331 - When Confronted with Great Difficulties: Zhaozhou's "Just Right" episode artwork

EPISODE · May 15, 2026 · 20 MIN

331 - When Confronted with Great Difficulties: Zhaozhou's "Just Right"

from The Zen Studies Podcast · host Domyo Burk

How can we practice without ignoring the world, but also without being overwhelmed by it? We can learn something from a koan involving the 9th century Chan master Zhaozhou (Joshu): A monk asked, "When a great difficulties come, how should I avoid them?" Zhaozhou said, "Just right." We can include great difficulties in our perception of this life without being destroyed by them, letting our hearts break without rejecting this world or becoming consumed by anger or grief.

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331 - When Confronted with Great Difficulties: Zhaozhou's "Just Right"

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This episode was published on May 15, 2026.

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How can we practice without ignoring the world, but also without being overwhelmed by it? We can learn something from a koan involving the 9th century Chan master Zhaozhou (Joshu): A monk asked, "When a great difficulties come, how should I avoid...

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