Let's Open the Box of ZEN

The famous zen phrase Furyu Monji Kyoge Betsuden encapsulates the core principles of Zen Buddhism. It emphasizes the transmission of teachings through direct personal experience rather than relying solely on written scriptures. This concept, first introduced by Bodhidharma and further emphasized by Huineng, highlights the importance of transmitting teachings through the heart, from person to person, rather than relying on words or characters. This emphasis on personal experience encourages individuals to explore and uncover their own psychological understanding, ultimately leading them to the path of Buddhahood. Marsha Lyles, the executive producer of Voice America, is here to adorn the final chapter of this season. She is the godmother figure who has nurtured and warmly supported the birth of Let's Open the Box of ZEN! In accordance with the principles of Zen philosophy, the past 12 chapters have held the key to liberating ourselves from fixed ideas - Authenticity, Anger, Perspective, Fear, Love, Surrender, Power, Forgiveness, Patience, Time, Loss, Love - this season has explored the true meaning of happiness.How do you define happiness? Where are you in your life now? Has your happiness changed? What makes you happy? Do you have a new outlook on what happiness means?As we reach the final chapter, Marsha poses thought-provoking questions to the listeners.

Myoju Tanagokoro ni ari is a Japanese Zen phrase originating from the Blue Cliff Record with two meanings. The original meaning is there is a clear mirror in your hand, while the common meaning today is there is a beautiful pearl in your hand. The original interpretation suggests that the ability to perceive things accurately is within one's control, enabling one to distinguish between good and bad. The second interpretation highlights the importance of self-cultivation and acknowledges that everyone possesses the Buddha nature within themselves. Ultimately, both interpretations convey the same message: the fundamental teaching of Buddhism is that one's own self is a Buddha. In this episode, we embark on a journey guided by the radiant presence of Marisa Cranfill - a revered Qigong teacher and beacon of light. With over two decades of experience studying and working with Qigong and healers in both the Buddhist and Taoist traditions, Marisa invites us to delve deep into the boundless realm of love. Through her direct experience, she reveals that love is the pinnacle of human potential and the master frequency, from which all other emotions arise. She shares that true love is unconditional, a force that transcends the duality of yin and yang and the limitations of ego. Love becomes a virtue, a path to transcendence. Marisa illuminates that cultivating self-love is the essential first step towards nurturing unconditional love. Join us for an enlightening conversation on the power of love and how it can transform our lives. Website: https://www.yoqi.com/, YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq6iAv6Ydn5-ccJ5Nm6Mcdg, YOQI Video on Demand: https://videos.yoqi.com/, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yoqi.yogaqigong/, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yoqi.yogaqigong/?pnref=lhc

“Let's seek for things that won't disappear. Let's acquire things that won't disappear. Although our bodies may return to dust, there are things that won't disappear. Those are love and sincerity. No matter how grand the temple, it will eventually crumble, as history has shown us. But there are things that will never fade away, like love and compassion. These two are like ether, never disappearing from the universe.” - This beautiful poem was written by Shinmin Sakamura who was a member of the Zen school of poetry. The lifespan of all living things is limited, and eventually we will all experience separation. Throughout our lives, we will face various forms of separation, whether it be in our careers, our health, the loss of a loved one or a relationship breakup. Loss has many facets, some tangible, some more subliminal. Yet loss is a part of life and can initiate great transformation, if we allow ourselves to go through the process of healing and embrace change as potential for new beginnings. In this episode, I invite my friend Ursula Adams to a conversation about the heavy topic of loss,” starting from her experience with a tragic traffic accident that occurred during her teenage years. Ursula is a holistic Energy worker, Qigong Flow Instructor, Reiki Master and Sound therapist who specializes in integrative bodywork, spiritual healing and soul empowerment. We will discuss what lessons loss can bring us and how we can manage the process and grow from it.

The heart of the mountains, the heart of the clouds, the heart of the sea, and the heart of the moon. The heart of everything…. This famous Zen word is from Blue Cliff Record and it refers to the state of being able to talk openly about everything to the fullest. We are the Mountains, the Clouds, the Sea,and the Moon. Every one of us is unique and has a voice to express unique perspectives from our personal experiences. I am a practitioner of John.F.Barnes’s Myofascial Release Approach®?, as well as a Qigong instructor under Shifu Yan Lei & YOQI®?. My unique experience reflects the idea - The box is full, yet is empty. What is inside the box is not fixated, but is an endless possibility. The key to happiness is learning to let go. With my colleagues Jorge, a certified Personal Trainer & Corrective Exercise Specialist and Zrna, a Mindfulness & Meditation teacher as co-hosts, we interview our most respected teacher of authentic Qigong and Kungfu - Shifu Yan Lei, a 34th generation of Shaolin fighting disciple, also an author of many books related to martial arts and Wellness, as well as an actor in the feature film “The Turtle And The Sea”. His unique and straight forward teaching style earned many admirers. We are so excited to find out his secrets behind how he established his authenticity.

Who do the flowers bloom so beautifully for when spring arrives? is a Zen phrase that questions why the flowers bloom so beautifully all at once in spring and for whom. We may think to ourselves, Oh, how beautiful! It's so wonderful to see something that can make people so happy, but that is only our own selfish view. Flowers do not bloom just to make humans happy or to show off their beauty. Rather, they delicately sense the changes in the seasons and temperature, and fulfill their own duty as flowers within the great cycle of nature's laws, rules, and the circle of life, without being asked to do so by anyone. On the other hand, we humans often become trapped in our own selfish desires and wishes, such as wanting to be successful, liked, or to remain young forever, and constantly worry about them. The undeniable fact is that the laws of nature that allow flowers to bloom are equally accessible to each and every one of us. We should be grateful for the life and environment we have been given, and fulfill our duties as humans. Complaining and whining will only deepen our anxieties and uncertainties. We should strive to live a humble, selfless, and fulfilling life, like the white plum blossoms. As the poet Yagi Shigekichi once said, Why are flowers so beautiful? Because they bloom with all their heart. Now is the time for our hearts and lives to bloom with all their might. - By Daigo Ozawa, Head Abbot, TOKOZENJI, Japan Today's guest is very special to me. Without him, I could not even speak about Zen. He is the reason I am here with you in this show, Let’s open the box of zen. Thanks to him, I was able to encounter Zen and gained an attitude of understanding towards myself and life. In this episode, Ozawa head abbot will guide us through childhood memories of growing up in a Japanese temple to the training in a monastery, he will share with hints on how to become a master of time and of life. In busy modern society, why do we feel like we are always racing against time? His answer sheds light on our perspective of time.

Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself. This Zen dialogue is from the Keito Dentoroku, The Jingde Record of the Transmission of the Lamp. It means that by eliminating all unsettled minds and simply devoting oneself to Zen, one can allow things to unfold naturally and peacefully, without the need for excessive effort or control. This reminds us to be patient and allow nature to take its course. I am inviting my friend and mentor of Myofascial Release Therapy, Carolina Gutierrez, who is a Physical Therapist of 27 years and a certified instructor of John F. Barnes’s Myofascial Release Approach. She is an expert Myofascial Release Practitioner and Health Coach. The fascia, the interstitium, was rediscovered as the biggest organ in 2018, is a sensory organ and the key component of our well-being. John F. Barnes’s Myofascial Release Approach is a genuine and powerful therapy that requires a gentle and caring nature, along with compassion, and treats the whole body, mind, and spirit. As the above Zen dialogue indicates, genuine healing is built on the virtue of patience. Carolina will share with us her experience as a Myofascial Release Practitioner, including the latest research on fascia, what Myofascial release is, and how to cultivate patience.

“The sound of a pebble hitting bamboo can bring clarity. “ This Zen dialogue by Zen master Xiangyan means we can only learn our true nature by our own heart, not by knowledge or logic we have learned elsewhere. In the first part of today's show we will finish up with Jorge Figueroa speaking about Anger and closing with the 14 different types of anger, If you haven't heard his part 1, please feel free and go back now, you don't want to miss it. The second part of today's show I bring together all of the members of The box of Zen Zrna Garic, Jorge Figueroa and I. we will speak about what's inside our own personal boxes.We will hear about Zrna's mountain climbing experiences as well as Jorge reflect upon his past drinking habits. We come in different shapes and sizes but our perspectives of seeking the truth are the same. Grab your favorite beverage of choice,I'll have a coffee, sit back and enjoy the show.

Hashu Kyoko. It is a very simple Zen phrase meaning to go hand in hand.” Walking hand in hand with a loved one or family member is a joyful and exciting experience. It is reassuring to know that someone is there to give you a hand. But the Zen teaching hidden in this short phrase is to be on the same page as the others.” There is no separation between ourselves and the other. I am you and you are me. It is truly a wonderful way to live as one. Today we sent our Zrna from The box of Zen fitness group to interview an authentic and professional Shaolin Kung-Fu/Wushu Master and a genuine elite trainer & coach Zak Song. The theme is forgiveness. What really is “Forgiveness”? Would you really be able to forgive someone who hurt you or your loved ones? We will hear all that he has to say about forgiveness, as he has been trained nearly three decades both mentally and physically as Kung-Fu/Wushumaster. Forgiveness is not to forgive others, but to forgive yourself. True forgiveness is coming from True love. It is a test to let our true love to come out. - Master Zak Song

“The moon, shining in the sky, is unperturbed and shines majestically, even when the wind is blowing hard. The pine trees grown at the bottom of a valley, which are usually drenched by rain and blown by the wind, are not affected by heavy snowfall. They are still vividly green, shrugging off the snow. This zen poem from Keitokudentoroku, which was compiled by Dogen in the Baisong Dynasty era in China, expresses a firm belief that will not be swayed by anything, no matter what difficulties it may encounter. It is important to have a strong will that will not be discouraged by any difficulties encountered. Sheri Ford Lewin was only 11 years old when she had to testify in front of a judge and the attorneys in court for a custody suite due to the divorce of her parents in the 1970s. There was a lot of backlash for some of her testimony led a really large setback at that period in her life. However, she was able to learn from this painful experience. She said “It set me free and I could follow my life with truth, even hard ones.” Sheri Lewin followed her truth and became a Founder and Executive Director of Thrive Clermont, Inc. a 501(c) (3) charitable non-profit corporation based in Central Florida whose mission is Empowering Teens to succeed. She believes all power lies in personal power, and shares her wisdom how to develop personal power to the listeners.

The many grasses (and flowers) that I had planted and nurtured without resting my hands had no choice but to be left to the heart of the wind.This zen poem was written by Ryokan Taigu who was a quiet and unconventional Soto Zen Buddhist monk.In his later years, Ryokan planted various flowers around the family hermitage and grew them with great care. However, a strong wind blew in May and the plants and flowers fell over.- Surrender to a higher power. Trust the Universe, and we let go.. - then opportunities or blessings come to us.My daughter and I experienced an amazing encounter one morning at the Racquetball courts. One of the early morning tennis regulars at the park we go to was warming up right next to us. We were a bit embarrassed to practice next to him because we were beginners at tennis and terrible at it. You would never ever imagine if you see Victor playing tennis—a 65 year old guy who can’t see in one eye—he had at least 3 major hip surgeries from a big bike accident. He had 6 years of battle with sickness including being in a state of coma. When doctors gave up on him, he discovered his healing power within himself in his original way. Meditations, Yoga, Qigong and classic ballet. Surrendering is not turning life over. Victor's story of surrender surely encourages many of you.

“Truth is not found outside the mind of the self, but only within the mind of the self, and if one sees the true nature of the self, which is truth, one can become a Buddha.” This famous zen dialogue is from Four sacred verses of Bodhidharma. Shortly after her birth, Annie crossed the ocean and spent her childhood in the exotic land of California. In a society that still remembered World War II, she was mistreated simply for being Asian, and her emotional wounds were later healed by a book about the Dalai Lama that accidentally fell from a bookshelf when she was on the verge of a divorce. Her story of nurturing self-love and even selfless love through Tibetan Buddhism will surely reach your heart.

“There are lines of tears on the coral pillow, half of me yearning for my love, half of me hating him.” What do you recall from this old poem by Li Xin, which at first glance sounds like just a love poem? This poem actually reveals the inner pain of the palace women with the unreasonable concubine feudal system in Tang Dynasty in old China. Zen Buddhist monk Shinsuke Hosokawa explained this poem in depth in his book “Zen Wisdom for the Anxious “- ‘Accept hard words, and use them to feed your heart. Own those two emotions and take them to the next step forward. I associate it with the public reaction to the recent public controversy of the Dalai Lama, and with my own feelings.It was a simultaneous feeling of fear and love. So I made a quick change in the planned topic, gathered the members of The Box of Zen together, again, and we discussed our thoughts. What I found was their willingness to overcome fear and transform it into love.From here, we will batten down the hatches to Annie Bien, the next topic of Buddha’s teachings on love.

“Once layers of mountains, once again layers of mountains.” This Zen poem from Blue Cliff Record means, In life?, difficulties come one after another. Overcoming them, our mind and body are gradually strengthened, our heart stronger and bigger, and our life becomes more profound. Continued from last week, Shifu Yan Lei the 34th generation of Shaolin fighting disciple, among the most respected teachers of authentic Qigong and Kungfu, shares his wisdom on how to establish authenticity: how to be true to your own personality, values, ideals, and actions, regardless of the pressure that you're under to act otherwise. As he guides us through anger as a part of life's essence, Jorge Figueroa analyzes anger,from his childhood experience raised in Queens, New York, through his career in the US Marine Corps, and now as a Fitness professional. His perspective brings light to anger, despite its reputation as a negative emotion. What is anger? How should we respond to anger? How do we manage anger? Could we use anger in positive ways?