FPP2025 Sesshin Day 6: Returning Home

On the closing day of Upaya’s Fall Practice Period Sesshin, Sensei Kathy, Hoshi Senko, and Sensei Monshin offer an integrated reflection on continuing practice beyond the zendo. Sensei Kathy grounds us in the body, reminding us that awareness can arise anywhere—and that mind and mood are contingent, not fixed. She encourages returning to simple acts of life—walking, breathing, drinking coffee—as ways to stay connected to practice. Senko invites us toward creative, courageous presence and invokes Bernie Glassman’s insight that “the thing we have in common is our difference.” He calls us to bear witness to all of life, meeting each moment without shrinking from discomfort or difference. Sensei Monshin reminds us that sincere action, however small, can spark transformation in ways we cannot foresee. Together, their teachings bridge sesshin’s stillness to the busy, conventional world awaiting our return. To access the resources page for this program, please sign up by clicking here.