Henry Shukman
Zen Teacher, Author, Poet
Deepen your meditation with Henry’s path of daily training on The Way app
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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
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Upcoming events
The Gateless Gate: A Weekend Retreat in Berkeley, CA
July 26-27, 2025
Traditional Buddhism talks about the “path,’ and “dharma gates’ – about a journey we can make, and thresholds we can pass through in practice. But at the same time, it also says there is no journey, no path, and no gates.
A Weekend Retreat in London
August 9-10, 2025
This retreat blends guided meditations, silent practice, and teachings — both ancient and modern. Poetry, stories, and reflections from beloved authors further enrich the experience. Practicing live and in-person with others can be profoundly deep and transformative. The shared stillness, the opportunity to compare insights, and the support of a like-minded community are all foundational elements of a strong, sustainable practice.
Refuge: A Daylong Retreat in Amsterdam
Sunday, August 17, 2025
A note from Henry:
“Often it can feel like life’s demands on us are limitless – like we can never put down the to-do list. But each of us, as a birthright, has within us a place of refuge. A place of peace and clarity that is not dependent on the conditions of our lives. And through shared practice, we can discover 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.
Appearances
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
