Edoardo (Shoryu) Eusepi: Taking Time to Transition

Edoardo Eusepi, who is affectionately known around Upaya by his dharma name “Shoryu,” reflects on his transition back into the “marketplace” after four years of residency at Upaya. He reminds us of the rights of passages (zazen, sesshin, jukai) that zen practice offers us as a way to mark transitions and indicate that we have crossed a threshold. He reminds us that “threshold” has the same root as “thrash,” and that we may often feel thrashed during transitional times. He shares the touching story of his relationship with his Rottweiler Hercules and about his experience dropping preconceived notions about Hercules’ death. He reminds us of the importance of aimlessness and how there is nothing to prove, nowhere to go, no need to be a good girl or boy because all of us and this world are good already. He concludes with sharing insights from “The Good Samaritan Experiment” and a beautiful poem from Thich Nhat Hanh.