How can we make wholesome decisions in the face of impossible dilemmas that life throws at us? How do we face impossible choices when hanging between life and death?

In this talk, Dr. Kritee Kanko reflects on a strange Zen story where someone finds themselves in an impossible situation: hanging by their mouth from a tree branch over a cliff, he must either answer a spiritual question and fall to his death, or remain silent and fail to fulfil his vow to help all beings. Is the koan presenting us with a false choice between self-preservation and service to others?

We all need to make seemingly impossible choices around old age, sickness, and death concerning ourselves, our loved ones, and all living beings.

Sensei Kanko explains with vivid and vulnerable personal stories related to her own chronic health issues that it's not easy, that it is okay to make mistakes or to feel that we have failed. She explores how we can find profound spiritual depth even while experiencing physical limitation. With tenderness, Sensei Kanko reveals how meditation allows us to transcend black-and-white (i.e., right vs wrong) thinking, embracing both our human vulnerability and spiritual potential simultaneously. She discusses how facing our own mortality can deepen our practice, encouraging us to "die on the cushion" while still fully embracing life. In these times of polycrisis and systemic collapse, she emphasizes the essential role of community in facing our deepest fears and challenges, reminding us that true Buddhism was never meant to be a hyper-individualistic pursuit of enlightenment.

Sensei Kanko gave this talk during the February 2025 Zen retreat (sesshin).

Thank you for listening to the Boundless in Motion podcast. You can access more information about our programs and retreats by going to www.boundlessinmotion.org or www.kriteekanko.com

How can we cultivate fearlessness in these turbulent times? Can developing our ability to grieve, trust, and surrender help us access our inner vastness and fearlessness? Is our practice supporting communion between analytical and intuitive aspects of our mind?

In this talk, Sensei Kritee Kanko explores an incident from 20th century India about Dipa Ma, who held a frightened student's hand during an extreme airplane turbulence episode and whispered, "The daughters of the Buddha are fearless." Through this short story, Dr. Kritee examines how we can face fear in our increasingly chaotic world through grief work, trust, and devotion.

The talk challenges Western Buddhism's hyper-individualistic approach, suggesting we've lost something vital by removing elements of devotion and surrender present in Asian Buddhist lineages. What if instead of living modern lives solely focused on personal happiness or individual impact, we could surrender and devote ourselves to something larger than ourselves—as Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations have done for millennia? Could this help us become grounded forces amidst the chaos of fascism and environmental destruction unfolding in our world?

Drawing on the Indigenous “Prophecy of the Eagle and the Condor," Sensei Kanko presents a vision of healing that integrates the mind-focused "Eagle path" with the heart-centered "Condor path" at this crucial transition period in humanity's journey.

Sensei Kanko gave this talk on the second day of the Winter 2025 Zen retreat (sesshin).

Thank you for listening to the Boundless in Motion podcast. You can access more information about our programs and retreats by going to www.boundlessinmotion.org or www.kriteekanko.com

How can we respond with loving clarity and topple brothers like Trump or Musk who are stuck in toxic patterns of power and control?

In this profound Dharma talk, Sensei Kritee Kanko explores a koan about an eighth-century Chinese Zen master who stubbornly dies standing on his head—only to have his sister, a bearer of gentle, loving wisdom, topple his final display of ego. Through personal stories and reflections on leaders like brothers Trump and Musk, who inspire others to be “brave in their cruelty,” Kanko reveals two ways we all can get stuck: either in the pursuit of power and specialness or in a state of helpless victimhood.

Is it possible to live, love, and be in these times as our ancestors did—those who faced world wars, famines, and destruction alike? We may not control how every event unfolds in the future, but what can we do? What inner qualities can help us dismantle the need for power and specialness—both in ourselves and in the leaders driving chaos and destruction?

Drawing parallels between the nun’s gentle yet effective response to her brother and our current challenges, Kanko illustrates how the feminine qualities of loving care, community support, and persistent gentle action can transform seemingly immovable obstacles. This talk reminds us that in these difficult times, our path forward lies not in hatred or despair but in staying grounded in love while taking continuous action for change.

Sensei Kanko gave this talk during the February 2025 half-day meditation gathering (Zazenkai).

Thank you for listening to the Boundless in Motion podcast. You can access more information about our programs and retreats by going to www.boundlessinmotion.org or www.kriteekanko.com