My Facebook page gets all kinds of goofy ads for just about any vaguely “eastern spirituality” related thing that advertises on Facebook. I often wonder how FB knows to target me with these ads. It’s kind of scary. I certainly didn’t call Mark Zuckerbeg and tell him I was into that stuff. The Facebook folks also seem to think I want to date younger women. But that’s a whole other subject.
Lately whenever something particularly silly appears on my page, I take a screen shot of it and post it with a comment. The other day I posted the ad you’re seeing now on this blog with the following comment:
“But can Reggie Ray help me stay in the Alpha state or can Omharmonics help me step more deeply into the river of my life? And can either of them get the gunk off my shoes?”
This upset some of the fans of Reggie Ray who subscribe to my FB page. They thought I was dissing their dude. But actually I had never even heard of Reggie Ray before this ad appeared. The only Reggie I know of is Archie’s rival from the Archie comic books. Maybe he got all spiritual when he grew up.
I really do not follow the Buddhist scene in America, or anywhere else for that matter. That seems to surprise people sometimes. But I honestly have pretty much zero interest in who’s who in the land of famous spiritual masters. Occasionally when some dill weed starts advertising that he can get you enlightened for more money than I’ve made in the past three years combined I might take notice.
But generally I don’t care about any of these people. Some of them are probably nice, well meaning guys. Others are clearly in it for the money. It’s like rock and roll or movies of any other form of mass entertainment. Most of what ends up being big is garbage calculated specifically to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Though on rare occasions something good breaks through. Spirituality in 21st century America is one more form of popular amusement.
In any case, I thought what I said was pretty clearly not a put down of Reggie Ray. It was just a comment on his ad and on the fact that it was paired with an ad for Omharmonics in such a way that they seemed to be competing with each other.
One of my FB friends said I ought to attend one of Reggie’s retreats because “he is a genuine dharma conduit.” Maybe so. But I’m over that stuff. Years ago I kept hearing about this particular Buddhist master who was supposed to be really great. So I went and saw one of his things. I was appalled. The guy was a master all right. A master of working the system. He was playing his followers like they were an accordion and he was Weird Al Yankovic. I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.
Maybe Reggie Ray isn’t like that. Maybe he really is great. I don’t know and I’m not all that interested in finding out. No disrespect to Mr. Ray intended. It’s just that I have a teacher. I don’t really feel any great need to find someone else or to sample all the flavors out there on the spiritual buffet table. I’m just not into that sort of thing.
One response I got to my FB post was, I think, pretty typical of what happens when I say absolutely anything about any other teacher. It went, “I’m forever grateful to you Brad for writing Hardcore Zen. It brought me to the practise. But you really seem close minded when it comes to any other teacher. Is it because of your dislike of the fakes out there that you’re skeptical? Or is it something else?”
It’s like what happened when I mentioned Thich Naht Hanh (did I get the spelling right this time? I honestly tried!) the other day. I knew that titling the article “Thich Naht Hanh is Wrong” was bound to cause some consternation. But read the article and you’ll see that it’s about a particular statement attributed to TNH and the way that statement was taken out of context and presented. Unfortunately, little soundbytes like that seem to be the way most people approach Buddhism or spirituality in general these days. They’re too busy to go into Buddhism or anything else in any kind of depth. So they look at a couple of Twitter postings and think they’ve got it down.
Be that as it may, I do not think all other spiritual teachers suck ass. On the other hand, I’m generally not terribly impressed with most of the people currently working in the area of “commercial spiritual teacher” — by that I mean spiritual teacher types who write books, who do lecture tours, who get movies made about them etc. like me, for example.
There is a whole other class of spiritual teacher who are entirely different from “commercial spiritual teachers” who I (generally) respect a lot more. These are people who work mostly anonymously, who nobody ever hears of, whose next door neighbors don’t even know what they do — whose next door neighbors are, in fact, many of the people who say, “There are no teachers near me! Why can’t I just do my Zen training on line?”
Anyway, those anonymous people are almost always better than anyone you’ve ever heard of who also does this “spiritual teacher” thing. The supposed superstars of the spiritual world and most especially me — though I’m a C-list spiritual celebrity at best — are no match for most of these anonymous humble teachers.
The idea that people sell spirituality as a commodity bugs me. I don’t mind people who sell books about spirituality. That’s fine. Or books about their own experience of a practice. Also great. But what a lot of these guys are selling is clearly not that. They advertise themselves as being able to grant you enlightenment, realization, peace of mind, or whatever, for a price. But they can’t do that. Nobody can do that. If someone really could, that would be great.
But you cannot buy that kind of thing. Just like you can’t buy genuine love. Even though you can buy a night with a very good prostitute, some of whom are adept at the “girlfriend experience” which means they can simulate genuine love. But that costs you extra. And a lot of what I see advertised sounds to me like a Zen version of the “girlfriend experience.” That’s what Genpo Roshi is selling with his personalized five-day retreats for only five people in a luxury hotel.
Also the idea that we must not question anyone as pure and lovely as Thich Naht Hanh or Reggie Ray or whoever worries me. When we lose our ability to be critical, we’re stepping into a very dangerous area. We’re no longer looking at things in a balanced way. That’s when trouble begins.
As for the Dharma transmission being proof of having "arrived" at True Buddhism, it is not an exclusive feature of Dogen Sangha, far from it.
But it is also true that Brad has always insisted that it was in no way the case, and I also stick to this.
Brad wrote: "I don't really feel any great need to find someone else or to sample all the flavors out there on the spiritual buffet table. I'm just not into that sort of thing."
Maybe not any more. But Brad was into 'that sort of thing' at one time – when he was younger. Didn't Brad start out with a general interest in Eastern religions and philosophies, hang out with the Hare Krishnas for a little bit then sign up with Tim McCarthy's Zen class then find and settle on what Gudo Nishijima was offering?
As for what people should do…does anyone ever do what they should do? People just do what they do, don't they?
A short poem to help people remember the correct spelling of "Thích Nh?t H?nh".
N before H
by Henry Gibson
Niggas before hoes.
Niggas before hoes.
'Cause your niggas are your bros
But those hoes are just hoes.
pm wrote: But expressing oneself, even in person, is always a redoubtable task, since we tend to develop one string of thoughts, which tends to obscure other important strings of thought, and encourage confusion.
True dat.
"But generally I don't care about any of these people. Some of them are probably nice, well meaning guys." I understand that. But Brad, if you don't care how can you describe them as "sucking ass"? You ask for depth but you attract with the worst sort of sound byte. The integrity of your article did not merit the ignorance of your title – a title you evidently don't believe.
T before h
c before h
N before h
n before h
Well, I think Buddhism is all about Buddhism. If we're not sticking into one teacher, one lineage and one practice, we're just mixing things. Probably we 21st century people are more intelligent than old folks like Dogen in the 13th (yes, I'm being sarcastic), so we can think that it's suitable to keep on flying from teacher to another. But how can we ever learn a one thing if we're doing another thing at the same time?
And Harry and Michel, it's different to listen other teachers and their lectures than trying to find a new teacher. Adam suggested "trying new things" and that's more than just listening some talk.
Anon 108: Dogen had many teachers like Myozen and Liaopai before finding Rujing. After that, he didn't find necessary to search another teacher and why would he? He already found his teacher. Same goes for Brad and for other Buddhists, like me too.
But it's more suitable to leave a teacher if the thing is not working between a student and a teacher. But before accepting or abandoning: test, doubt and test. Focus on one teacher, one lineage and one practice. We modern people are tend to be some kind of multibuddhists but that's just bullshit.
Hi Uku,
I'm not saying that what you're saying isn't true… to an extent… just that you don't make a particularly good case for it, and are not presenting a particularly good light of it.
I think you'll find that you are engaging in a sort of absolutist, black and white, all-or-nothing thinking that Master Dogen did not subscribe to. Master Dogen was an advocate of our appreciating the truth wherever we find it and however we express it… among many other positions.
If people were more concerned with their own sincere practice, and not the dim projections of their own minds regarding other people, lineages, questionable legends, teachers, 'Buddhism' and 'bullshit' I think the matter would be much clearer for all concerned.
Regards,
Harry.
Hi Uku,
You wrote: Anon 108: Dogen had many teachers like Myozen and Liaopai before finding Rujing. After that, he didn't find necessary to search another teacher and why would he? He already found his teacher. Same goes for Brad and for other Buddhists, like me too.
I'm not sure why you addressed that to me. Perhaps you misunderstood my point? Perhaps I'm misunderstanding yours?
My point – which wasn't a response to anyone in particular – was that most of us investigate all sorts of different things when we're young and 'settle down' as we get older. My other point: To discuss what people in general should do is pretty pointless.
Buddhism is not about changing teachers like diapers, it's all about sticking to one teacher if you find your teacher to be YOUR teacher.
Agreed!
Buddhism is about sticking to your teacher. But sticking to your teacher does not mean that you need to express doubt in the ability of other teachers.
Hi Uku,
My argument had absolutely nothing to do with having found a teacher or a lineage, and everything to do with doing your research before you criticize someone or something. That was the whole point. If you found a teacher that works for you, that's terrific.
You state, "I have noticed that people who don't have a good teacher don't yet know if their teacher is good for them, keep on promoting towards him and searching other teachers."
You provided good reason why I would not submit myself to one teacher absolutely, because you have nothing to back up your argument other than that it's the supposed way it's always been. That said, I'm headed for a retreat this weekend. When I decide what it is that works for me in my life, the last thing I taken into consideration is what a conservative movement has to say on the matter. I don't look for Buddhist truths, and I don't stop to ask birds for their singing licenses. I'm just interested in truth. That and I'm headed out for a weekend retreat tomorrow.
In your follow-up statement, which is related to this, you said, "And oh Adam, I just checked your site and regarding to your bio, you're not a Buddhist? You're hosting your site and some virtual place, but you're not practicing Buddhism? Or at least there are no mentions about that. If you're not a Buddist, perhaps that can explain your opinions about Buddhist tourism?"
So you went to a website and checked out someone's byline, and that provides you with the information you need to understand them? That's about how much time Brad puts into researching some of the people he criticizes.
This is also just a handy way of attempting to silence or discredit someone. Silence and discredit away. I don't go on about any of my credentials as it were because I don't much see how they are relevant, seeing as how I don't even try to teach Buddhism. When I write, I don't stop and check to see if this is a Buddhist piece of writing or if it's in accord with whatever Dogen Zenji said in the 13th century. I try to write from a practical standpoint, and from a practical standpoint I don't see why anyone would criticize others without doing one important thing: offering a reason for the critique. Maybe I need Zen credentials to point that out in your mind but, again, the traditionalist teacher/lineage thingy wasn't at all a part of what I was saying. What happened was that I suggested maybe Brad do some research, and one way people do research is to meet with someone they are criticizing. You don't have to do it that way, but to dismiss it because you already have a teacher you've committed to and some lineage doesn't make much sense. Just loosen up a little and don't fix your ideas so rigidly, that's all I would say to that. Enjoy life. Meet with all kinds of different people, and try to understand them! What's wrong with that?
You also asked how one can learn anything if they don't commit to only one thing; that's like saying you can't learn anything in school if you don't commit to only one class. Actually, if you commit to only one teacher or one class in school, you're doing yourself a severe disservice. Again, I'm just coming at this from a practical perspective – not some 13th-century perspective or because Buddhists have done it this way and it's the only way we could ever do it going forward perspective. It's isolationist, limiting, and ignorant. Life just doesn't work the way you propose it does, and I think anyone looking at this objectively can see that. I don't think Zen works that way either. Finding a teacher is important, but to the exclusion of all others? Well, I don't buy it. I've no interest in reading one newspaper, listening to one band, or anything else like that. I wish to expand my horizons, not shrink them, and I don't place a premium on being ignorant.
Hi Adam,
thanks for your response.
And thanks for clarifying that you're not a Buddhist. That explains a lot why you're not supporting traditional Buddhist approach to student-teacher relationship and why you're touring around traditions, being a tourist. And that's good! But that's not Buddhism.
Practicing Buddhism is not reading one newspaper or listening one band. Practicing Buddhism is reading all newspapers and listening all bands but only through one newspaper and one band.
What is 'straight edge'?
here ya go pickes… this is straight edge..
"If Others Disrespect Me Or Give Me Flack
I'll Stop And Think Before I React =
Knowing That They're Going Through Insecure Stages
I'll Take The Opportunity To Exercise Patience
I'll See It As A Chance To Help The Other Person
Nip It In The Bud Before It Can Worsen
A Change For Me To Be Strong And Sure
As I Think On The Buddhas Who Have Come Before
As I Praise And Respect The Good They've Done
Knowing Only Love Can Conquer In Every Situation
We Need Other People In Order To Create
The Circumstances For The Learning That We're Here To Generate
Situations That Bring Up Our Deepest Fears
So We Can Work To Release Them Until They're Cleared
Therefore, It Only Makes Sense
To Thank Our Enemies Despite Their Intent
The Bodhisattva Path Is One Of Power And Strength
A Strength From Within To Go The Length"
Three Cardinal Discourses of the Buddha
translated by Ñanamoli Thera
worth reading
Artist: Beastie Boys
Album: Ill Communication
Song: Bodhisattva Vow
old pond . . .
a frog leaps in
mysterion sucks!
Hi Adam,
Just to point out that Uku is not a spokesperson for either me (as a Buddhist who is tangentially involved with the strange puff of smoke that is Dogen Sangha) nor my teacher (who Uku used to identify as his teacher on his web pages).
Thanks for your efforts, and I hope the retreat goes well.
Regards,
Harry.
Hi Harry,
interesting that you needed to clarify to Adam that A) you disagree with me and B) that you're also Peter's student and you and I disagree. 🙂
Peace!
U
Peace!
Really?
Interesting.
Anon, yeah, peace! And here's a good video my friend emailed me today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHyy5l8Cbm8
It's all about…. peace!
Peace!
THE CULT OF PERSONALITY
Brad is interested in attending a retreat as long as he’s the one leading it. The vast majority of folks that attend his lectures and retreats are not DSI, they are the interested public. He depends on the “tourists” to buy the books, come hear him, and feed his “C-list” celebrity ego. He even allows in this post that the “spiritual teacher types who write books, who do lecture tours, who get movies made about them etc.” ie; the competition; are just like him.
So what is he doing? “I knew that titling the article "Thich Naht Hanh is Wrong" was bound to cause some consternation.” He knew that. He knew that it would generate a low-ball controversy, create some blog comments, and, yes, feed his “C-list” ego.
Why? Probably because this is a way he can troll for tourists. I don’t know (I am not on Facebook) but maybe its cheaper than a FB ad.
Best wishes, Uku. Thank goodness we have you, a real Buddhist.
Hi Uku,
I just didn't want Adam to get the impression that your idea about what constitutes 'Buddhism' (which, in your case, I certainly disagree with!) represents either the position of Dogen Sangha or that of my teacher. Simple point, and I'm glad it's of some interest to you.
Regards,
Harry.
Umm, ok. Why are people always so sensitive in the internet? You should learn from Harry. He stays cool all the time, not losing his temper or ending up being passive-aggressive. I think we can talk to each others like adults, not have to be like some NambyBambyGassho-dudes.
But take care, Adam! I also wish you a good retreat! I hope it's a Buddhist retreat!
Just kidding. Peace!
Hi Harry,
just clarifying, my comment above was for Adam.
I think everyone can understand that what I'm saying or what you're saying are our own opinions. You're opinions or my opinions are not representing DS or Peter. Brad's opinions are not representing DS or Nishijima. They are Brad's opinions. Our opinions are our opinions.
That would be scary if you or I would say that we're representing here some loose organization or some teacher!
Uku,
In your next life may you be born to a couple of NambyBambyGassho-dudes 🙂
Peace!
(seriously it wouldn't be that bad for you)
Anon, hahhaa! Yeah, that would be something! But I actually know what it's like to be a NambyBambyGasshoDude because I've been one of those. And I occasionally still am. It's some scary shit!
ya me too 😉 What a great thing this internet is.
To be clear, I don't much care what you think I am or am not. I'm not so beholden to a Buddhist identity that it would bother me that someone who doesn't even know me would affirm my practice or discount it. I might think it's a bit silly to assume such things so that they may fit one's argument, but that's up to you.
I don't know that passive-aggressive was quite the right word for how I last addressed you. You set yourself up as the guy who decides who is and isn't Buddhist, so I was just saying how great it is we have a bonafide Buddhist among us to keep such matters clear. Curious that you never really addressed what my piece was about, though. I'll have a great retreat, thanks.
PS: And thanks, Harry.
Hey Uku!
"Why are people always so sensitive in the internet?…passive-aggressive"
Clearly, Brad sets the tone here.
Hi Uku,
On your zendo webpage you present yourself as 'leader' of a zendo where you teach 'under the guidance' of Peter Rocca. It would not be unreasonable to presume therefore that your views on Buddhist matters represented his in some way.
Regards,
Harry.
Hi Harry,
yes, you're right. In some way indeed. Under the guidance. Peter is my teacher. But do I have to agree with Peter about everything? No. That would be cultish.
And here's the link Harry mentioned:
http://www.kajozendo.org/in-english/
Everything changes. Work out your own salvation.
I have the same thing Brad has, to a certain extent, I guess- I don't like the smell of authority. I liked mathematics, where the student is expected to see the truth in the logic for themselves. Mathematics has transformed the world. Can we separate out what was the part that is verifiable in the teachings of Gautama? I think we can. Can we present these truths in a way that folks can relate to them even if they are coming from disparate backgrounds, that's what Brad's up to, if you ask me.
Being a showman is part of being a mass-media teacher in America, is it not? I agree, to pick out the methodology or presentation of another teacher is not as useful as a substantive statement of one's own experience, but we can hope that this will be forthcoming. I'm excited when I read the comments on Brad's blog; folks here cut to the chase, as they say, and occasionally they even talk about practice and verification, as the ancients described it. I know I do!
sort of.
be patient!
"…Me, Nishijima Roshi and Dogen SUCK ASS!!!!" – Brad Warner
For those who don't know, Reginald Ray taught Buddhism at Naropa Institute (the liberal arts college Trungpa Rinpoche started) and an acharya (authorized teacher) for Shambhala International (the organization set up by Trungpa Rinpoche and now managed by his son).
He decided to go freelance (don't know why) and was disowned by Shambhala for giving "pointing out" instructions without their authorization.
Basically he's one of several teachers teaching a modernized and streamlined version of mahamudra. It's a market niche waiting to be served.
Not my cup of tea particularly, but as we used to say back in the Seventies, different strokes for different folks.
The whole market yourself as a freelance spiritual teacher scene so prevalent on the West Coast strikes me as rather crass and unfortunate. But that's more an aesthetic judgement than a moral judgement on my part. Lots of teachers I don't particularly care for have done some good.
Uku said, " I wrote But Buddhism is not about Buddhism "
That is true, Buddhism is about
deepening what is there, not the
next story about Buddhism.
Why go listen to someone else?
"You study the self, to forget the
self" More stuff isn't going to set
you free.
I have a bit of a weird observation.
Brad throws a lot of criticism at other zen teachers I've noticed. He doesn't like koan style, doesn't like forms or rituals, seems sectarian/skeptical regarding other lineages – and seems to have forgotten th' Buddha in the title of this very thread.
But from lurking here for the past few months, I can't really tell much of a difference between him and any beginner practitioner at the local once a week sitting group… Some may say "ahhhh yes, no trace of Buddhism, how advanced!"
But I'm not so sure – I am skeptical of Brad's credentials.
He has monk robes but has never lived in a monastery and wouldn't want to.
He is a "teacher" but refuses to take students.
Sits… what…? 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes in the evening? Maybe a zazenkai a few times a year?
Thinks koans are bullshit – because there is not anything to see? (He hasn't seen that of course.)
Enlightenment is bullshit too, (he's not enlightened just ask him.)
The only teacher worth having is his, and the only lineage worth practicing in is his.
Blogs for a softcore porn site…(??)
Has a life indistinguishable from, hell, a 40 something generation x'er…?
I guess my observation is, that if you are indistinguishable from a 40 something generation x'er – why should I think you are an authority on zen?
(Hell, *I* am a 40 something generation x'er who practices zen, and I wouldn't go to *ME* for any teachings in Zen)
Why would I want to listen to you?
Or care much about your opinions on other lineages or teachers?
Is it your papers?
The fact that somebody who had papers bonked you on the head with a stick?
I dunno.
I don't trust that.
Your zen life is not hardcore to me… It's not wild, it's mild. Very much not something that has penetrated the bones at all. You seem to be just a guy who happens to do zen.
Just another bloke who rips on folks who have years more experience, sit more, take students, live in monasteries, (sometimes pass koans!) have marks of being transformed by their life in "the dharma".
You don't have any marks as far as I can see – but that doesn't seem to me a mark of "advanced" practice, or "authenticity" – your criticisms seems to stem from the fact that the folks who have these marks are simply more hardcore than you, and you can't seem do what they do, you know that deep down so therefore you dismiss it and discount it.
And THAT's what you call "hardcore"?
That's weak tea dude.
Sigh – I guess I must seem harsh don't I?
Feel free to convince me otherwise.
Mark Foote said:
The difficulty for most teachers is that they don't quite have the science. Even if they did, the folks who are into religion are not usually into science; religion and philosophy majors usually have a very different psychological profile from math and science majors, for example.
I have a science background (majored in physics and astronomy) and I don't see the relevance. We're talking on Buddhism about a non-conceptual grasp of reality, while science is entirely conceptual. Moreover, they are directed to different ends. Buddhism is directed towards liberation and science toward strictly utilitarian ends. I wouldn't trust a "scientific Buddhism," it seems a hopeless intellectual muddle to me.
Do best, no regret. Now beats by dr dre are very popular, I love the Monster beats studio nfl green bay packers most.
No science, no Buddhism, no concept, no liberation…
…no you.
~ I ~
Celebrate
Openness
in
Exploring
Spiritual
Frontiers…
Blissings!
scientific Buddhism = Jinzang
I'm just saying
WOW! Me too! FB thinks I want to date younger men! (And they're right.)
I have this mental image of Brad, sitting in his undershorts at the keyboard, cackling all evil-like and saying, "what will I post today that can stir up some shit?" And then he sits back, and happily watches the responses roll in.
I love it! I wish I'd have thought of it first.
Brad dares to say:
"Shit stinks."
He further elucidates with:
"Some shit REALLY stinks."
Wake up, and smell the shit.
BTW Shiro's farts are always stinkier after he eats cottage cheese – which he loves. I don't give it to him often because there is a down side.
If I give Shiro what he thinks he wants, his shit stinks MORE.
How is that so different from Big Hind, Big Fart®?
Sam Harris on "Free Will"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCofmZlC72g&feature;=youtube_gdata_player
Disrespectful way to talk about your Zen teacher, Mysterion.