The Dewdrop Dialogues

In this episode, I speak with Keith Wakefield, a Chaplain and educator at UCLA Health, about his evocative new memoir, Stay With Me. I Want to Be Alone. Keith talks about his 'fumbled' path into chaplaincy and how a single, intense night covering four cardiac arrests redefined his understanding of what it means to be present for the dying and the grieving. He also talks about the distinction between therapy and spiritual care, the 'armor' we all carry into our work, and how he uses his own insecurities and a healthy sense of humor to connect with patients and students alike. Whether he’s quoting Axl Rose or navigating the silence of a hospital hallway, Keith offers a unique and inspiring perspective on the resilience of the human spirit.

“The vastness isn’t somewhere else. It’s right here, embodied in the most ordinary activities.”I traveled to Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, near San Francisco, to chat with Jiryu Rutschman-Byler. Jiryu is the abbot of the Zen Center there and he is also the co-editor of the new collection of Shunryu Suzuki’s lectures titled ‘Becoming Yourself: Teachings on the Zen Way of Life.’We talked about Zen practice, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, and what it actually means to “be yourself” without turning that into yet another self-improvement project.Jiryu shared his own early spiritual (mis)adventures — chasing vastness, losing the ground beneath his feet — and how finding Zen practice helped him discover that the boundless isn’t somewhere else at all. It’s right here, in sweeping leaves, in breathing in and out, and in inhabiting the actual space of our lives, however that looks.We spent a lot of time on ethics and the Bodhisattva precepts, especially Suzuki’s refreshingly non-moralistic take. What happens when ethics don’t come from “should,” but from intimacy? From trusting our own loving nature instead of rules, guilt, or ideology? In a world desperate for moral clarity while allergic to dogma, this felt both timely and quietly radical.We also talked about Suzuki’s enduring influence, his humor, his lightness, and the editorial work behind Becoming Yourself — including the delicate task of letting the teachings stay alive.“If you try to get out of your limitation to be free, you miss it. The limitation is what gives life its shape.”AUDIO CHAPTERS00:00 Exploring Zen: The Legacy of Shunryu Suzuki03:35 Finding Ground: The Embodiment of Spiritual Practice06:38 The Nature of Freedom: Embracing Limitations09:27 Intimacy and Aliveness: The Essence of Being12:22 Becoming Yourself: The Journey of Self-Discovery15:20 Ethics in Zen: The Precepts and Their Importance18:19 The Enduring Influence of Suzuki Roshi21:31 The Intimacy of Being: Connecting with Life23:36 The Radical Nature of Letting Go25:45 The Interconnectedness of All Life28:34 Trusting Intimacy: The Path to Ethical Living31:25 Exploring the Structure of the Book32:14 Understanding Bodhisattva Precepts35:35 Suzuki Roshi's Unique Perspective38:09 The Nature of Ethical Principles39:55 Moving Beyond Moralism and Legalism44:11 Trusting Our Loving Nature48:29 The Inherent Goodness in Human Nature52:24 The Role of Faith in Ethical Practice56:04 The Timeliness of Suzuki's Teachings59:48 The Process of Editing the BookBecoming Yourself is published n 2025 by Tarcher, an imprint of Penguin Random House. It is also available at The Dewdrop's Bookshop Page.OTHER RESOURCESshunryusuzuki.com

In this episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues, I had the pleasure of speaking with author Andy Chaleff about his latest book, "Dying to Live." We explored the shadowy and rewarding themes of death and the fear of mortality, discussing how these experiences have shaped our lives. Andy shared personal stories and insights from his journey, and we delved into cultural perspectives on death and the transformative power of facing our deepest fears. This conversation was a thoughtful exploration of life's ultimate certainty and the liberation that can come from embracing it.Andy's book, Dying to Live is published by Meaningful Relations. You can also check it out on The Dewdrop's Bookshop page.Chapters00:00 Exploring Death and Its Cultural Perception05:41 The Journey of Writing About Death11:08 Personal Experiences with Death and Fear16:04 Cultural Perspectives on Death21:38 Reflections on Life and Maturation27:24 Holding Space for Others in Their Final Moments32:54 Experiences with DMT and Altered States of Consciousness34:49 Control, Surrender, and the Fear of Death38:55 Engaging with Death: Personal Reflections43:24 Preparing for Death: Acceptance and Mindfulness

Gaylon Ferguson and Vanessa Able discuss Gaylon's new book, Welcoming Beginner's Mind: Zen and Tibetan Wisdom on Experiencing Our True Nature. The conversation explores the ten images of the ox herding sequence and their progression from seeking the ox to returning to the world. Gaylon also introduces Welcoming Practice and talks about the influence of Zen on the Shambhala tradition. Gaylon shares his personal journey with the ox herding pictures and how he abandoned the project of writing a commentary on Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind. The conversation also touches on the importance of beginner's mind, the challenges of not doing anything, and the power of sitting with difficult emotions.

In this podcast episode, Vanessa chats with Susan Murphy, the author of "A Fire Runs Through All Things, Zen Koans for Facing the Climate Crisis." Susan discusses the inspiration behind her book, stemming from her experiences during the devastating 2019-2020 Australian wildfires. She relates these experiences to Zen teachings and practice with koans, illustrating how these notions can help navigate the current ecological and climate crisis. The discussion includes the impact of community in crisis situations, with Susan emphasising the importance of communal support during the fires and the regenerative nature of the affected landscapes. The conversation further explores the interconnectedness of all beings and the concept of "not knowing," a state of open-mindedness and curiosity essential in Zen practice , as well as in facing global challenges. Susan also touches on her earlier book, 'Minding the Earth, Mending the World,' noting the changing public perception of climate change over the decade. The conversation concludes with Susan sharing the impact of indigenous wisdom on her thinking and the importance of reconciling with the Earth to heal various societal rifts.

In this episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues podcast, Vanessa Able engages with Tim Burkett, Zen Buddhist priest and author of "Enlightenment is an Accident." Burkett shares his journey into Zen Buddhism, which began in San Francisco in 1964 under the guidance of Shunryu Suzuki. He discusses the evolution and personalization of Zen practice in America, emphasizing the balance between traditional rituals and contemporary approaches. Burkett delves into the concept of enlightenment, explaining it as a return to a natural, unburdened state of living and highlighting its accidental nature in the context of meditation and life experiences. The conversation also touches on the challenges and transformations encountered in deep meditation practice, the role of teachers, and the importance of embracing doubt and uncertainty as part of spiritual growth. For more interviews and enlightened reading, go to www.thedewdrop.org

Vanessa Able in conversation with Pastoral Counsellor, Chaplain and Dharma Community Leader, Pamela Ayo Yetunde about spirituality, creative writing, interconnectedness, and the need to foster understanding and compassion in today's world. Indra's Net is a metaphor from ancient Vedic tradition that symbolizes interconnectedness and interdependence. In her new book, "Casting Indra's Net: Fostering Spiritual Kinship and Community," Ayo emphasizes the importance of recognizing and utilizing the wisdom from various spiritual traditions for personal growth and societal well-being. She talks about the distortion of humanity as a significant threat and the need to shake out the distortions within the interconnected net of existence. Highlighting the scarcity mentality that fuels competition and the distortion of perceiving others as enemies or competitors, Ayo introduces something called the Platinum Rule, which encourages us to engage with others based on their unique needs and desires rather than projecting our own preferences onto them.

Norman Fischer is a poet and a writer, a zen teacher and director of the Everyday Zen Foundation; he is also the co-founder of a Jewish meditation center in San Francisco, as well as a husband and a father. His latest book, When You Greet Me I Bow, is a collection of essays on Buddhism written over the last 30 years that were brought together and edited by Cynthia Schrager. The Dewdrop was delighted to have the opportunity to speak to Norman over Zoom one afternoon in June, and to journey with him into the murky places where Zen, writing and poetry meet. Interview by Vanessa Able. Read transcript of this conversation is here. For more reading inspiration, visit The Dewdrop.

In this very first episode of the Dewdrop Dialogues podcast, Vanessa Able talks with Hosan Alan Senauke, Abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center in California and author of the new book ‘Turning Words.’ In Zen tradition, ‘turning words’ are words that can help one turn towards awakening or change a person’s direction. Alan shares various examples of turning words he has encountered in his life, including a powerful encounter with his teacher Sojun Weitsman Roshi, whose lasting teaching has been to "let things fall apart".