Vital Zen

5-week study course exploring the teaching of Zen Master Hakuin in his text Yasenkana (Conversations on a Night Boat). This is the text where he lays out his methods for cultivating the underlying energy system of our Zen practice.

On this study course we’ll be exploring and unpacking the teaching of Zen Master Hakuin in his text Yasenkana (Conversations on a Night Boat). This is the text where he lays out his methods for cultivating the underlying energy system of our Zen practice. By teaching this to his student monks, within a few generations Hakuin’s lineage ended up dominating Rinzai Zen (and still does to this day). The text is included in the download and you’ll be encouraged to study it in detail.

These are the practices that build energy and show us how to safely store it, find grounding, stability and rooting, and how to flow through life with more ease. And they show us how to cultivate the energy of awakening (bodaishin). We’ll be looking at them all in detail.

Co-taught by Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi and Mark Kuren Westmoquette Sensei.

Huge gratitude to Master Hakuin and all he passed down to us.

Taking things further

If you’re interested in taking things further, we recommend studying our course “Here Be Dragons”.

Whereas the Yasenkana describes in detail the physical and energetic effects and benefits of the practices described, it only alludes to the insight and spiritual benefits. “Here Be Dragons” is an attempt at elucidating these more clearly, while giving a structure around which to explore them yourself.