a year of zen by Bonnie Myotai Treace
Last Updated: May 24, 2026
Daily (well, almost!) writing prompts, exercises, inspiration and commentary by Zen teacher Bonnie Myotai Treace. Author of A Year of Zen (pub October 2020), as well as many other books and articles, Sensei offers brief daily encouragement to practice one’s life with wisdom, compassion and creativity. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bonnie-myotai/support
The Unknowable
A practice for the days when we are drenched, (perhaps drowning!) in the unknowable. Bonnie Myotai reflects on the heartbreak of recognizing many around us have given the okay to suffering and cruelty, and the spiritual imperative to simply practice, regardless.
The True Person
A Halloween episode...with Mater Rinzai!
Die While You Live: Freedom from Self and Utter Responsibility
What is it to let the ego’s predominance recede, and practice a life in which “all is good”? With a nod to 16th C Zen master Shido Munan, we explore the humility and balance of an awakening life.
Fear in Practice
Bonnie Myotai offers a reflection on fear, the absolute self, and facing the lions around us. Reading from Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman, teaching from Daido Roshi, and a writing/contemplation inspired by a pig and a chicken.
Cool Loneliness: Alone at the Bottom of Too Many Stairs
October 24th’s episode considers loneliness and spiritual practice. A bit of teaching from Pema Chodron, a memory of a hard night in NYC, and a writing/contemplation exercise.
Rustling Leaves
The evening rooster calls out as Bonnie Myotai gives an autumn writing/contemplation prompt.
Epitaph for Today: Say a Word of Zen
Bonnie Myotai takes us back to the cemetery to write our epitaph, and explore what message our life may leave .
A Little Knife: The Evening Gatha in Autumn
Bonnie Myotai invites a contemplation of the “drying, wrinkling, falling” autumn of our lives. She remembers the first night she heard the Evening Gatha, and Maezumi Roshi teaching her about “the little knife” at its heart.
People Will Talk
In Episode 38 Bonnie Myotai offers a reflection on how the shift happens from always looking to be loved to looking for how we can be loving. A bit of Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Broken-hearted,” getting an “I’m Wrong” tee shirt, and how not to turn spiritual practice into a plate of cold liver. You read that right...!
Vast Ocean and Crashing Waves
Episode 37 finds us contemplating both ocean and waves, absolute and relative. Bonnie Myotai offers a poem of Thich Nhat Hanh’s and a writing prompt.
The Bear in Your Kitchen: Practicing the Unexpected
In Episode 36, Bonnie Myotai asks that we consider how we practice when something unexpected, perhaps frightening, suddenly shows up.
Calm The Crying Child
A quick Saturday writing prompt, where we’re asked to remember how to cheer up a child, or anyone... including ourselves.
Stop the Fighting: An Intimate Zen Koan
In episode 34 Bonnie Myotai introduces an old Zen koan that we face again and again in our lives. How do we realize that we are not apart from others? How do we “stop the fight” taking place “over there”?
Nothing But Change: Being at Home in Impermanence
Zen teaches that understanding impermanence is the deepest work. In today’s episode, join Bonnie Myotai for a reflection, a little e.e. cummings, and an autumn writing and/or contemplation prompt.
Chomei's Tears: Masked and Bare
In Episode 32 of A Year of Zen, Bonnie Myotai reflects on the Zen hermit Kamo No Chomei's poem about autumn, tears, bareness, the limits of words. The wearing of masks, the challenges of compassion, and a writing prompt.
Letting Go of Our Old Nonsense
Episode 31 outlines how to work with the new book “A Year of Zen”...and create a sacred, solid year of practice. Bonnie Myotai reflects on when rules, methods, prompts are helpful, and when it’s time to let them go.
Equinox: Tilting the Heart
Bonnie Myotai offers a reflection on the autumn equinox, and the 6 principles of "Higen" (generosity, moral reflection, perseverance, diligence, meditation, wisdom), and gives writing /contemplation prompt on perseverance.
Fading Smoke: Honor, Love, and Grief
In Episode 29, Bonnie Myotai remembers Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and the importance of giving ourselves time to grieve.
Staying True to One Another: Kyosei’s Raindrops
Bonnie Myotai asks that we explore the ways we distance ourselves from what is real, and how to show up for one another. A zen koan called “The Voice of the Raindrops,” and a writing/contemplation exercise on sorrow.
Green Zen
Episode 27, September 16, has us exploring “shinrin yoku” or forest bathing, appreciating green life, especially as climate catastrophes increase. Kilmer’s poem “Trees” and a writing/contemplation.
Let’s Get Physical: Being a Body that Awakens
Episode 26: Bonnie Myotai takes up the gifts and frustrations of our being physical beings. How does spiritual practice invite coherence and peace?
Stopping Time
Bonnie Myotai shares an arrow to the heart, a teaching on time, art and excellence. Includes a writing prompt for September 12.
Gassho: Two Being Realized as One
In Episode 24, Bonnie Myotai reflects on how tragedy can bring us back to what is really important. 9/11 in NYC remembered, 19 years later.
Meeting Eyes: Tenderness in Practice
In Episode 23 of A Year of Zen, we are introduced to “dokusan,” meeting intimately, and asked to bring compassion to the confusion that often makes us look away.
Circle Back
In Episode 22, Bonnie Myotai summons her mom, and the spiritual practice of a cup of tea. (And also says it is Friday, when alas, it is Tuesday...!)
Your Real Work
Episode 21, given on Labor Day, asks that we look beyond our jobs into our real work. How might Zen practice enable not being so subject to the vulnerabilities of work and engage what we’re really here to do and be?
What to Say When: Right Speech
In episode 20 of A Year of Zen, Myotai Sensei introduces the Five Considerations that the Buddha taught to help discern what to say when...and when to stay silent.
Autumn: Writing with Spent Leaves
Myotai Sensei offers a reflection on the vulnerabilities and beauty of Autumn, and a writing/contemplation on letting go, losing center, and coming home.
What You Notice
In Episode 18 of A Year of Zen, Bonnie Myotai offers a teaching of the Buddha, and a writing/reflection on how we are nourished by noticing.
Complete Enjoyment: A Zen Writing Practice
In Episode 17, Bonnie Myotai asks that we consider the blank page (and the meditation hall) as both the biggest deal, and no big deal. Includes a writing/contemplation exercise on enjoyment, childhood, and memory.
Solitude: Seeing the Wholeness
In episode 16 of A Year of Zen, Bonnie Myotai offers a contemplation on solitude, reads a bit of Rilke, and proposes these are holy days.
Finding Our Belonging
Bonnie Myotai offers a meditation on old age, sickness, death ...and finding where we truly belong.
Emotions and Karma: Making a Big Space
Bonnie Myotai offers a reflection on how a daily practice of quieting the mind helps when emotional storms blow though. Followed by a writing/contemplation prompt.
Being Perfect: Student Mind
In Episode 13 of A Year of Zen, Bonnie Myotai asks that we consider our experiences of being a student, whether of Zen or any other thing, and if we've ever felt "lesser than" because a teacher sets themself up as "greater than."
The Ship is Going Down: Now It’s Up to You
In episode 12 of A Year of Zen, Sensei reminds us that though we are not alone there is a solitary discernment to make as “the ship goes down.”
Attention to Sky not Weather
Sensei invites a bigger context, a shift in our attention from passing weather to the sky itself. Writing and/or contemplation prompt for Sunday, August 23,2020.
Not Being Special: Finding Your Frog
A fun Saturday writing and practice prompt, with Myotai and Suzuki Roshi, sleeping spouses and frogs.
The Worm of Happiness is Here
What if life isn’t actually hostile? What if you have everything you need to be content? Bonnie Myotai reads from Colin Wilson’s “Poetry and Mysticism,” offers a reflection and writing prompt.
Summer Dewdrops: Waking Up
Write or just contemplate with Sensei Bonnie Myotai, as she points to the true nature of summer, and gives a writing prompt to bring it home.
Letting Go of Pain
A bit of Emerson at the end of a hard day, and a writing prompt to encourage acknowledging and letting go.
Threshold: Freshness of Mind
Bonnie Myotai reflects on a powerful poem by Pablo Neruda. How can we shift from seeing only the crises into recognizing we are at a threshold of possibility?
Don’t Inspire Me! (A Day of Non-Doing)
In episode 5 of a Year of Zen, the writing assignment is to not write...Instead, notice your mind directly, and take care of sloth and busyness...
Sincerity: The Bodhisattva Railway
Sensei Bonnie Myotai Treace gives a writing assignment, reads from Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind.
Trust and Not Knowing:Zen Writing Practice
Myotai Sensei presents four principles of writing practice, and gives the August 14 prompt.
Resilience and Optimism
A bit of Zen, a poem, and the August 13 writing prompt with Sensei Bonnie Myotai Treace.
A Year of Zen: Writing Prompts
Tune in each day for a quick writing prompt or inspiration: just a minute or two to get to the heart of the matter. Offered by Sensei Bonnie Myotai Treace, author of “A Year of Zen” (release date October 2020.)
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