Episode 236: Jiryu Rustchman-Byler
From Practice You with Elena Brower by Elena Brower
February 14, 2026 · 38 min · Season 8 · Episode 236
About this episode
Elena Brower interviews Jiryu Rutschman-Byler about the practice of living authentically and the journey of becoming oneself.
On the practice of sitting, walking, becoming, and living as yourself, precisely where you are. (0:00) – Introduction and Guest Welcome (2:21) – Gru's Journey to Zen Practice (5:53) – Elena's Personal Reflections (12:18) – The Concept of "Becoming Yourself" (19:34) – The Role of Precepts and Ethical Practice (32:29) – The Importance of Confidence and Effort (37:46) – Conclusion and Gratitude This long-awaited new book from Shunryu Suzuki: Becoming Yourself: Teachings on the Zen Way of Life , edited by Jiryu Rutschman-Byler and Sojun Mel Weitsman, is one of my favorite books of 2025. 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. Shunryu Suzuki was one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the Twentieth Century and a founding father of Zen in America. Suzuki's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, first published in the U.S. in 1970, is considered one of the most important Buddhist books in…
People in this episode
Host: Elena Brower
Guest: Jiryu Rutschman-Byler
Topics covered
- Zen practice
- personal growth
- ethical practice
- confidence
- self-discovery
Keywords
- Zen
- Buddhism
- self-discovery
- confidence
- ethical practice
- personal growth
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: San Francisco Zen Center, Green Gulch Farm Zen Center
Books & works: Becoming Yourself: Teachings on the Zen Way of Life, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
More episodes of Practice You with Elena Brower
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- Episode 239: Annette Knopp · March 28, 2026 · 38 min
- Episode 238: Kino MacGregor · March 14, 2026 · 34 min
- Episode 237: Light Watkins · February 28, 2026 · 34 min
- Episode 235: Miguel Rios · January 31, 2026 · 35 min
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