In this opening sesshin talk, Jogen welcomes practitioners into the deep work of gathering the heart and aligning with true nature through the simple, demanding forms of Zen retreat. He speaks of awakening as the end of unnecessary suffering and the discovery of a deeper truth than personality, a shared root of all beings that softens division and reveals a “diamond kinship” with life. Emphasizing both character formation and mind training, he encourages sincerity, steadiness, relaxation, and intimate attention to the breath, reminding us that we need not be perfect or special to practice—only willing. Through yielding to structure, meeting ourselves honestly, and trusting the immediacy of this very moment, we cultivate freedom, compassion, and the clarity that naturally serves the world. This is from the 2026 Dharma Gates at Great Vow Zen Monastery.