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FACE TO FACE | EASTERN HORIZON 21

Like all Buddhist traditions, Korean Zen
emphasizes living with clear awareness and How to
moment-to-moment mindfulness. What practices
help build this sustained awareness?
Cultivate Right

You don’t need to develop sustained awareness—you
Speech
already have it. The question is: What are you being
aware of? The key is not getting lost in thinking.
By Wendy Shinyo Haylett
Thinking is like a hall of mirrors. One effective
technique is to use an anchor—your breath. Just
follow your breath at all times, wherever you are.

When you do that, you return to the present. You
see clearly, hear clearly, taste clearly, touch clearly—
and even think clearly. And from there, you can act
clearly. It’s not complicated. Only our thinking makes
it complicated.

Compassion is a central teaching in Buddhism.
While we often think of it in terms of helping
others, how can we also extend compassion to the Wendy Shinyo Haylett is an author, podcast host,
planet itself? Buddhist Sensei and Lay Minister ordained from
The Bright Dawn Center of Oneness Buddhism.
She is the host of the podcast, Everyday Buddhism:
True compassion doesn’t need to be developed.
It’s already what you are. Your true nature is Making Everyday Better and the author of the
compassion—because your true nature is a clear,
book, Everyday Buddhism: Real-Life Buddhist
“don’t-know mind” that sees what’s in front of it and
Teachings & Practices for Real Change. She leads a
responds without hesitation. If someone needs help,
donation-based virtual community and Everyday
help them. No problem. But if you want to deepen
Sangha through Patreon. Wendy also offers
that practice, then hold this vow in your heart:
spiritual companionship and teaches meditation,
How may I help? Ask it again and again. How may I
Buddhist philosophy, and practices through virtual
help? Don’t know. That question alone will slowly
teleconferences. Previously, Wendy worked as a
transform your life.
behavioral, communication, and career coach
For laypeople who are new to—but interested and as a broadcast television engineer in earlier
in—Korean Zen, what guidance would you offer experience. Benny Liow interviewed Wendy on
to help them begin their study and practice? why she started the Podcast, and various aspects
of Right Speech which is a core component of the
If you’re new to Korean Zen, I recommend finding
Noble Eight-fold Path.
a Zen center. You can visit the Kwan Um School of
Zen website at www.kwanumzen.org to locate one
Your podcast, Everyday Buddhism, has been a
near you. Attend an introductory session and start
valuable source of insight for many people exploring
practicing with others. Practicing with others is very
the Dharma. What first drew you to Buddhism, and
important. That shared energy and support makes what inspired you to start the podcast to share it
all the difference. All the best. EH
with others?