Jiryu Rutschman-Byler is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest and teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, with dharma transmission from Sojun Mel Weitsman. Jiryu has trained residentially in Zen temples since 1996, and currently serves as a co-Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center through his role as Abiding Abbot of Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. Jiryu is the final editor of legendary Zen master Shunryu Suzuki’s Becoming Yourself: Teachings on the Zen Way of Life.
Episode Cheatsheet
The Big Idea
Jiryu Rutschman-Byler brings Zen wisdom down to earth, arguing that life isn’t something to be solved—it’s something we’re invited to inhabit more fully and intimately, including all the inevitable problems. Through practices like Zazen (seated meditation), softening the mind, and embracing both our inner “idiot” and innate wisdom, he shows how becoming one with everything isn’t esoteric—just pragmatic, lived presence. In conversation with Dan Harris, Jiryu makes Zen practical, especially for anyone feeling stuck in problem-solving mode.
Key takeaways:
The real miracle is being alive: Jiryu Rutschman-Byler reminds us that everyday experiences—breathing, drinking water, noticing the world—are as magical as any mystical “spirit.” Awe is accessible right now.
Problems are not obstacles to living—they’re part of it: Life will always present challenges, big and small, but Zen teaches that intimacy with our problems is the heart of being alive, not a distraction from it.
Softening the mind creates better ground for wise action: By relaxing our thinking and dwelling in an embodied, present awareness, we become more effective and compassionate in navigating complex situations.
Faith in Buddhist practice is experiential, not dogmatic: Zen faith is about growing confidence in your own capacity for presence, warmth, and responsiveness—not blind belief or resignation.
