Finding Peace in Troubled Times
Cultivating a meditation practice for resilience and peace
Sundays, March 16, 23, 30, April 6
10am – 12pm MDT
Online
In the turbulence of 8th-century China, the Zen poet Du Fu wrote:
“The nation is shattered.
Mountains and rivers remain.”
Amidst crisis, war, and uncertainty, Du Fu saw two worlds—one of chaos and upheaval, the other of nature’s steady presence. He learned to live in both, to find resilience and peace despite external conditions.
Can meditation practice help us do the same? Can it offer clarity in a world that feels overwhelming?
The answer is a resounding yes. Zen and meditation are not philosophy— they offer a real path to resilience, clarity, and inner peace. And that’s exactly what this course is designed to offer.
Two paths to greater peace
Meditation offers two intertwined paths to greater peace.
One is the path of practice—cultivating resilience, softening old patterns, and opening the heart to life’s fullness. Clarity deepens, and serenity grows.
The other is the path of discovery—a journey of insight and realization, where glimpses of an underlying truth reveal the nature of self, consciousness and reality itself. This is awakening: a shift from separation to unity, from self to nonduality.
Both paths lead to freedom. Both are waiting for you.
Regulate the nervous system & discover the peace that’s always here
Peace reveals itself in two ways.
One arises through practice—regulating the nervous system, cultivating mindfulness, and opening the heart. In this space, we find presence, connection, and moments of effortless flow.
And on the other hand, there’s a radically different kind of peace we can discover. It’s a peace that “passes all understanding.” It’s a peace that is always here, beyond self and other, that some claim as primordial, predating everything else, yet which we can actually tap into.
Practical tools for deepening your practice
This course is your guide to two dimensions of peace—one cultivated, the other discovered. Through simple yet powerful practices, you’ll learn the following in this immersive four week course:
- Soothe anxiety with simple, effective meditation techniques
- Access a compassionate awareness that’s always present
- Open to self-love and deepen your inner kindness
- Feel more connected to others and less isolated
- Tap into flow states that bring calm and clarity
- Experience glimpses of non-dual awareness, unlocking a profound sense of unconditional well-being
Finding Peace in Troubled Times
- 4 Sunday Sessions 10am – 12pm MDT on March 16, 23, 30, April 6
- Live Q&A time with Henry to help develop your skills
- Lifetime access to the session recordings
- Become a subscriber to The Way App and enjoy an additional 20% discount! You can sign up for these courses via the app, click here on your mobile
Recordings
Each session will be recorded. If you can’t attend live, and it will be made available the following day.
Questions?
If you have any questions about Unlocking Meditation, please contact our program manager Jeremy. We’re happy to answer any questions and look forward to having you join us!
Scholarships
We warmly welcome you to contact us if a scholarship would allow you to attend this course. Please contact our program manager Jeremy for details about how to apply.
Here’s what students have said about Henry’s teaching:
What I love about Henry is his foundational approach to building a sustainable practice that is emotionally supportive and feels empowering.
I’ve practiced meditation with a number of teachers through my life over decades, but somehow Henry is getting through to me in a profound way. There is so much loving kindness in his voice and instructions.
I can’t say enough about Henry’s gentle, encouraging, compassionate, oft-humorous and always insightful support.
Take your experience of “Finding Peace in Troubled Times” even deeper with curated sessions from The Way. These sessions align perfectly with the course themes, offering extra support and insight as you progress.
Recommended sessions include:
- Retreat 7, session 6 – Carried by breath
- Retreat 9, session 2 – Human consciousness
- Retreat 9, session 3 – Human emotions (part i)
- Retreat 9, session 7 – Shared compassion
- Retreat 11, session 2 – Not needing to change anything
These sessions are a powerful way to deepen your learning – whether you explore them beforehand or revisit them during the course. They’re optional, but highly recommended for a richer, more immersive experience.
Your Guides to Learning
Henry Shukman
Zen Master in the Sanbo Zen lineage
Henry is an authorized Zen Master in the Sanbo Zen lineage, and is the Spiritual Director Emeritus of Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In addition to teaching meditation, Henry is an award-winning author and poet. His struggles and traumatic experiences as a youth, combined with a spontaneous awakening experience at 19, paved the way for Henry to develop a well-rounded approach to healing and awakening through meditation.
Spring Washam
Guest teacher
Spring Washam will join us a guest teacher for the 3rd session of the Finding Peace in Troubled Times course. Spring is a well-respected dharma teacher, author, and visionary leader residing in Atlanta, Georgia. Her works include the insightful A Fierce Heart: Finding Strength, Courage, and Wisdom in Any Moment and her latest literary contribution, The Spirit of Harriet Tubman: Awakening from the Underground.
