his blog post explores the concept of transcending the dichotomy of good and evil through the practice of "presence" and non-judgmental awareness. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the space between facts and interpretations, advocating for acceptance as a means to achieve inner peace and dissolve conflict. By understanding our thought processes and embracing what is happening without judgment, we can liberate ourselves from the limitations of our narratives and fos

A quiet exploration of how often we are carried away—“abducted”—by our own thoughts, and the gentle moment of returning. Through simple, vivid metaphors, this piece reveals that presence is not something to force, but something that naturally reappears when we notice we’ve been lost. Again and again, we come home—to what is already here, just as it is.

In an era of constant uncertainty, inner stability is just as vital as physical health. While we track our steps and count our macros, we often neglect emotional immunity: the natural capacity to stay grounded in the face of discomfort without breaking. What is Emotional Immunity? Emotional immunity isn’t about being "tough" or numb; it’s the ability to sway like a willow tree in a storm. It means letting events and emotions flow through you without resisting, rejecting, or c

Have you ever felt the desire to become better? For a long time, I was on a healing journey. I wanted to be better. To grow. To be healed. To feel at ease. To be happy. Believing in that, I tried to heal myself through many different approaches. It was an exciting and fulfilling journey. And yet, at the same time, there was always a quiet feeling: Something is still missing. My true self must be somewhere else. I should be able to connect more deeply with the whole. (Without

Our Inner One-Person Show We may all be followers of a “religion of self,” revering the self as its guru and blindly believing its teachings. Before we know it, a grand story begins in our minds. “What did that person really mean by that comment?” “Am I being properly appreciated?” We are the scriptwriter, director, lead actor, and even the audience. When everything is interpreted in relation to ourselves, the world begins to take on the color of “my story.” When the self sta

In a recent practice session, a participant shared something very vivid. During a period of meditation retreat, their sense of self became quiet. The usual inner movement—the need to be seen, to be recognized, to be “someone”—softened. There was less pressure. Less tension. But after the retreat ended, something returned. Suddenly, the sense of self reappeared—strong, insistent, almost disruptive. With it came familiar patterns: a desire to be liked, a heightened awareness of

Here’s a polished version that preserves your voice and the poem’s quiet, meditative quality while refining the flow and imagery: Resting in the Midst of Fluctuation Long ago, at a lake, I shared a picnic with my Aikido teacher and his family. At one point, we went around asking each other: “If you could be any animal, what would you be?” My teacher said, “Maybe plankton, floating in the water— gently drifting, moving with the waves. And if a fish eats me, well— ‘Ah, I’ve bee

Sonomama— A Simple Yet Vast Word Sonomama — “just as it is” — is a simple phrase, yet it points to something vast. What truly matters is not how we do something, but how we remain — just as we are. That is the essence of the ultimate practice. We often find ourselves pushing inwardly: “I must grow more.” “I must change something.” This does not mean that growth or change are unnecessary. That is not the point. The point is that absolute reassurance and deep peace are not foun

Focusing on What You Can Do Right Now When you’re caught in overthinking, try focusing on what you can do right now. The more you tell yourself, “Don’t think about it,” the more your mind fills up with exactly that. Have you noticed? The harder you try to stop your thoughts, the stronger they seem to chase you. And if you could easily stop them, you probably would have already. So first—give yourself permission: You don’t have to stop the thoughts. From “Why?” to “What?” Fig

What is zen practice for? Is it a time to gain special experiences? A discipline to calm the mind, stop thoughts, and move closer to an ideal state? Sitting with these questions, we gradually come to see: zazen is not an act of gaining something, but a quiet opening to the reality already unfolding. In everyday life, we place the idea of “self” at the center and live within stories about who we are. Yet when we sit, beyond those stories, we begin to sense a living activity th