Within Darkness it is Most Bright

We are in the midst of eclipse season. And while it happens twice a year, many of us living in the US are living close to the zone of totality or traveling to a place that falls in the zone of totality. During this dharma talk I explore the Zen teachings of the dark/light. Included is exploration of practice of bowing or touching the earth, the Dark Night of the Soul and the Koan: Everyone has their own Light. Here’s an excerpt

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Touching the earth, is a practice of humility, grace, receptivity. It allows us to temporarily set down the weight of our aloneness, the weight of our needing to be someone—a unique light that shines out in such a special way. It allows us to blend our light with the light of the world–to see how we depend on each other, how we interbe together.

Often as we are going through our days, we give a lot more attention to the light. Light is vitality, life. Without it we die. And yet, the light of day, the light of knowing, the light of the Sun or our egoic selves, obscures another more foundational light.

Within darkness there is light

In darkness it is most bright

When faced with darkness, whether that is the darkness of night, winter, eclipse, depression, non-doing of zazen, sleep

Where is the light?

What shines forth still, no longer shadowed by the light of the sun?

Everyone has their own light, says Zen Master Yunman, when you look for it, it appears dark or dim. What is this light?

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See below for up-coming in-person and online group meditation events and retreats. I also offer 1:1 IFS-informed Spiritual Counseling and Meditation support. I incorporate dream work and hakomi skills in my sessions, you can learn more about my 1:1 work here, feel free to reach out with any questions.

This talk is recorded during my weekly Online Monday Night Meditation and Dharma event. This event is open to anyone, you can drop in anytime. Meditation begins at 6P PT / 9P ET. Click here for more information and the zoom link.

Other Upcoming Events

DreamSky: Community Dream Circle—Sunday, April 14th 3P PT / 6P ET

This drop-in online dream group is open to anyone with an interest in exploring dreams with community. You don’t have to be having profound dreams or even be remembering your dreams to join. Please contact me if you are interested in attending.

Retreats in Oregon at Great Vow Zen Monastery

May Zen Sesshin: The Light of Our Ancestors May 13 - 19 at Great Vow Zen Monastery in Clatskanie, OR co-led with Zen Teacher Patrick Bansho Green

During this 5-day silent Zen meditation retreat we will connect to the ancestral light of awakened nature. Drawing inspiration from the stories and practices of our Zen ancestors, fellow human beings who felt the call to practice the spiritual path of insight, love and presence.

Love & Spaciousness: A Weekend Loving Kindness Retreat May 24 - 26 at Great Vow Zen Monastery in Clatskanie, OR with Dharma Holder Myoyu Haley Voekel

With wonderment on our side, and in relationship with all that is, we recognize the inherent compassion that naturally arises from deep and sustained presence. Held in a container of zen forms and the vibrant dance of a monastery waking up to spring, we will explore the nature of being anything at all! Love and Spaciousness are two qualities of our true nature. This retreat we will practice recognizing and opening to them.

Love and wonderment,

Kisei