I have been re-reading Robert Aitken’s book, Taking the Path of Zen. He and Anne Aitken founded the Diamond Sangha lineage of Zen.

I found it interesting in the Dokusan room if I got off-topic how he brought the conversation back to the point of the koan that I was working on at the time.

For example, I said that in zazen I had the sensation of being surrounded by golden light. He asked, “What is the age of Mu?” – that is the koan I was working on at the time. Sometimes he put in something like, “That must be encouraging” or “that resonates.”

I believe this came from his deep faith in koan, and an understanding that words can go on forever and be all over the place, as well as, of course, to retain some kind of order and focus for himself and for me.

To my eye, Aitken Roshi and Michael Kieran Roshi - the current master at the Honolulu temple - are the clearest manifestations of the Kensho experience I have seen. I mean, something that is visible even before they speak.