Posted inDharma, Gateless Gate, Videos

Longing to Belong, Shana Smith (Video)

March 13, 2023

Shana relays a personal story—about walking her dogs while trying to listen to a dharma talk on her phone—as an example of how what we are seeking and longing for – is already right HERE. She explores the koan “Seijo’s Soul Is Separated” Gateless Gate Case 35) as a pointer to seeing into the reality our non-dualistic true self, which helps us compassionately understand that we, by our very nature, belong to the world.

Shana Smith is an Assistant Teacher with Sanbo Zen International, and the facilitator of Florida Sanbo Zen in Gainesville, Florida. Her root teacher is Valerie Forstman Roshi of the Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She also studies with Henry Shukman Roshi, Ruben Habito Roshi, and Sanbo Zen Abbott Yamada Ryoun Roshi. Shana’s journey to Zen was launched when she began a committed yoga practice in 1990. Over the years, she has found a tremendous synergy between Yoga and Zen, and integrates the two in her daily, committed practice. Zen consistently informs, sustains, and inspires her life as a parent, writer, musician, teacher, and lifelong student.

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

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