY-ND 2.0.

Episode Description: Roshi Henry presents a case from the Book of Equanimity in which Master Hyakujo’s “turning word” about the law of causation releases an old man into authentic freedom. Hear a magical story about how a man receives healing, love and timeless understanding from a gentle whale. Using personal disclosure and koan explication, Henry […]