The Three Conditions for Realizing Your True Self Zen Master Mong Gong said there are three essential conditions for realizing your true self: a practicing place, a teacher, and a Dharma friend. First, I want to clarify that 'finding your true self' is not about searching outside yourself—your true self is already present in this moment. I do believe these three conditions are important for one’s practice. 1. A Practicing Place Having a dedicated space for meditation is crucial, especially when starting out. It helps focus your meditation and reinforces the habit of practice. Many of us m ..read more

Question: Just wondering: doesn't this technique recommended by the Univ. of New Hampshire Dept. of Psychology and Counseling correspond with some of your own teachings? Science may be catching up. Enjoy https://www.unh.edu/pacs/what-grounding Does Grounding Align with My Teachings? First, let me clarify: I don’t have "my" teachings. Everything I share comes from Zen teachings, which ultimately trace back to the Buddha’s teachings. There are many styles of Buddhism, each with unique meditation practices, but they all point to the core teaching of the Buddha. In my view, tha ..read more

Recently, several people have asked me about making New Year’s resolutions. Typically, these resolutions focus on goals like losing weight, quitting smoking, drinking less alcohol, or spending less time on social media. While these goals may be helpful, many resolutions fail because they don’t address the root of the issue. There’s an old Zen saying: “Forget about the branches; get to the root.” Often, we try to mask or cover up the real problem. It’s like taking medication to relieve a symptom without understanding the underlying cause. Why are we drinking excessively? Why are we losing ourse ..read more

Question: Recently, during my daily meditation, I’ve noticed a series of long, reflective experiences where every negative moment I've encountered resurfaces. It feels like my entire life up to this point has been an evolving show of suffering. This led me to wonder: how can I avoid projecting this negativity onto my family? First, let’s talk about the two ways to approach meditation. 1. Escaping Life Through Meditation Some people use meditation as a way to escape. They sit in silence hoping to avoid their daily struggles, seeking temporary relief. This is a common misconception—that meditati ..read more

I would like to share some meditation tips that have been helpful in my practice for the last 27 years and to many other practitioners I've talked with from all over the world. 1. Just Do It Many people say they're too busy to meditate. I get it; life is busy for everyone. My biggest tip is to adjust your schedule slightly. If you get up at 7 am, set your alarm for 6:30 am. If you get up at 6:30 am, set it for 6 am. Developing the habit may seem challenging at first, but just doing this three times can help establish a new habit. Some people might find practicing in the evening better. I heard ..read more

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For some people, they may not see the connection between Zen and daily life. Some may even argue that it doesn't serve any purpose whatsoever in the real world. In truth, Zen is just a tool that doesn't have any inherent meaning or purpose. The essence of being human lies in our awakening to perceive our true nature and learning how to use it in our lives from moment to moment. Zen may offer a path towards this realization, but there are many practices that can help us lead to this realization. Zen has been described as investigating the great work of life and death, to help us see through our ..read more

Question: I’m curious about your opinion on Osho. I know there were problems with his community in the past, but I also think he had many interesting things to say. At the end of his life, he declared Zen as the way. Jason: I don’t know if I would ever say that, because there’s no such thing as “Zen”, and there’s no such thing as “the way”. Those are just words pointing to something. The Buddha said something very interesting in a sutra: all the different teachings are like fingers pointing to the moon. The problem is people attach to the finger so they cannot perceive the moon. What is the mo ..read more

Are you finding it challenging to restart your meditation practice? Are you lacking the motivation to sit? Here are three helpful tips that might help you with your practice: 1. Take Advantage Of Community (Sangha) For many people, it is very difficult to practice meditation on their own, but the support of a community, or Sangha, can make a significant difference. Whether joining a Buddhist group, a meditation community, or a Zen center, being part of a community can inspire your practice. If you’re feeling alone, unmotivated or disconnected, consider joining a Sangha to help support your pra ..read more

Question: Recently, I received a message from a Catholic friend who shared a link to a website where a man claimed that practicing Eastern pagan meditation led to possession by Satan. My friend, aware of my Zen meditation practice at the Zen Center, felt the need to warn me. Jason: There is a chant called the Evening Bell chant. The translation of the chant states: “Hearing the sound of the bell, all thinking is cut off. Wisdom grows, enlightenment appears, and hell is left behind.” In Buddhism and Zen, the concept of hell often refers to a state of mind, just as heaven and the pure land may a ..read more