Shodo Harada Roshi’s teaching stands firmly in the classical Zen emphasis on zazen as the living heart of the path. Seated meditation is presented not as a technique among others, but as the primary means to realize one’s true nature, with consistency and daily discipline regarded as indispensable. This practice is not aimed at accumulating ideas or experiences; rather, it is directed toward direct, immediate realization that cuts through conceptual thinking. In this light, intellectual understanding is treated as secondary, always subordinate to what is verified in the crucible of actual practice.

A recurring theme in his guidance is the unity of mind and body within zazen. Attention to posture, breath, and physical presence is not mere formality, but a way of engaging the whole being so that realization is not confined to abstract thought. Through this integrated practice, the teachings of emptiness and non-self are approached as lived realities: ego-fixation and the sense of a separate, solid “I” are gradually seen as illusory. This insight opens into an awareness often described as “One Mind,” in which the apparent boundaries between self and other, subject and object, begin to lose their grip.

Harada Roshi also stresses that the fruits of meditation must permeate everyday life. Present-moment awareness is to be carried into ordinary activities, so that daily tasks, relationships, and work become expressions of Buddha-nature rather than distractions from it. In this way, Zen is not confined to the meditation hall; it becomes “living Zen,” where clarity and presence inform each gesture and word. Compassionate action naturally follows, as insight into non-separation matures into a genuine concern for the well-being of others.

Within this framework, traditional Zen forms retain an important place. The teacher–student relationship is treated as a vital conduit for guidance and authentic transmission, and intensive periods of practice such as retreats serve to deepen concentration and resolve. Classical methods, including the use of kōans, function as skillful means to break through habitual patterns of thought and open the way to direct seeing. Underlying all of this is the conviction that all beings share an inherent capacity for awakening, and that sincere, sustained practice can bring this latent potential to light.