Winter Practice Period 2024: Sesshin Day 3 Dharma Talk With Matthew Kozan Palevsky

Sensei Kozan discusses Case 27 from the Blue Cliff Record, where a monk asks Yun Men about the state when a tree withers and the leaves fall, to which Yun Men responds, “Body exposed in the golden wind.” Kozan uses this koan to delve into themes of impermanence, vulnerability, and the intrinsic beauty of our naked existence amidst the cycles of life and death. Kozan explores Yun Men’s character, a Zen master known for his succinct and sometimes startling responses, to highlight the Zen practice of direct experience beyond words and concepts. He shares stories from Yun Men’s life, including Yun Men’s enlightenment experience, which came about through a painful incident that shattered his conceptual seeking for clarity about life. The talk transitions into a reflection on how we often cling to our identities, achievements, and memories like leaves on a tree, fearing the exposure that comes when they fall away. Kozan reassures us that this exposure, this bareness, is not something to fear but a return to our true nature, which is already whole and complete. Day 4 dharma talk by Wendy Johnson was published on January 29, 2024 as episode #2169.