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What happens when we truly embrace silence? Not just the absence of speech, but a deliberate practice of observing the noise within?

In this revealing conversation between Myong-An Sunim and Dr. Ruben Lambert, we journey into the Korean Zen practice of Mugon Suhaeng (observing silence) and discover that not speaking is merely the surface of a much deeper experience. As Myung-An Sunim shares from his recent practice of silence, we learn that the real discovery comes when we notice the "murmuring"—that constant internal dialogue that usually hums unnoticed like a refrigerator in the background of our consciousness.

Through delightful stories, including a monk who could speak only two words per year yet chose to use them solely for complaints ("Robes rough," "Bed hard," "Food cold"), and a Zen master who created comically oversized shoes to expose a practitioner's attachment to appearances, we explore how traditional teaching methods cut through intellectual understanding to create direct experiential learning. These moments of clarity don't always feel comfortable, but they offer what Ruben describes as "a golden opportunity" to patch the leaks in our practice.

The conversation expands to address a listener's question about generational karma and fairness. Rather than seeing karma as punishment or reward, the hosts illuminate how we're all connected through an intricate web of relationships (inyon) spanning countless lifetimes. Like a tennis ball bouncing off a wall following the precise laws of physics, karma isn't personal—it's the natural unfolding of cause and effect. When we question its fairness, we're really expressing our inability to see the complete picture of causality.

Ready to explore your own internal murmuring? Join us each week as we tackle everyday challenges through a Buddhist lens. Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or visit soshimsa.org to discover practical wisdom for navigating life's complexities with greater awareness and compassion.

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Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org

FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestion

Support the show

Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org

FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestion

Have you ever wondered why bad things sometimes happen to good people? Or why some experiences seem to repeat across generations? Our exploration of karma goes far deeper than the oversimplified idea of cosmic punishment you might be familiar with.

Karma, simply meaning "action," represents a sophisticated framework for understanding the complex web of cause and effect that shapes our lives. In this second part of our series, we unveil the multidimensional nature of karmic consequences—some visible, some hidden beneath the surface, some immediate, and others unfolding across lifetimes or even affecting future generations.

We delve into the crucial distinctions between individual and collective karma, illustrating how we're all passengers on the same boat yet experiencing different accommodations. When disaster strikes, the wave affects everyone regardless of status, yet our individual karma determines how we uniquely experience that collective event. This understanding liberates us from unnecessary judgment and prejudice while opening doors to compassion.

Perhaps most transformative is our exploration of changeable versus unchangeable karma. While some conditions remain immovable—like chronic illness or imprisonment—we always retain freedom in our perception and response. Just as a man imprisoned on a tiny stool survived by taking mental journeys, we can transcend even the most challenging circumstances through spiritual awakening.

Throughout our conversation, we share profound wisdom about navigating life's complexities with greater awareness. When we stop obsessing over tracing each effect back to its original cause and instead wake up to the present moment—the only point where change is possible—we discover a path toward liberation from unnecessary suffering.

Ready to transform your relationship with life's challenges? Listen now and discover how seeing the world through Zen eyes can reveal the invisible threads connecting all existence, bringing peace even amidst life's greatest trials.

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Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org

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Have you ever stumbled upon wisdom in the most unexpected place? That moment when profound truth arrives from a source you'd never anticipate?

A simple gift exchange led to one of the most meaningful spiritual insights I've received. After attempting to thank a friend in my limited Spanish, I turned to a translation app to decipher her response. What appeared on my screen wasn't what she intended to say, but something far more profound: "You're not for you." Those four simple words stopped me in my tracks.

This accidental wisdom perfectly articulated a fundamental spiritual principle—that our purpose extends beyond ourselves, that we exist not merely for our own benefit but for others. It challenged the individualistic mindset so prevalent in modern society and reconnected me to the interdependent nature of our existence. The phrase has become a treasured mantra I keep close to my heart.

This experience reveals something essential about wisdom itself. We often decide in advance whose words merit our attention, dismissing children for being too young or friends for being predictable in their views. But profound truth doesn't respect these boundaries. Among a thousand ordinary words from any source—sage or criminal, child or elder—one might carry extraordinary meaning. The Buddha can speak through anyone, if only we're truly listening.

I invite you to practice deeper listening in your own life. Pay attention to the people around you, to nature, to unexpected moments like mistranslations. You never know when someone might speak "with the mouth of a thousand Buddhas." What wisdom might you discover if you set aside your assumptions about where truth can be found? Share your own unexpected moments of insight and join our community of seekers who understand that sometimes, the most profound teachings arrive when we least expect them.

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Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org

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What if karma isn't what you think it is? In this mind-expanding conversation, we unravel the true nature of karma beyond the simplistic "eye for an eye" understanding that leaves so many people confused and doubtful.

Karma, at its core, simply means action – specifically the actions of body, speech, and mind. But where most of us get lost is in understanding how these actions connect to their results. We often expect a direct, linear relationship: if I push someone, I should get pushed back in exactly the same way. When life doesn't follow this pattern, we question whether karma exists at all.

The reality is far more intricate and fascinating. Imagine karma as a vast spider web where tugging on one thread affects countless others in often unpredictable ways. Your actions might return to you in a completely different "currency" than the one you used – what matters is the underlying quality of experience, not its exact form. This accounts for why seemingly "bad people" appear to get away with harmful behaviors – we're simply not seeing the full timeline or all dimensions of consequences.

Through vivid analogies and practical examples, we explore four different ways karma can manifest: visible causes with visible effects, visible causes with hidden effects, hidden causes with visible effects, and hidden causes with hidden effects. Understanding these patterns helps make sense of why life unfolds in sometimes mysterious ways.

The most liberating insight? You don't need to know your past karma to improve your present life. Rather than trying to decipher which past actions led to your current circumstances, focus on cultivating wakefulness in this moment. Only through awareness can you interrupt the habitual patterns that perpetuate your karmic cycles. Instead of trying to erase negative karma (which isn't possible), add more positive actions to your life – this changes what you'll encounter moving forward.

Ready to break free from limiting karmic patterns? Listen now and discover how wakefulness in the present moment is your most powerful tool for transformation.

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Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org

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Have you ever wondered about the incredible strength you unknowingly possess? The strength that allows you to carry heavy worries day after day without collapsing under their weight?

Life presents itself as messy and unnerving—not the neat, nicely packaged experience we might wish for. As we navigate this muddy terrain, we often feel a sense of helplessness and paralysis when facing harsh realities. But this bonus track challenges that very notion. What if the paralysis is false? What if we're already demonstrating superhuman strength by hoisting up our anxieties and carrying them with us—sometimes for hours, sometimes for days, sometimes making them a permanent part of our identity?

The profound insight offered here is deceptively simple yet revolutionary: it takes exactly the same amount of power to lift a bucket of manure as it does to lift a bucket of gold. Both weigh the same. The question becomes not whether you have the strength—you clearly do—but what you choose to carry with that strength. Some people use their money because they suffer poverty of soul. Others use their brains because they suffer from who they are. But what if we redirected the immense energy we expend on worry toward something precious and valuable instead? This perspective flips our understanding of personal power on its head, revealing that we're not helpless at all—we're actually demonstrating remarkable strength, just in service of carrying burdens rather than treasures. Listen now and discover how to transform what you carry in life's journey. What will you choose to lift today?

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Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org

FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestion

Support the show

Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org

FAN MAIL - Send us a comment or a topic suggestion

Have you ever wondered if spiritual teachings about avoiding greed mean you're supposed to live an unfulfilling life? Our latest exploration of "Depraved Happiness" tackles this common misconception head-on.

When Zen philosophy identifies greed as one of the three poisons (alongside anger and ignorance), many practitioners mistakenly conclude they must embrace material lack or deprivation. This episode unravels this misunderstanding, revealing that Zen doesn't aim to deprive you of joy or fulfillment—rather, it seeks to free you from the gullibility that makes us chase after temporary satisfactions that never truly satisfy.

We examine the stark difference between forced contentment—those half-hearted "I'm okay, I guess" responses—and genuine contentment that celebrates life without comparison. True contentment isn't settling for less because "things could be worse" or because you don't deserve better. Instead, it's recognizing what is as the foundation for what can become. We challenge toxic positivity phrases like "beggars can't be choosers," affirming that human dignity doesn't diminish with circumstance.

By the end, we arrive at a powerful realization: contentment isn't the end goal but the bedrock upon which fulfillment is built. When we stop comparing our reality to imagined alternatives, we discover a deeper satisfaction that transcends our usual metrics of happiness. Join us in exploring how accepting what is becomes the solid platform from which authentic joy emerges.

Subscribe to World Preservatist for more philosophical explorations that transform how you view everyday concepts and challenge conventional wisdom about happiness and fulfillment.

Support the show

Dr. Ruben Lambert can be found at wisdomspring.com

Ven. MyongAhn Sunim can be found at soshimsa.org