Swords into Blossoms: The Alchemy of Stopping and Seeing

On the night of his awakening, the Buddha was met by Mara, the trickster force that tried to draw him away from enlightenment. Yet he stayed rooted in stillness and awareness. Mara faded, and the Buddha realized his true nature.

Why does this ancient account still matter so deeply on the Buddhist path? It points to two core dimensions of meditation practice: stopping and seeing. In Zen, stopping is developed through the stillness of zazen—steady presence and non-reactivity. Seeing is the ability to observe thoughts and emotions as they arise without getting caught in them. When fear, confusion, and desire appear as sharp swords, meeting them with calm, clear awareness can transform them into teachers—bodhisattvas—blossoms that open the way to freedom.

Join visiting monastic teachers Hojin Sensei and Shoan Sensei as they explore these timeless teachings through zazen, art, and body practice. As we move from trying to fix ourselves to meeting experience with wakeful compassion, a fresh and joyful freedom can emerge.