The Dewdrop Dialogues

Vanessa Able
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  • RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY

The Dewdrop's Vanessa Able talks with authors, poets and spiritual teachers about the intersection of their writing and spiritual practices.

Episodes

  1. 18/12/2025

    Becoming Yourself - A Conversation with Jiryu Rutschman-Byler

    “The vastness isn’t somewhere else. It’s right here, embodied in the most ordinary activities.” I traveled to Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, near San Francisco, to chat with Jiryu Rutschman-Byler. Jiryu is the abbot of the Zen Center there and he is also the co-editor of the new collection of Shunryu Suzuki’s lectures titled ‘Becoming Yourself: Teachings on the Zen Way of Life.’ We talked about Zen practice, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, and what it actually means to “be yourself” without turning that into yet another self-improvement project. Jiryu shared his own early spiritual (mis)adventures — chasing vastness, losing the ground beneath his feet — and how finding Zen practice helped him discover that the boundless isn’t somewhere else at all. It’s right here, in sweeping leaves, in breathing in and out, and in inhabiting the actual space of our lives, however that looks. We spent a lot of time on ethics and the Bodhisattva precepts, especially Suzuki’s refreshingly non-moralistic take. What happens when ethics don’t come from “should,” but from intimacy? From trusting our own loving nature instead of rules, guilt, or ideology? In a world desperate for moral clarity while allergic to dogma, this felt both timely and quietly radical. We also talked about Suzuki’s enduring influence, his humor, his lightness, and the editorial work behind Becoming Yourself — including the delicate task of letting the teachings stay alive. “If you try to get out of your limitation to be free, you miss it. The limitation is what gives life its shape.” AUDIO CHAPTERS 00:00 Exploring Zen: The Legacy of Shunryu Suzuki 03:35 Finding Ground: The Embodiment of Spiritual Practice 06:38 The Nature of Freedom: Embracing Limitations 09:27 Intimacy and Aliveness: The Essence of Being 12:22 Becoming Yourself: The Journey of Self-Discovery 15:20 Ethics in Zen: The Precepts and Their Importance 18:19 The Enduring Influence of Suzuki Roshi 21:31 The Intimacy of Being: Connecting with Life 23:36 The Radical Nature of Letting Go 25:45 The Interconnectedness of All Life 28:34 Trusting Intimacy: The Path to Ethical Living 31:25 Exploring the Structure of the Book 32:14 Understanding Bodhisattva Precepts 35:35 Suzuki Roshi's Unique Perspective 38:09 The Nature of Ethical Principles 39:55 Moving Beyond Moralism and Legalism 44:11 Trusting Our Loving Nature 48:29 The Inherent Goodness in Human Nature 52:24 The Role of Faith in Ethical Practice 56:04 The Timeliness of Suzuki's Teachings 59:48 The Process of Editing the Book Becoming Yourself is published n 2025 by Tarcher, an imprint of Penguin Random House. It is also available at The Dewdrop's Bookshop Page. OTHER RESOURCES shunryusuzuki.com

    1h 9m

  2. 28/09/2025

    Andy Chaleff on the Transformative Power of Facing Up to Our Fears

    In this episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues, I had the pleasure of speaking with author Andy Chaleff about his latest book, "Dying to Live." We explored the shadowy and rewarding themes of death and the fear of mortality, discussing how these experiences have shaped our lives. Andy shared personal stories and insights from his journey, and we delved into cultural perspectives on death and the transformative power of facing our deepest fears. This conversation was a thoughtful exploration of life's ultimate certainty and the liberation that can come from embracing it. Andy's book, Dying to Live is published by Meaningful Relations. You can also check it out on The Dewdrop's Bookshop page. Chapters 00:00 Exploring Death and Its Cultural Perception 05:41 The Journey of Writing About Death 11:08 Personal Experiences with Death and Fear 16:04 Cultural Perspectives on Death 21:38 Reflections on Life and Maturation 27:24 Holding Space for Others in Their Final Moments 32:54 Experiences with DMT and Altered States of Consciousness 34:49 Control, Surrender, and the Fear of Death 38:55 Engaging with Death: Personal Reflections 43:24 Preparing for Death: Acceptance and Mindfulness

    49 min

  3. 13/06/2024

    Welcoming Beginner's Mind: Gaylon Ferguson on the Intersection of Zen and Tibetan Buddhism

    Gaylon Ferguson and Vanessa Able discuss Gaylon's new book, Welcoming Beginner's Mind: Zen and Tibetan Wisdom on Experiencing Our True Nature. The conversation explores the ten images of the ox herding sequence and their progression from seeking the ox to returning to the world. Gaylon also introduces Welcoming Practice and talks about the influence of Zen on the Shambhala tradition. Gaylon shares his personal journey with the ox herding pictures and how he abandoned the project of writing a commentary on Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. The conversation also touches on the importance of beginner's mind, the challenges of not doing anything, and the power of sitting with difficult emotions.

    53 min

  4. 04/01/2024

    A Fire Runs Through All Things: Susan Murphy on How We Can Meet the Climate Crisis

    In this podcast episode, Vanessa chats with Susan Murphy, the author of "A Fire Runs Through All Things, Zen Koans for Facing the Climate Crisis." Susan discusses the inspiration behind her book, stemming from her experiences during the devastating 2019-2020 Australian wildfires. She relates these experiences to Zen teachings and practice with koans, illustrating how these notions can help navigate the current ecological and climate crisis. The discussion includes the impact of community in crisis situations, with Susan emphasising the importance of communal support during the fires and the regenerative nature of the affected landscapes. The conversation further explores the interconnectedness of all beings and the concept of "not knowing," a state of open-mindedness and curiosity essential in Zen practice , as well as in facing global challenges. Susan also touches on her earlier book, 'Minding the Earth, Mending the World,' noting the changing public perception of climate change over the decade. The conversation concludes with Susan sharing the impact of indigenous wisdom on her thinking and the importance of reconciling with the Earth to heal various societal rifts.

    1h 3m

  5. 08/12/2023

    Enlightenment is an Accident - Author and Zen Teacher Tim Burkett on How to Be More Accident Prone

    In this episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues podcast, Vanessa Able engages with Tim Burkett, Zen Buddhist priest and author of "Enlightenment is an Accident." Burkett shares his journey into Zen Buddhism, which began in San Francisco in 1964 under the guidance of Shunryu Suzuki. He discusses the evolution and personalization of Zen practice in America, emphasizing the balance between traditional rituals and contemporary approaches. Burkett delves into the concept of enlightenment, explaining it as a return to a natural, unburdened state of living and highlighting its accidental nature in the context of meditation and life experiences. The conversation also touches on the challenges and transformations encountered in deep meditation practice, the role of teachers, and the importance of embracing doubt and uncertainty as part of spiritual growth. For more interviews and enlightened reading, go to www.thedewdrop.org

    40 min

  6. 31/05/2023

    Casting Indra's Net and Engaging in Compassionate Action: A Conversation with Pamela Ayo Yetunde

    Vanessa Able in conversation with Pastoral Counsellor, Chaplain and Dharma Community Leader, Pamela Ayo Yetunde about spirituality, creative writing, interconnectedness, and the need to foster understanding and compassion in today's world. Indra's Net is a metaphor from ancient Vedic tradition that symbolizes interconnectedness and interdependence. In her new book, "Casting Indra's Net: Fostering Spiritual Kinship and Community," Ayo emphasizes the importance of recognizing and utilizing the wisdom from various spiritual traditions for personal growth and societal well-being. She talks about the distortion of humanity as a significant threat and the need to shake out the distortions within the interconnected net of existence. Highlighting the scarcity mentality that fuels competition and the distortion of perceiving others as enemies or competitors, Ayo introduces something called the Platinum Rule, which encourages us to engage with others based on their unique needs and desires rather than projecting our own preferences onto them.

    41 min

  7. 20/04/2023

    Surviving Intact – Norman Fischer on Zen, Language and Growing Old

    Norman Fischer is a poet and a writer, a zen teacher and director of the Everyday Zen Foundation; he is also the co-founder of a Jewish meditation center in San Francisco, as well as a husband and a father. His latest book, When You Greet Me I Bow, is a collection of essays on Buddhism written over the last 30 years that were brought together and edited by Cynthia Schrager. The Dewdrop was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to Norman over Zoom one afternoon in June, and to journey with him into the murky places where Zen, writing and poetry meet. Interview by Vanessa Able. Read transcript of this conversation is here. For more reading inspiration, visit The Dewdrop.

    44 min
  8. Turning Words With Hozan Alan Senauke

    22/03/2023

    Turning Words With Hozan Alan Senauke

    In this very first episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues podcast, Vanessa Able talks with Hosan Alan Senauke, Abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center in California and author of the new book ‘Turning Words.’ In Zen tradition, ‘turning words’ are words that can help one turn towards awakening or change a person’s direction. Alan shares various examples of turning words he has encountered in his life, including a powerful encounter with his teacher Sojun Weitsman Roshi, whose lasting teaching has been to "let things fall apart".

    32 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

The Dewdrop's Vanessa Able talks with authors, poets and spiritual teachers about the intersection of their writing and spiritual practices.

Information

  • Creator
    Vanessa Able
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Vanessa Able
  • Show Website
    The Dewdrop Dialogues