Dharma Discourse by Konrad Ryushin Marchaj, Sensei

In this talk, the biological end isn’t what’s meant by “The Great Death.” Instead, it asks, “what does it look like when someone dies completely in the midst of life?” One aspect is the release of anxiety, fear, or concern of what it will be like at our last breath. It is the realization of selflessness in the midst of life.

The koan in this collection is “Zhaozhou Asks About Death,” case 63 of the Book of Equanimity. This discourse was given December 1st 2013 at Zen Mountain Monastery.