Even without thinking, we are already living at 100%. We breathe, see, hear, feel, and respond. Life is not something managed or carried out by the head— it is the natural activity of life itself, arising before thought. To attune ourselves to that living movement—this is the way of zazen (sitting Zen). We are always in action. The eyes receive light, the ears receive sound, the nose smells, the tongue tastes, the skin touches, and thoughts arise . From morning to night, and

Human beings are social creatures, shaped continuously by our relationships, environments, and experiences. Because of this, we all carry multiple identities—roles, expectations, norms, beliefs, and values—that naturally shift according to context and situation. Who we are at work may differ from who we are with our family, our partner, our community, or when we are alone. This ongoing change is part of our human nature. Like all living beings, we adapt to our surroundings in

The Aspiration to Know Your True Self — Returning to Your Original Nature Beyond Concepts From time to time, we may suddenly wonder, “Who is my true self?” But what exactly do we mean by this “true self”? In this reflection, I invite you to explore—through the lens of Zen—what our original nature truly is, and how a simple aspiration becomes the key that opens the path back to it. Knowing Your True Self In Zen, awakening is described as knowing your true self . And the state

Everyone experiences a victim mindset to some degree at times. What we must remember is that this interpretation is  not fact but illusion. This mindset's root lies in dependence —a subtle reliance on others or society. We begin to believe that our happiness and peace must come from the outside world. Yet this, too, is a fabrication of the mind , an illusion of our own making. Another root is self-doubt. The belief that “I can’t do it” or “I have no power” quietly suppresses

We often wish to “know our true self.” But who is this “self” we are trying to know? Zen Master Dōgen taught that to study the self truly is to forget the self. To study the self is to forget the self.  To know one’s true self is the most essential point of Zen practice. If we wish to be freed from confusion, there is no other way than to return to our original nature. To “know the true self” is not to analyze the everyday “me” — the one who feels joy and sorrow, compares wit

— Trusting in the Other’s Strength — To “hold space” for someone does not mean simply watching from afar. True holding begins by turning...

Don’t pick at a scab once it has formed. The wounds of the heart are no different from the wounds of the body. Trust in the natural power...

Without searching, the truth is already here—now. You may have experienced this yourself: We make a decision like, “I’ll live this way,”...

Every day, countless events arise. Some are expected, and others come as surprises. With them come waves of emotion, thought,...

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I’m this kind of person” or “that kind of person”? But the truth is, we are constantly...