Zencare Podcast Finding Refuge When Life Unravels | Chodo Robert Campbell
Oct 21, 2025
Chodo Robert Campbell, a Zen teacher who guides contemplative care and end-of-life practice, explores refuge through Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. He shares stories of sitting with the dying, finding presence in ordinary moments, and returning to community amid unrest. Short reflections on impermanence, care, and the steady practice of coming back to what is real.
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Buddha Refuge Means Remembering Inner Awakening
- Taking refuge in the Buddha means recognizing the Buddha nature within ourselves, not worshiping a historical figure.
- Chodo Robert Campbell explains bowing at the altar honors the Buddha in each person and our shared capacity to see clearly.
Return To Wakefulness In Each Moment
- Take refuge in your own ability to wake up by returning to the present amid confusion, sorrow, or impermanence.
- Chodo urges practicing moment-by-moment refuge rather than seeing it as a one-time ritual.
Sitting With Randy Showed Death As Teaching
- Chodo recounts sitting with his friend Randy as she lay quietly for 20 days, describing her diminishing body and profound presence.
- He uses her stillness as a direct teaching: in that silence the room became the Buddha, revealing presence at the bedside.
