Zen and Ecodharma Talks by Kritee Kanko Boundless in Motion

Is Mu enough?

In this talk, Sensei Kanko dives into some details of the Rinzai Zen path, discussing the all-encompassing nature of the Mu Koan and its relationship to breathing from the hara (lower belly) and accessing concentrated awareness. She invites listeners to balance the masculine Zen approach with emotional healing. Acknowledging Zen's limitations with respect to dealing with societal inequalities, she also advocates for devotional approaches as part of spiritual practice. The talk offers an insightful and heartening exploration of Zen's role in addressing contemporary challenges.

Sensei Kanko gave this talk on the 4th day of the retreat, on October 4, 2020.

Thank you for listening to the Boundless in Motion podcast. You can access more information about our programs and retreats by going to www.boundlessinmotion.org or www.kriteekanko.com.

Kisagotami's Mustard Seed - Hidden Lamp 49

Will Western Buddhism lead us to selfish acts and an egoistic pursuit of enlightenment if we do not reintroduce the original communal aspects of Buddhism as they were present at the time of the Buddha?

In this Zen Talk, Sensei Kanko delves into the profound intersection of Buddhism and the universal experience of grief. She shares her journey from India to the United States, weaving in the poignant story of Kisagotami, Buddha, and the mustard seed to highlight the contrast between Eastern traditions of communal support and the Western approach to Buddhism that often overlooks these essential aspects. With vivid recollections of her initial retreats, Sensei Kritee critiques the ego-driven attitudes that were prevalent in her early practice in the United States, as well as in Western Buddhism in general, advocating for a practice that is not about escaping the world but about finding freedom within it. Drawing from grief practices, the koan tradition, and Zen breathing techniques, she suggests that facing life's harsh realities can lead to profound spiritual openings. At the same time, she questions whether just the solitary pursuit of enlightenment without the communal and ethical dimensions of original Asian Buddhism can address the challenges of today. Can Zen practices offer psychedelic-like insights? Are we, in essence, nurses for each other?

Sensei Kanko gave this talk during the May 2023 Zen retreat (sesshin).

Thank you for listening to the Boundless in Motion podcast. You can access more information about our programs and retreats by going to www.boundlessinmotion.org or www.kriteekanko.com.

How to access your spiritual power amidst overwhelming grief and shame?

How can a sword made of paper help you when you are being attacked? How can we fight oppression when we feel powerless? How can we begin to see why the universe brought us alive as a human in this exact time and place?

In this talk given on the last day of Feb 2024 Zen retreat, Sensei Kanko powerfully shows us a clear path to access our spiritual power against all the odds and make a difference. How is it possible that almost none of the Buddhist teachers want to speak out and demand the stopping of mass killings? How is it possible that regardless of how much we sit, we can still feel shamed and powerless to act outside of the cushion? Is the traditional way of practicing Buddhist meditation enough? Kanko discusses how our sitting practice and healing from our childhood trauma and shamed inner parts can give us access to spiritual power.  We who consider ourselves to be "small" or "weak" can become a person who can overcome an assaulter, a group of white supremacists, and our personal difficulties with a paper sword. With stories from US Navy seals, the Palestinian crisis, and Asia to the ones illustrating the need for personal safety and wellbeing, Kanko dives into questions of primal importance. We are living in very difficult times but even when we feel we are powerless and completely at a loss there are ways to continue walking the path the universe has laid out ahead of us and make a difference.

Thank you for listening to the Boundless in Motion podcast. You can access more information about our programs and retreats by going to www.boundlessinmotion.org or www.kriteekanko.com

How can we bridge the gap between serene meditation experiences and our world’s ongoing climate and social crisis?



In this thought-provoking talk given on the last day of a Zen retreat, Sensei Kanko (Dr. Kritee) invites us to consider life beyond the retreat. She emphasizes the necessity of grounded compassion and encourages a broader understanding of Zen beyond the usual Western interpretations. She illustrates the importance of carrying the fruits of our meditation practice into our day-to-day lives. By comparing our modern materialistic lifestyles with the simple rural community oriented traditional Buddhist and indigenous lifestyles, Kanko highlights what we can learn much from the traditional/indigenous approaches. She articulates her vision of a more inclusive, community-focused Buddhism/Spirituality that actively addresses pressing societal matters such as climate crisis, social injustices, and animal suffering. She probes the intricate balance between meditation practice and the real challenge - applying these teachings in the exterior world to confront our polycrisis. Without this active engagement, she asserts, there can be no genuine Buddhism or spiritual practice.



Sensei Kanko gave this talk on the final day of Zen retreat in May 2023.



Thank you for listening to the Boundless in Motion podcast. You can access more information about our programs and retreats by going to www.boundlessinmotion.org or www.kriteekanko.com

How is giving birth or merging with a lover a Buddhist act?

Familiar encounters in novel ways. In this radical talk, Sensei Kanko explores the contours of a Zen life and experience in a warm and novel way. She encourages listeners to think beyond standard masculine ways of understanding Zen with metaphors and stories that have a taste of impermeable sweetness. How can the experience of Mu be like giving birth or merging with a lover? How to see through obsessive spirituality, clinging, and spiritual materialism and consider those things on the path that truly matter?

Sensei Kanko gave this talk on the 2nd day of a Zen retreat in October 2020

Thank you for listening to the Boundless in Motion podcast. You can access more information about our programs and retreats by going to www.boundlessinmotion.org or www.kriteekanko.com

Can we find the most important teaching in Zen (Mu) in indigenous cultures?



In this talk, Sensei Kanko talks about the most important Koan: Joshu's Mu, and discusses how it is related to wisdom and teachings in indigenous cultures. When we start practicing Zen, we often crave appreciation, healing, and community. These needs are particularly strong due to the complex traumas and goal-oriented mindset inflicted on our minds by modern society. This is okay and so human. However, there is also something deeper that both Zen and Indigenous cultures both encourage us to get in touch with. In this talk, Sensei Kanko discusses this most important teaching of Zen and how we can start our journey towards lesser suffering and more connection on our planet and all beings.



Sensei Kanko gave this talk on the 4th day of a Zen retreat in February 2023.



Thank you for listening to the Boundless in Motion podcast. You can access more information about our programs and retreats by going to www.boundlessinmotion.org or www.kriteekanko.com