“So what is this great light flashing through her mind? (It is) how you really see the blackness of a cup of coffee… how you really see the fractals of the broccoli or cauliflower… how you are present to how you move.” 

José Shinzan Palma, a Zen teacher and dear dharma friend from San Diego, California, joined the NYZC sangha during our last silent retreat and shares a moving talk on karma, breaking personal and cultural conditioning, and emptying yourself of all attachments. He also dives deep into a story of a lay practitioner experiencing a great flash of awareness and her teacher’s teasing as a manner of keeping her from getting lost in the experience.

ZENTALK NOTES

Jose Shinzan Palma was born in Veracruz, Mexico. He is a Zen priest and Dharma Successor of Roshi Joan Halifax. He has been practicing Zen since 1996. Shinzan co-teaches a teenagers retreat for the Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, and weekends retreats in several parts of the country. Currently, he lives in San Diego and teaches at the Carlsbad Zen Community and Sweetwater Zen Center.

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UPCOMING PROGRAMS (as of September 17th, 2022)

—Zen Precepts: Living an Ethical Life—Living the Zen Precepts is wisdom in action – the natural expression of a compassionate and awakened heart. The Precepts are studied, practiced and received to support the fullest expression of our lives. | Learn More >

—Beginner’s Mind Sesshin: A Winter Silent Retreat of Wholehearted Practice—A cornerstone of Zen practice, the Japanese word for “sesshin” means “touching the heart-mind.” This is a rare opportunity for deepening our practice with a community of supportive practitioners. January 11th – January 15th, 2023 at the Garrison Institute. | Learn More >

MUSIC

Heart Sutra by Kanho Yakushiji –  Buddhist priest and musician of the Rinzai sect and Imaji temple in Imabari, Japan. In 2003, he formed “KISSAQUO”, a songwriting duo based in Kyoto.

NYZC PUBLICATIONS

Preorder your copy of Untangled (Publishing Date: November 8th, 2022) here: https://bit.ly/untangled-book

Get your copy of Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up here: https://amzn.to/2JTKF1t

Get your copy of Awake At The Bedside here: https://amzn.to/3aijXdL

The post Everything Must Go | Jose Shinzan Palma appeared first on New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care.