September 2026, Issue 105

Editorial

Communication as Practice

Communication is far more than the exchange of words. In Zen practice, communication begins with how we meet each moment. Before speaking to others, we first learn to listen deeply—to our own body, mind, and the circumstances before us. Practice teaches us that genuine communication arises from presence rather than reaction. When we sit zazen, we cultivate the stillness that allows us to respond with clarity instead of habit. Listening without judgment and speaking with honesty and kindness become expressions of the Buddha Way.

Communication also extends beyond conversation. Our posture, actions, silence, and willingness to serve all convey our understanding. Every bow, every act of care, and every shared period of practice speaks a language beyond words.

As a sangha, we strengthen one another through respectful communication grounded in compassion and wisdom. May our practice help us communicate in ways that reduce suffering, deepen trust, and reveal our interconnected life.

Gassho,

Ekai Korematsu

Read this Myoju (file on Google Drive)