Henry Shukman
Zen Teacher, Author, Poet
Deepen your meditation with Henry’s path of daily training on The Way app
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Join Henry live in online courses and community events
Meet Henry Shukman
About Henry
Henry is an authorized Zen Master in the Sanbo Zen lineage, and is spiritual director emeritus of Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In addition to teaching meditation, Henry is an award-winning poet and author, whose memoir One Blade of Grass recounts his own journey through meditation practice. His struggles and traumatic experiences as a youth, combined with a spontaneous awakening experience at 19, and many years of training under several teachers, paved the way for his developing a well-rounded approach to healing and awakening through meditation.
Notes from Henry
Get Henry's unique thoughts about meditation, the path to awakening, how to develop a meaningful practice, delivered to you bi-weekly
Upcoming events
The World and Us: Self, Other, and No-self
Sundays, September 7, 14, 21, 28
In this course, we’ll explore the nature of the self and the liberating concept of “non-dual” awareness. But unlike what you may have heard, the goal isn’t to “get rid” of the self. Instead, we’ll learn to welcome it with compassion—because paradoxically, that’s how you see through it.
Realizing The Way
October 9-12, 2025
Join us for the first-ever residential retreat by The Way. Over three days, together we’ll step deeper into practice, as we come to recognize the true meaning of the “Way:” the non-separateness inherent in our experience, that creates our deep, intrinsic connection to the world around us.
The Whole Earth is Medicine: A Daylong Retreat in LA
Saturday October 25, 2025
If mindfulness is the medicine, what is the sickness? Or perhaps could all of experience – a whole, unified experience – be the medicine?
Join me on a day of exploration of this koan, learning how it can support and deepen your practice.
Australia Tour
March 14, 18, 22-25, 28, 2026
In March 2026, Henry Shukman will be embarking on a teaching tour across Australia. Known for his warm, restful guidance and deep insight into awakening and Zen practice, Henry will be offering retreats, workshops, and public talks designed to support both beginners and experienced meditators.
Appearances
Sounds True Audio Originals
Henry Shukman guides us in laying the groundwork for our own awakening, weaving together beautiful guided meditations, personal stories, Zen teachings, poetry, and music. Each audio session peels back the illusion of self, bringing us home to the infinitely good, all-pervading, and all-encompassing love that is our true nature.
The Tim Ferriss Show
Zen, Tools for Awakening, Ayahuasca vs. Meditation, Intro to Koans, and Using Wounds as the Doorway.
The Tim Ferriss Show
20 Minutes of Calm, Plus the Strange and Powerful World of Koans
The Kevin Rose Show
Lessons from an Authentic Zen Master
