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Awakening Streams: The One River Zen PodcastAuthor: Sensei Michael Brunner, One River Zen
Awakening Streams features Dharma talks and Zen reflections from Sensei Michael Brunner of One River Zen Center in Ottawa, Illinois. Each episode explores the living practice of Zen Buddhism through classic Zen koans, teachings from the Shyroku and Mumonkan, and direct encounters with everyday life. Discover how awakening flows through every obstacle, every act of compassion, and every moment of wonder. Learn more: https://www.oneriverzen.org Language: en Genres: Buddhism, Religion & Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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The Garuda Trap: How to Master Karmic Momentum and Sustain Presence
Episode 28
Wednesday, 19 November, 2025
🎧 Episode Notes: The Garuda TrapTitle: The Garuda Trap: How to Master Karmic Momentum and Sustain PresenceSpeaker: Sensei Michael Brunner (Founder, One River Zen, Ottawa, IL)Summary: What happens to your hard-won peace the moment you step off the cushion and back into your life? In this essential Zen talk, Sensei Michael Brunner dives into the perennial struggle of maintaining clarity against the immediate pull of habit energy. Using the compelling imagery of Case 44 of the Shōyōroku (Kōyō’s Garuda Bird), Sensei Michael reveals the Garuda Trap: that instantaneous surge of karmic consciousness that seizes the Dragon (our true, calm nature) the moment it "leaves the ocean" of direct experience. Learn to distinguish between the "imperial order of presence" and the "general's order of strategy," and discover a powerful, non-avoidant method for working skillfully with your reactive patterns. Stop being the "blind turtle pinned under Mount Sumeru" and learn how to make friends with the inner scoundrel to sustain authentic presence in your everyday world.Key Concepts & Metaphors:The Ocean (Dragon King): Your natural domain; the calm, steady depth of your true nature, or original mind. The practice is to stay home in direct experience (body, breath, sensation).The Garuda/Falcon: Karmic Momentum or Karmic Consciousness. The instantaneous surge of thought forms and old habits that seize you. The trap is sprung the moment the "head sticks out"—so drop back in immediately.The Balcony Test: Identifying the edge where your peaceful presence meets your old habits. A place of revelation, not punishment.Blind Turtle under Sumeru: A warning against repeating painful, habitual patterns. Do not repeat the pattern.Imperial Order vs. General's Order: The Imperial Order is the stillness of presence. The General's Order is reaction and strategy. Stay in the Imperial Order; stop chasing the General.Core Insight: Skillful ActionThe practice is not about eliminating karma, but working skillfully with it.Make Friends with the Inner Scoundrel: Meet all facets of yourself (the aloof one, the avoidant one) from presence.The Bullfighter Analogy: Don't avoid the "bull" (karma), and don't run into it. Work nimbly with it.The Practice: If an old pattern surges, look at it carefully. Engage it, but not from your reactive self. Drop back into the body, into the breath, into direct sensation.Connect with One River Zen:Sensei Michael Brunner is the Abbot and founding teacher of One River Zen in Ottawa, Illinois.Website: oneriverzen.orgLocation: 121 E Prospect Ave, Ottawa, IL 🪷 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
