“There’s so much to learn and so much to know. It’s good to keep moving forward. And yet whatever we have is, in a very profound way, absolutely complete and always enough.”—Kyogen Carlson Kyogen Carlson (1948–2014) was a Soto Zen priest whose writings, teachings, and commitment to interfaith dialogue supported and inspired countless Buddhist, Christian, and other spiritual practitioners. Set to the rhythm of the seasons,
You Are Still Here is the first published collection of Carlson’s dharma talks. It illuminates key elements of contemporary Zen practice, such as the experience of zazen meditation, the pitfalls and intimacies of the teacher-student relationship and of sangha life, the role of community in personal practice, and the importance of interfaith dialogue reaching across political lines. Carlson’s teachings also underscore his commitment to lay Buddhist practice and women’s lineages, both significant contributions to American Buddhism. The beautifully distilled talks have been carefully edited and introduced by Sallie Jiko Tisdale, a respected writer, teacher, and Dharma heir to Carlson. Her masterful presentation highlights the significance of these illuminating teachings, while preserving Carlson’s distinct style of authenticity, humor, and conviction on the Zen path.
"Set according to the four seasons of the liturgical calendar at Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon, this book lays out a wealth of Zen teachings culled from decades of talks by Kyogen Carlson. Important themes in the book include the simultaneous centrality and ineffability of zazen; moments of kensho or sudden awakening; issues surrounding spiritual authority; the role of community life in personal practice; and the importance, in interfaith dialogue, or reaching across political lines as opposed to simply religious lines"--
“Kyogen gives it to us straight: Zen demands intense discipline, unwavering commitment, and deep faith, not only in the practice itself and in revered idealized figures like Dogen and the Buddha, but in an all-too-human teacher encountered in the midst of everyday life. This is Zen for grown-ups.”—Barry Magid, author of
Nothing Is Hidden: The Psychology of Zen Koans “This book is the Recorded Saying of Kyogen Carlson, Daiosho. He and his wife, Gyokuko Carlson Roshi, disciples of Jiyu-Kennett, founded Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon, one of the largest Zen centers in the United States. Like the classic
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, this book is for the person who is a beginner on the path of Zen as well as the person who has been practicing for decades. Such a wonderful book. Please savor this rich feast of Kyogen Carlson’s deep and accessible Dharma.”—Shinshu Roberts, author of
Being-Time: A Practitioner’s Guide to Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō Uji 
