Henry Shukman gave this Dharma talk to Sydney Zen Centre students and guests on the topic of his latest book, ‘Original Love’, on 20th March 2026 at the Annandale Community Centre. Henry Shukman, a close dharma cousin to our Diamond sangha lineage, is a teacher in the Sanbo Zen lineage and has trained in various other meditation schools and practices.
Zen practice is the way of true intimacy, the falling away of self and other dichotomy and dualistic ways of seeing the world. Awakening can happen in so many ways, with a true encounter. Includes Stories of true encounters; Shakyamuni Buddha’s awakening experience with the morning star, Mahakasyapa – twirling of the flower, Kuei-shan, encountering the live coal in his heart, Dong-shan
Subhana explores what sprinkling Holy Water on the Dragon’s Tail might mean. The Christian legend of Martha and the Dragon reveals a beautiful teaching of cultivating compassion to those parts that we don’t like; pain, jealousy, judgemental reactivity and old unworthy beliefs the “dragon” parts of ourselves. Instead of slaying the dragon or hating ourselves, we offer it compassion and
