Chinul was the founder of Korean Zen, and the piece above is a perfect introduction to his approach of sudden realization/gradual cultivation. Spiritual practice is full of paradoxes; to be able to hold such disparate ideas “together” is one challenge of training. Read the Journal

Such openness! Such a “no one special” approach to sharing the most important moments of one’s life, makes this a most charming chapter from the volume of this master’s journey to freedom. Being closer to our own time, the language is easy to fall into step with and grasp.