Скачать или смотреть If Everything is Already NOW, Then Why Zen?

What if everything really is happening now—but not all “nows” are created equal? In this episode of The Dance of a Deeper Explanation, titled If Everything Is Already Now, Then Why Zen?, we push past the clichés of mindfulness and meditation to explore what the Zen tradition, especially through the lens of Joshu Sasaki and the philosophy of Zero, actually teaches about being present.

Zen isn’t about arriving at some perfect present moment. It’s about discerning the timeliness, genuineness, and appropriateness of each action within that moment. You can be fully in the now while doom-scrolling—or while breathing in mist and sunlight. Both unfold in the same sliver of time. But only one reflects the clarity that Zen training aims for.

Drawing on the radical teachings of Sasaki Roshi and the principles behind Zen Optimism, this video unpacks why Zero, in the Sasaki sense, matters more than generic “nowness.” Why do we bow, sit zazen, practice kinhin? Not to reach “the now,” but to study the choreography of insight—so that each gesture becomes spontaneous, clear, and real.

Whether you’re new to Zen or deep in the practice, this episode reframes how Zen, Buddhism, and mindfulness aren’t simply about experiencing the present—but about engaging the present with awakened discernment. It’s not enough to act spontaneously. As any seasoned practitioner of effective Zen or student of Joshu Sasaki knows: right action must also meet the right moment.

Explore how Zen meditation isn’t monk cosplay or spiritual escapism—it’s a precise training in transforming insight into activity. And why, despite everything being “now,” we still need Zen. Because sometimes, the right answer is still… the wrong koan.

Tags: Zen, Buddhism, Joshu Sasaki, Zero, Zen Optimism, Meditation, Mindfulness, Sasaki Roshi, Zazen, Kinhin, Sanzen, Spontaneity, Appropriateness, Present Moment, Zen Practice, Effective Zen
https://zenoptimism.substack.com/p/th...