In this episode, recorded during the closing of a September 2024 sesshin at One River Zen, Sensei Michael reflects on the bittersweet nature of ending deep practice. While sesshin may come to a close, the insights gained remain available—it's just a matter of shifting our gaze. Sensei explores Shōyōroku Case 32, "Kyōzan’s State of Mind," as a guide for stepping beyond the seductive stories we create about ourselves. He emphasizes Kyōzan's instruction to observe directly, without clinging to our constructed identities. Through the lens of both Zen and Carl Jung’s Red Book, Sensei Michael encourages listeners to let go of fixed ideas about who they should be. He draws on Jung’s metaphor of growing like a tree—naturally, without a gaining idea—pointing to the importance of embracing life as it is in each moment. The talk is a call to leave behind self-imposed narratives and embrace the true, boundless nature of being. The episode concludes with a powerful reminder: while insights can’t be unseen, their impact can fade if we don’t continue practicing diligently. The journey of awakening requires ongoing effort, as the weeds of delusion are always ready to grow back.