Category: Daily Success Habits
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zen: the authentic gate
We cannot attain genuine enlightenment unless we practice under an authentic teacher; we will be led to a spurious experience if we practice under a false teacher. ― Kōun Yamada, Zen: The Authentic Gate When I started my practice I received a very specific imprint, a very specific instruction on working with a teacher.…
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The practice of veneration
In the closing line of his poem “Sandstone Keepsake,” the Irish poet and Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney describes himself as “one of the venerators.” That line is striking, not only because the verb venerate has largely disappeared from everyday discourse but also because the spirit of veneration itself, like water in certain parts of the…
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this perfect way
Here we are, in the midst of this perfect way, and our practice is to realize it. — Maezumi Roshi Chapin Mill Retreat October 9-12, 2025 Register here Every year around this time, the people who practice with me come together at Chapin Mill Retreat Center in Batavia, NY. There are many reasons we keep…
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survival training
It started, as most things do, with me. I was the one who needed encouragement. After that impossible November day, it no longer mattered what I believed. It sure as hell wasn’t true. And then the fires from nowhere swept our homes. Everywhere, disasters exploded. Before long, we were broken by sickness, stress, and the…
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Life is Suffering (Dharma Talk)
In this Dharma talk, I discuss Buddhism’s first noble truth, “Life is Suffering.” At first, this teaching may seem morbid and nihilistic. However, when we look deeper, we find that the first noble truth serves to change our perspective; giving us an “enlightened pessimism” that protects us from suffering. If you enjoyed this Dharma talk,…
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Society is a Shared Hallucination (Dharma Talk)
In this Dharma talk, I discuss a teaching from Vasubandhu’s “Treatise on the Three Natures”. I use his description of reality to explain how societies are created, and the circumstances under which we should opt-out of societal norms. …
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Celebrating A Buddhist Thanksgiving (Dharma Talk)
In this Dharma talk, I read a passage from the Ornament of Realization Sutra and discuss how it relates to Thanksgiving. In the end, I show how traditional Thanksgiving practices like sharing food and spending time with family help us cultivate the wholesome Dharmas of generosity and gratitude. If you enjoyed this Dharma talk, you’ll…
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Decent ordinary life
If you follow the national and international news, you may be forgiven for concluding that current political, economic, and military developments are the most important things in this turning world. Next to them, the ordinary activities of daily life may seem slight, undramatic, and banal. But two paintings, both of them focused on everyday life,…
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Only Two Things Matter in Life (Dharma Talk)
I explore the age-old question, “How Should I Spend My Time?” and discuss the two most important items on everyone’s to-do list. …
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Will You Choose Enlightenment (Dharma Talk)
In this Dharma talk, I discuss Bodhi Day celebrations and the story of Buddha’s enlightenment. More specifically, I discuss the primary lesson we should take from his journey to liberation, and how it can influence our own practice. …