Mu: The Ungraspable

Zen training can prepare us to move skillfully through times of apparent isolation and disconnection that we may encounter in our day to day. This talk is a deep dive into one aspect of training that addresses just this—koan study—in which the teacher presents a case and asks a question. Answering requires entering into and vowing to stay with the question and the world it entails, as ungraspable as it is. Being fully immersed, we see clearly. Disconnection is not an option. Zuisei suggests that we stay with the questions, in our training and in our lives, with love and care. In fact, lovingly may be the only way to do this utterly. This talk focuses on Zen Master Dogen’s Case 114, Zhaozhou’s Dog (Does a dog have Buddha Nature?).