Ken Hillman, also known as Daigu, began his meditation practice in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many of us during that time, he was moved to practice by personal challenges. He discovered Zen Buddhism while reading the works of Joseph Campbell and the teachings of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche.
In 2022, Ken joined the Zen Life Meditation Center in Chicago. He began studying with June Ryushin Tanoue Roshi, from whom he later received transmission.
We had a wide-ranging conversation over fifty minutes. Bright and engaging, Ken brings his keen interest in Western philosophy and literature into his Zen practice in ways that became clear during our exchange.
At the close of each interview, I ask my guest to share three books that matter to them. Ken offered three: The Mindful Brain by Daniel Siegel; Zen Brain by James Austin, which explores the neuroscience of Zen; and The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World by psychiatrist Iain McGilchrist.
I think we had a deep and interesting interview. I encourage you to watch, reflect, and share your thoughts — I look forward to weaving them into future conversations. As I build this platform, I am also looking for Zen practitioners — new like Ken, somewhat experienced, and those with many years of practice.