EPISODE · Aug 4, 2025 · 14 MIN

Where'd You Get this Dust?

from Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast · host Sensei Michael Brunner

🔔 OverviewIn this Dharma talk, Sensei Sōen Michael Brunner takes us deep into the Platform Sūtra and the legendary verse contest between Jinshū and Daikan Enō. Through vivid storytelling and lived insight, Sensei explores how the desire to “polish the mirror” of the self can subtly undermine our realization of Buddha Nature.The talk is both grounded and profound, moving from a humorous account of a temple bat rescue to the core question that still echoes through Zen halls today:“Where did you get this dust?”🧘 Key ThemesThe story of Daikan Enō and the Sixth Ancestor transmissionJinshū’s verse and the trap of self-perfectionWhy true Zen practice dissolves form, hierarchy, and ambitionThe nature of awakening as already completePractice as everyday life: pounding rice, catching bats, being present📿 Practice With UsJoin our meditation community:🕣 Monday–Friday at 6:30 AM CT🌙 Wednesday Evening at 6:00 PM CT🌅 Saturday Morning at 9:00 AM CT💻 https://oneriverzen.orgEveryone is welcome—no experience needed.🙏 Support the TeachingsIf you find these talks meaningful, consider sharing with a friend or leaving a review to help others discover One River Zen.🔗 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://oneriverzen.org📷 Instagram: @oneriverzen 🪷 Awakening Streams: The One River Zen PodcastTeachings and reflections with Sensei Michael Brunner (Sōen) of One River Zen Center, 121 E Prospect St, Ottawa IL 61350.🌐 Learn more & join practice: https://www.oneriverzen.org🎧 Listen to more episodes: Awakening Streams Podcast🙏 Support the Sangha: https://www.oneriverzen.org/donate#SenseiMichaelBrunner #MichaelBrunnerOttawa #OneRiverZen #ZenKoan #ZenPodcast #OttawaIL #SotoZen

What this episode covers

In this rich and accessible Dharma talk, Sensei Sōen Michael Brunner revisits the pivotal moment in the Platform Sūtra when Daikan Enō, an illiterate laborer, challenges the hierarchy of Zen with a single, luminous question: “Where did you get this dust?” Through the story of Enō’s awakening and the symbolic contest of verses, Sensei explores the subtle trap of self-perfection in practice—and the liberating realization that our true nature needs no polishing. Touching on Zen history, modern psychology, and temple bat-catching, this talk offers both humor and depth while guiding listeners back to the heart of the path: presence, curiosity, and the recognition that awakening is already here.