Koan Conversations

Three Cheers for Grandmother Zen! “It is much more difficult to control one's mind than to control the weather.” --Yeshe Dorje A lonely...

This is where Issan "Tommy"Dorsey Roshi began his career as a drag artist. In a friend’s kind of online bio she said that “Zen is ...

When Maylie Scott’s mother died at home in Berkeley, she called me. Apparently after my stint at Maitri Hospice, I had the reputation as the...

Introduction What is “The Record of Issan?” An Invitation Several ways to read and listen to a conversation about things that matter. "...

This story has already made the rounds, as well it should. It is so short and concise that it doesn’t yield to a lot of confusion or elabora...

This is a short piece I wrote about my experience living and practicing at Maitri Hospice for a German Buddhist magazine, Ursache & Wir...

[This is a part of the Introduction to *The Record of Issan] Please come and sit with me. I invite us both to sit quietly as we can. Issan w...

My friend and mentor, Jon Logan gave me some wise and generous advice, advice that Issan would have seconded, “Always start with a joke.” So...

The renowned revolutionary Chinese Master Baizhang Huaihai ( 百丈懷海; Hyakujō Ekai) is perhaps most well known for introducing manual labor to ...

A cautionary tale plus a koan — or two. A friend recently told me about some advice from a Taoist master. I admit that I automatically distr...

Dainin Katagiri Roshi admonishes Issan! This life we live is a life of rejoicing, this body a body of joy which can be used to present offe...