Zen teacher and author Henry Shukman offers a clear and grounded introduction to the heart of Zen practice. We explore how awakening is not an escape from life, but a deeper participation in it — a realization that dissolves the illusion of separation and reveals a boundless field of awareness and love.

Henry shares his own spontaneous awakening experience at 19, the profound insight that life is not divided between self and world, and the difficult healing journey that followed. From mindfulness and meditation to flow states, jhanas, koans, and the role of trauma in spiritual growth, this conversation maps out a path that integrates awakening with emotional healing.

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00:00 Intro

01:26 An Introduction to Zen

13:10 The Premise of Original Love

17:14 Training the Mind Like the Body

20:54 Freedom From Identification With Thought

27:50 What Are the Jhanas?

32:50 Ad: Saily

33:54 Tasting Awakening for Yourself

45:17 Awakening vs Psychological Healing

50:17 Awakening as an Ongoing Path

54:54 The Distinct Path of Zen

59:13 Koans as a Path to Insight

1:13:53 The Enlightenment of the Mundane

1:20:07 The Freedom of Emptiness

1:26:16 The Necessity of Meditation Practice

1:34:32 Sweeping the Yard (A Zen Poem)

1:43:33 Beauty, Ethics, and Interconnection

1:47:33 The Journey to a Whole Heart (A Poem on Heartbreak)

2:02:58 Original Love in a Fragmented World

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Episode Resources:

https://www.instagram.com/henryshukman/

https://www.instagram.com/theway_app/

https://www.instagram.com/andreduqum/

https://www.instagram.com/knowthyself/

https://www.youtube.com/@knowthyselfpodcast

https://www.knowthyselfpodcast.com

E185 - Henry Shukman: A Zen Master With 40 Years of Practice on Who You Really Are