Thinking about Dharma teachings can make our practice complicated and unreal. Complicatedness is a neon sign telling us to look at things differently. This is one part of koan work - taking the language of self and translating it into the language of embodiment.

"We sometimes find that what we call our spiritual path has become yet another strategy for the ego, a tactic to avoid one part of our life and grasp another, to escape suffering and find enlightenment. We remain divided.
Seeing this is wonderful. For, in truth, we are not dealing with freedom from suffering but freedom in suffering. When we truly accept this - even for a moment - we find ourselves living in the space beyond both suffering and the end of it. We have attained the teaching of the Buddha."
—Antony Osler, “Zen Dust”

Riding the wild horse: a Zen guide to falling off and climbing back up

Stoep ZenBy Stoepzen PodcastsOct 10, 2021