Jock, yes! May we all stay on a journey; and yes, in each moment that decision is solitarily chosen. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel and hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Discover, yes…yes! Thank you for this kind affirmation. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel and hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep! 🙏

Dennis, isn’t it interesting that the most extraordinary aliveness is revealed in the most ordinary of circumstances! There is nothing more radical than living an ordinary day or ordinary life. Thank you for this profound reflection. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel and hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Frederick, yes of course the blind monk has a special circumstance with which to choose a relationship. Yet, we can also grasp that it is only in closing our eyes that we can truly see! May we all become blind monks! GO Deep!

Frederick, thank you for these insightful reflections. Yes, we all need our sangha; we all need a village. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel and hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Frank, yes…yes! 🙏 GO Deep!

Frank, your honest question is certainly the deep interior dialogue of every practitioner who ventures far enough on the journey. May we all find our way into this deep water! GO Deep!

Frank, isn’t it interesting how authentic humor and deep personal humility are often connected! GO Deep!

Giorix, thank you for this affirmation. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel and hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Willy. Of course! Thank you for the question and we are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

@@Interiormythos Thank you for the reply. Could you please explain how this Shikantaza is like vipassana. How the aims and objective are similar or different.

Willy, thank you for this insightful question. Firstly, we need to move beyond linguistic categories that can trap us in religious jargon and create the basis for argument between traditions and within ourselves. Instead, we need to go to the place where authentic deep poetry (religious or otherwise) is pointing us: actual life! The authentic objective of both Shikantaza and Vipassana is to provide a practice and context for an actual encounter with raw being. When this actual encounter happens, which it may or may not in our practice, it is transformative. The contemplative practitioner, from all traditions, seeks to nurture and expand the depth and influence of this encounter. This is why we encourage you, and everyone else, to take the journey of the sixty-nine sequential video modules available on the homepage of the “Interior Mythos Journeys” channel in the “Life Journeys” series. This material integrates the deep traditions of the east and west and allows us to encounter Universal Reality in a contemporary context. This is the Deep Well for which the human family and our planet thirst today. Please consider taking this journey and continue to share your reflections as you engage this path solitarily or with friends and village or sangha members. Keep in touch. GO Deep!

Frank, nice to hear from you on this channel as always. As you may or may not know, Shohaku Okumura continues to practice and teach but has officially entered into retirement from his duties as Abbot. Should you wish to provide direct support to him in this new phase of his journey, you may do so at: www.paypal.com/paypalme/shohakuokumura?locale.x=en_US GO Deep! 🙏

Phoenix, we are grateful you have found nurture in this. And we are grateful you have discovered this special channel. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

🙏

Sebastian, we may all trust that even with the challenges to traditional institutions of Buddhism and the scarcity of true teachers in all religious expressions, Reality will remain and their will always be those few individuals who will serve as the voice of deep truth; as does Shohaku Okumura. Shohaku Okumura has released his role as Abbot and is now officially retired although still practicing and teaching. If you or anyone else wishes to provide support for him at this later phase of his life, you may do so at this link: www.paypal.com/paypalme/shohakuokumura?locale.x=en_US GO Deep!

Sebastian, America has historically provided a protective environment for immense diversity in religious expression. This remains so today, contrary to what one might discern from the media. May it always be so. GO Deep!

Sebastian, yes, this deep well is without bottom; if we are open to the journey, it continues to call us deeper. It is in this deep journey that we are each nurtured. If you ever venture to Bloomington, Indiana, USA we will be delighted to connect you with the sangha of Shohaku Okumura. Until then, the wisdom of Shohaku Okumura infuses the Life Journeys KZfaq series. The Life Journey series is presented on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. This can be a good place to start. Check it out and keep in touch! We are grateful you have discovered the essence of this special channel. GO Deep! 🙏

Sharbot, we know we are on a deep journey when we can no longer distinguish between the literal and the metaphoric. May ecstasy abound in the spilled-out-ness! GO Deep! 🙏

Frank, thank you for this kind affirmation. We are grateful to have your voice back on this channel. GO Deep! 🙏

🙏 GO Deep!

Georgia, we are lifted by your ongoing practice of seeking a clear view of life. May we all follow your worthy example. We are grateful for your presence on this special channel which is devoted to providing guidance to the deep journey. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Bart, thank you for the affirmation. Nice to have you back on the channel! 🙏 GO Deep!

Richard of Hearts, the Great Giver seems to have gifted us with the freedom and capability to manage an abundant and habitable planet for everyone or destroying ourselves. We sometime wonder what the Great Giver was thinking when gifting us with such freedom? GO Deep!

Siewkonsum, yes…yes! GO Deep! 🙏

Let us all “GO Deep!” that Oneness may manifest! 🙏

Let us all “GO Deep!” that Oneness may manifest! 🙏

Alfreddifeo, nice to have you back on the channel. Thank you for the affirmation. GO Deep! 🙏

Siewkonsum, as always, we are grateful for your voice and profound guidance. We are especially grateful for the contemporary language you choose to express this timeless truth. GO Deep! 🙏

Maitrey, yes this is an encounter with a genuine Zen Master. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Steve, thank you for this kind affirmation. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Deutschland007, thank you for this insight. We will consider an exorcism. Regardless, we are grateful you have discovered this special channel and hope you will explore some of the other content. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Virt, thank you for this reflection. Please expand on the comment you have shared. Thanks. GO Deep!

@@Interiormythos it's a shorts video. Where can I find full speech video?

Virt, check this out and we will appreciate your reflection: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qLKEgtSqzcvdoac.html GO Deep!

We are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Richard of Hearts, such questioning and renaming is a viable practice for all of us in exploring a personal relationship to this most-Ultimate of Reality. Thank you for your insight and affirmation. GO Deep!

GS, thank you for this affirmation. We agree. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Erebus, Thank you for the question. Shohaku Okumura is originally from Okinawa Japan. As a young Zen student, he was assigned by his teacher to bring the Soto Zen tradition to the West; in particular the United States. He has spent a lifetime fulfilling this mission. He most recently has served as Abbott in the Sanshin Zen Community located in Bloomington, Indiana where he continues to reside, write, and teach. His message is sprinkled throughout the Life Journeys series you will find on the homepage of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq Channel. Please check it out. GO Deep!

@@Interiormythos Thanks for the reply. My journeying within the dharma began almost 40 years ago, a bit of an amalgamation of Theravada and Soto flavours. At the end of the day, if you look under the robes, they are all essentially the same. I mean, didn't the Buddha hold up a flower, and only Mahakasyapa understood sunyata on that dusty Indian morning.

Erebus, thank you for this profound commentary. Yes, may we all learn to “look under the robes” today. The human family needs us, once again, to hold up a flower! We are grateful for your active voice on this channel; which understands looking under the robes and holding up a flower as its only mission. GO Deep!

Erebus, may we all learn to practice the practices that allow the spring to come and the grass to grow! We are grateful for your comment and that you have discovered this special and unique KZfaq channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with the Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Tionblack, do you realize that ADHD is your special gift from Reality? The only help you need is the practice of learning to live as the ADHD-gifted human being you are. Life is a funny thing and we all have our special gifts that, in the first instance, we wish we didn’t have or believe the universe made a mistake in giving a specific gift to us. The only journey that can truly heal any of us is the journey into a personal and deep relationship with Reality; which heals all things! We are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner; one who practices encountering Reality. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

@@Interiormythos The owner of this message is the Zazen Monk in these videos? or His son ? or Someone else?

Would this person in the video oversee and guide me throu this journey of self discovery? My thoughts are too many and i use medication for adhd its like long release ritalin, does it not count as cheating in buddhism ?I feel like i am cheating even tho medication does not do much for my symptoms considering i have gone throu a lot and i am in pain.Lost my mother and my cat last year and i feel like i am like a sage sitting still in sadness within a hurricane... how can i learn an effective meditation i can manage :(

Tionblack, Abbott Shohaku Okumura of the Sanshin Zen Community in Bloomington, Indiana USA is a meaningful voice and teacher appearing on the Interior Mythos KZfaq Channel. You can also find other material and lectures by him on KZfaq. He has retired this year from formal duties with the Sanshin Zen Community and we do not believe he is personally available for individual instruction. You can certainly submit an inquiry through the Sanshin website: www.sanshinji.org. The Interior Mythos Journeys team will always respond to your specific inquiries on this channel. The Life Journey series we recommended you consider encountering does hold the essence of much of Abbott Okumura’s guidance in a sequential method over 69 short video messages. We recommend encountering one module per week and interiorly dialoguing with the message throughout the week of living your specific daily life prior to going to the next module in the series. Please also see the response to the second part of your question.

Tionblack, for self-discovery, we strongly recommend the Life Journey series. We know of no better sequential path existing in our contemporary world. We are not concerned at all about the use or non-use of medication in supporting one’s personal journey-of-depth. In your own most-personal dialogue and communion/communication with Reality, it will become clear when such “aids” are helpful or not helpful; needed or no-longer-needed. There is not an absolute answer for the circuitous path of a life. The sadness and the interior hurricane are not unique to you. These come with the package of living an awake life. Remember, Principle #1 articulated by the Buddha: Life is suffering! How this suffering manifests from one individual to another may vary but the underlying reality is universal. Yet if you pursue the deep journey, you will discover at new levels, it is a Friendly Hurricane! Don’t be in too much of a hurry with your practice of meditation or deep interior inquiry. Let the path come to you. It will. GO Deep!

Runningwhore, yes…yes! The voice says everything; without saying anything. May we all learn to listen deeply to the authentic voice. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

AwakenedEmptiness, should we believe this message? Although, we generally believe Shakyamuni to be a reliable source! 😃 We are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

MrJbellguitar, and every happening is out of nothing! Thank you for this insightful comment. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Siewkonsum, you consistently give voice to deep understanding and practice. We are grateful for your comments and guidance. The posture and practice of “right views” requires constant vigilance. May we each persevere on this worthy path. GO Deep! 🙏

Threetails, thank you for this insightful comment. May we all practice our wave-nature! We are grateful you have discovered this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep! 🙏

Corvusthule, thank you for the affirmation and for finding your way to this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep! 🙏

Haluk, thank you for the affirmation and for finding your way to this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep! 🙏

Siewkonsum, yes…yes! May we all connect with this Best Teacher! GO Deep! 🙏

Alex, thank you for the affirmation and for finding your way to this special channel. We hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!

Sharbot, may we all vibrate with the cosmic hum! GO Deep!

@@Interiormythos and while we are immersed in vibration, can we apprehend the eternal, be who we are called to be and do what we are called to do.

Sharbot, yes…yes! This is the Grand Paradox! GO Deep! 🙏

Jugsewell, Thank you for another visit to this special channel. You are becoming a regular! Again, we will appreciate you expanding upon your insight. Most of our staff our not that smart and we will be grateful for any clarification you are willing to share. We contemplatives don’t have a lot on our minds! GO Deep!

Jugsewell, please feel free to expand upon your reflection. We are glad to hear from you. We are grateful you have discovered this special channel and hope you will return often. Please consider a sustained encounter with The Life Journey series on the home page of the Interior Mythos Journeys KZfaq channel. It provides a sequential, guided, experiential path for the contemporary contemplative practitioner. You will discover this dynamic profoundly in Life Journey #7 - The Ultimate Journey. Check it out and keep in touch! GO Deep!