In this Tao Talk, Tim Burkett explores humor as a core Taoist and Zen practice rather than entertainment. He frames laughter as the moment conceptual clinging breaks—when rigid thinking, expectations, and self-seriousness loosen their grip. Drawing from Taoist stories, Zen anecdotes, and everyday si...

In this session, Tim Burkett continues his series on Zhuangzi with a deep exploration of humor as a spiritual tool in Taoism and Chan/Zen. He begins by situating Zhuangzi as the second great Taoist sage, whose playfulness influenced how Buddhism transformed once it entered China. Taoism had already ...

Tim is now alternating talks in his Way of the Butterfly Series between the Sanctuary of Tao and the Minnesota Zen Center. Here's a link to the talk he gave at the Minnesota Zen Center on 10/26/25: https://youtu.be/dzA7bWLxZBs

Summary of the talk he gave for the Sanctuary of Tao on 11/16/25:

Tim B...

Chuang Tzu Verses
#3
The great Tao cannot be named. It is rooted in not knowing. This is called Inner radiance
Take from it, it is never depleted … It is the inexhaustible treasury

#6
The master is not trapped in opposites. Their this is also a that.
They see that life becomes death and death becomes li...