Episode

#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
Description
Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway | Brought to you by Allform premium, modular furniture; Pique Tea premium tea crystals (pu’er, etc.); and You Need A Budget cult favorite budgeting app. More on all three below.Henry Shukman (@mountaincloudzencenter) teaches mindfulness and awakening practices to a wide range of students from all traditions and walks of life. Henry is an appointed teacher in the Sanbo Zen lineage and is the Guiding Teacher of Mountain Cloud Zen Center. He has an MA from Cambridge and an MLitt from St Andrews and has written several award-winning books of poetry and fiction.Henry’s essays have been published in The New York Times, Outside, and Tricycle, and his poems have been published in The New Republic, The Guardian, The Sunday Times (UK), and London Review of Books. He has taught meditation at Google, Harvard Business School, UBS, Esalen Institute, Colorado College, United World College, and many other venues. He has written of his own journey in his memoir One Blade of Grass: Finding the Old Road of the Heart, a Zen Memoir.Henry has also recently created a new meditation program, Original Love, which aims to provide a broad, inclusive path of growth through meditation.Please enjoy!This episode is brought to you by Allform! If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about Helix Sleep mattresses, which I’ve been using since 2017. They just launched a new company called Allform, and they’re making premium, customizable sofas and chairs shipped right to your door—at a fraction of the cost of traditional stores. You can pick your fabric (and they’re all spill, stain, and scratch resistant), the sofa color, the color of the legs, and the sofa size and shape to make sure it’s perfect for you and your home.Allform arrives in just 3–7 days, and you can assemble it yourself in a few minutes—no tools needed. To find your perfect sofa, check out Allform.com/Tim. Allform is offering 20% off all orders to you, my dear listeners, at Allform.com/Tim.*This episode is also brought to you by You Need A Budget! You Need A Budget is a cult favorite budgeting app for a reason—it works. The app and its simple 4-rule method will change the way you think about your money and help you gain total control so you can plan for the things you need and get the things you want without guilt or stress. You Need A Budget has helped millions of people transform their finances, save their marriages, and live life on their own terms.The You Need A Budget team offers free, live classes every day of the week—including video courses, bootcamps, and challenges—and active fan groups in every corner of the internet. On average, new budgeters save more than $600 by month two and $6,000 in their first year. Try the app free for 34 days (no credit card required) at YouNeedABudget.com/Tim. *This episode is also brought to you by Pique Tea! I first learned about Pique through my friends Dr. Peter Attia and Kevin Rose, and now Pique’s fermented pu’er tea crystals have become my daily go-to. I often kickstart my mornings with their Pu’er Green Tea and Pu’er Black Tea, and I alternate between the two. Their crystals are cold-extracted, using only wild-harvested leaves from 250-year-old tea trees. Plus, they triple toxin screen for heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic mold—contaminants commonly found in tea. I also use the crystals for iced tea, which saves a ton of time and hassle.Pique is offering 15% off of their pu’er teas, exclusively to my listeners. Simply visit PiqueTea.com/Tim, and the discount will be automatically applied. They also offer a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so your purchase is completely risk free. Just go to PiqueTea.com/Tim to learn more.*If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Chapters
The host shares his experience drinking fermented Pu-Air tea and how it benefits gut health, immune function, weight management, mental and emotional health, and more.
00:00 - 01:10 (01:10)
Summary
The host shares his experience drinking fermented Pu-Air tea and how it benefits gut health, immune function, weight management, mental and emotional health, and more. He recommends Peak Tea's fermented Pu-Air tea crystals, which are sourced from wild tea trees and cold-extracted.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The You Need A Budget app offers a 34-day free trial with no credit card required, using its simple 4-rule method to help you gain total control over your money and reduce financial stress.
01:10 - 06:57 (05:47)
Summary
The You Need A Budget app offers a 34-day free trial with no credit card required, using its simple 4-rule method to help you gain total control over your money and reduce financial stress.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Finding a way to deal with trauma and chronic illness can be painful, but it requires support and a willingness to face our fears.
06:58 - 16:26 (09:28)
Summary
Finding a way to deal with trauma and chronic illness can be painful, but it requires support and a willingness to face our fears. Childhood experiences can also shape how one deals with adversity as an adult.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode, the concept of awakening and how it feels to become self-aware is explored, with the suggestion that enlightenment doesn't necessarily occur as a one-time event, but rather a gradual understanding of oneself and the world around them.
16:26 - 22:03 (05:36)
Summary
In this episode, the concept of awakening and how it feels to become self-aware is explored, with the suggestion that enlightenment doesn't necessarily occur as a one-time event, but rather a gradual understanding of oneself and the world around them.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
A person describes an experience of feeling part of the world instead of being separate from it while watching a beautiful scintillating light path on the ocean horizon that made them feel at home.
22:03 - 34:31 (12:28)
Summary
A person describes an experience of feeling part of the world instead of being separate from it while watching a beautiful scintillating light path on the ocean horizon that made them feel at home.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker reflects on how living with eczema forced them to develop tolerance and find moments of blissful solitude, leading to a greater sense of understanding and acceptance of difficult situations.
34:32 - 47:03 (12:31)
Summary
The speaker reflects on how living with eczema forced them to develop tolerance and find moments of blissful solitude, leading to a greater sense of understanding and acceptance of difficult situations.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this podcast, the host speaks to a teacher about how awakening can be a form of profound healing but not the same as the trauma that people may need to heal from their past.
47:03 - 51:57 (04:54)
Summary
In this podcast, the host speaks to a teacher about how awakening can be a form of profound healing but not the same as the trauma that people may need to heal from their past. They also discuss the teacher's life story and how experiencing awakening can differ from one's worldview.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The podcast discusses Zen as a teaching method, how it bludgeons one's rational mind into submission for an experience beyond concepts and labels, and talks about a famous Zen writer Dogen from 13th century Japan.
51:57 - 57:23 (05:25)
Summary
The podcast discusses Zen as a teaching method, how it bludgeons one's rational mind into submission for an experience beyond concepts and labels, and talks about a famous Zen writer Dogen from 13th century Japan.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The practice of Zen meditation involves a specific posture and mantra to reach a state of peaceful liveliness and fulfillment, which can be a lifeline for those seeking freedom and wonder.
57:23 - 1:04:04 (06:41)
Summary
The practice of Zen meditation involves a specific posture and mantra to reach a state of peaceful liveliness and fulfillment, which can be a lifeline for those seeking freedom and wonder. The speaker provides an explanation of the practice and its benefits.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The western culture has grown a lot more conscious over the years and spiritual awakening is not a niche topic anymore.
1:04:04 - 1:10:40 (06:36)
Summary
The western culture has grown a lot more conscious over the years and spiritual awakening is not a niche topic anymore. Psychedelics are powerful tools that have the capacity to guarantee an effect, making them an unusual tool in the toolkit though not recommended for all people.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Learn about the foundations of mindfulness and how ancient Zen teachings can help individuals be more present and sit with difficulties.
1:10:40 - 1:16:58 (06:17)
Summary
Learn about the foundations of mindfulness and how ancient Zen teachings can help individuals be more present and sit with difficulties. Discover the personal experiences of Zen masters shared through co-anns as they hope others will find what they've discovered.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker explains the four different zones of mindfulness, support and deep support while expressing the concept that nothingness produces and generates everything, leading to the discovery of infinite generosity as a form of love.
1:16:58 - 1:20:08 (03:09)
Summary
The speaker explains the four different zones of mindfulness, support and deep support while expressing the concept that nothingness produces and generates everything, leading to the discovery of infinite generosity as a form of love.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The use of Co-Ans (like sneeze in your balls analogy) can provide a helpful frame during meditation practices.
1:20:08 - 1:23:41 (03:33)
Summary
The use of Co-Ans (like sneeze in your balls analogy) can provide a helpful frame during meditation practices. If taken seriously with some training and a teacher, it can help achieve a successful session.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
This transcript snippet explains the meaning of some Zen terminology, such as "Juu" meaning everyday conversation, "Muiichi motsu" meaning no heart, and "Nichi-jou kaiwa" meaning ordinary conversation.
1:23:41 - 1:25:51 (02:09)
Summary
This transcript snippet explains the meaning of some Zen terminology, such as "Juu" meaning everyday conversation, "Muiichi motsu" meaning no heart, and "Nichi-jou kaiwa" meaning ordinary conversation.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The protagonist in a story is often the character that has the chance to change and takes it, and this idea can be applied to personal change in real life.
1:25:52 - 1:33:27 (07:35)
Summary
The protagonist in a story is often the character that has the chance to change and takes it, and this idea can be applied to personal change in real life. The practice of koans, such as the sound of one hand clapping, can help facilitate this change by allowing individuals to let go of their sense of self and achieve enlightenment.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker compares the subjective phenomenology of someone after drinking ayahuasca or taking DMT with someone who has had kensho experience or awakening as defined in Zen, stating that they have different levels of experience.
1:33:27 - 1:40:22 (06:55)
Summary
The speaker compares the subjective phenomenology of someone after drinking ayahuasca or taking DMT with someone who has had kensho experience or awakening as defined in Zen, stating that they have different levels of experience. However, they reveal that a student had a strong experience of Kensho using DMT.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
In this episode, the speaker discusses the difficulties of achieving kensho through psychedelics, highlighting the importance of the container, cultural context, and assistance in constructing meaning from unusual experiences.
1:40:22 - 1:46:15 (05:53)
Summary
In this episode, the speaker discusses the difficulties of achieving kensho through psychedelics, highlighting the importance of the container, cultural context, and assistance in constructing meaning from unusual experiences. They further emphasize the risks involved with using Ayahuasca, and how psychedelic experiences can involve strange occurrences that have little to do with kensho.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Henry Shukman recommends checking out One Blade of Grass and visiting mountaincloud.org or henryshukman.com for more resources on the teachings of love and transformation in their practice.
1:46:15 - 1:54:11 (07:55)
Summary
Henry Shukman recommends checking out One Blade of Grass and visiting mountaincloud.org or henryshukman.com for more resources on the teachings of love and transformation in their practice.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
The You Need a Budget app offers a new way of thinking about money management and helps users get out of debt, break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, and build wealth faster using a simple four-rule method.
1:54:11 - 1:58:57 (04:46)
Summary
The You Need a Budget app offers a new way of thinking about money management and helps users get out of debt, break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, and build wealth faster using a simple four-rule method. The app offers a free trial for 34 days, with no credit card required.
Episode#531: Henry Shukman — Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway
PodcastThe Tim Ferriss Show
Discover Peak Tea Crystals, which can be added to hot or cold water for a quick and easy tea.
1:58:57 - 2:01:17 (02:20)
Summary
Discover Peak Tea Crystals, which can be added to hot or cold water for a quick and easy tea. These crystals are made with only wild harvested leaves from 250-year-old tea trees, including fermented Pu Air Tea.