Background

Jogen, raised in a non-religious Jewish family, discovered his first taste of meditation in childhood during taekwondo classes. His family’s observance of Jewish holidays was minimal, with the exception of his grandfather, who secretly practiced meditation. Jogen’s deeper exploration into meditation began after his grandfather’s passing, when he inherited books on yoga, Zen, and a meditation device. Intrigued, he found solace and presence for the first time, alleviating the anxiety he had carried since his father’s death when he was seven.

The early loss deeply impacted his family, creating a sense of sorrow and fragmentation. Jogen’s encounter with Buddhism later in life resonated with him, offering an affirmation of life’s difficulties that he could trust, given his early experiences with impermanence and loss. Enthusiastically embracing meditation, he faced both frustration and exhilaration during his early attempts, often throwing a kitchen timer in frustration. Concurrently, he experimented with psychedelics, finding them helpful in breaking free from fixed states of mind.

As Jogen delved deeper into meditation, attending sitting groups and temples, he became increasingly drawn to retreats. The more he practiced, the more he desired to continue his meditative journey.