Paul Gyodo Sensei talks with Lisa Gakyo Schaewe about meditation as a practice of "reality checking," how fear and mental constructs get in the way of our aliveness, and the role of creativity and imagination in Zen practice.

Lisa Gakyo is a visual artist who facilitates Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction classes and workshops in art making and creative process as contemplative practice, following a career as an Art Therapist and Licensed Professional Counselor in psychiatric, hospice and private practice settings. She began practicing Zen in 1991 at Zen Mountain Monastery in Mount Tremper, New York before moving to Colorado and is now a senior student and practice leader with Eon Zen Center and One Body Sangha.

You can visit her website at https://www.108lotuses.com