Connecting to Ancestral Support in Zen Practice

Greetings Friends,

I am returning from a 10-day stay at my former home—Great Vow Zen Monastery. While I was there I had the opportunity to co-lead a sesshin (weeklong silent meditation retreat). The sesshin’s theme was The Light of the Ancestors.

Yunmen said to the assembly of practitioners, “Everyone has a light. When you look for it, its dark, dark, hidden. What is this light that everyone has?”

What is this light that everyone has?

I find this to be a wonderful question. One I carry around with me, dropping it into my heart-mind as I walk through the glenn, as I meet seeming strangers at the grocery store or read the news, when I am talking to friends or family members, when I look in the mirror, meet a client or talk to my cat.

What is this light that everyone has?

Can I “see” it?

During the sesshin we practiced opening to the help and support of the Zen + Buddhist ancestors. In the tradition I am a part of we can trace our lineage back generation by generation to the time of Shakyamuni Buddha.

To do this awakens a sense of wonder and awe, its about 83 generations over the last 2500 years. We have a name for each generation. At the monastery we would chant this list of names everyday, saying the names of the ancestors in an act of gratitude for their generosity and practice.

Having spiritual ancestors reminds me that my life and practice are deeply supported.

It also reminds me that people have been doing this for a long time, since before the time of the buddha. We could imagine that perhaps throughout all time people have sat in some form of silent contemplation and awakened to their true nature.

They too had support from their ancestors, which included other humans as well as the mountains, great earth, open sky, plants, animals and flowers.

This is true for us too.

Who supports your life and practice? What lineages of healing and awakening are you a part of? What qualities are you cultivating in your own spiritual journey that your ancestors, mentors, friends and family members, or the natural world embody?

Maybe instead of imagining a line going back to our early ancestors, we could imagine trees with deep roots and many branches, or circles of support.

Yesterday, my partner Kennyo and I went for a hike in Mohican State Park, a fertile forest of hemlocks in a more hilly part of Northeastern Ohio. Returning to the forest feels like a homecoming, like going to church, each foot step felt like a prayer or a remembering. As we met and greeted many other humans making their way to the waterfall I felt a kinship with them. We may all go to the forest for different reasons but I think on some level we are transformed, we are healed.

Our ancestors are part of us, they speak through tree and star, through rushing river and wind. Through the stary sky and the life force that animates us.

Our life is a shared life. We too our ancestors to this earth and all who live here and for all the future generations. May we take this responsibility seriously, may we remember that we are not alone.

In the audio above I offer a short talk and then a guided practice for opening to the support of the ancestors, asking for their help and opening to their awakened hearts.

I’m curious to hear from you:

* What is your experience of opening to the help of ancestors and guides?

* Have you considered or learned about any of your spiritual ancestors?

* What qualities are you cultivating in your dharma practice or in your life?

* Why do you go to the forest or into the natural world?

Summer Read— The Hidden Lamp: Stories from 25 Centuries of Awakened Women

Join me starting on the Summer Solstice, Friday June 20th for a summer read. Every two weeks we will read one of the koans from the Hidden Lamp as well as the commentary. We will spend two weeks reflecting on the koan and commentary and bringing it into our own lives. I will offer dharma talks during my weekly Monday night practice, and there will be opportunities to share your practice here through the comments section and live on Monday nights.

I will publish a reading schedule soon. If you would like to participate, consider purchasing a copy of The Hidden Lamp or checking it out from the Library.

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I’m Amy Kisei. I am a Zen Buddhist Teacher, Spiritual Counselor, Astrologer and Artist. I offer 1:1 Spiritual Counseling sessions using IFS and somatic mindfulness. I also offer astrology readings. Check out my website to learn more. I currently live in Columbus, OH and am a supporting teacher for the Mud Lotus Sangha.

I currently have a couple of spaces open in my Spiritual Counseling practice for the Summer.

And my books are open for June if you would like to book an astrology reading. It’s quite an interesting year astrologically and I do natal readings as well as solar return and year ahead readings.

Below you can find a list of weekly and monthly online and in-person practice opportunities.

Weekly Online Meditation Event

Monday Night Dharma — 6P PT / 9P ET Join weekly for drop-in meditation and dharma talk. We are currently exploring Dogen Zenji’s Instructions for Zazen.

Feel free to join anytime. Event lasts about 1.5 hours. ZOOM LINK

Zen Practice opportunities through ZCO

Grasses, Trees and the Great Earth Sesshin—August 11 - 17, in-person at Great Vow Zen Monastery (this retreat is held outdoors, camping is encouraged but indoor dorm spaces are available)

In-Person in Columbus, Ohio through Mud Lotus Sangha

Interdependence Sesshin: A Five Day Residential Retreat Wednesday July 2 - Sunday July 6 in Montrose, WV at Saranam Retreat Center (Mud Lotus is hosting its first Sesshin!)

Weekly Meditations on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

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