What’s the Deal With Zen Ceremonies?
In his book An Introduction to Zen Buddhism, DT Suzuki said, “Zen … is not a religion in the sense that the term is popularly understood; for Zen has no God to worship, no ceremonial rites to observe, no future abode to which the dead are destined, and, last of all, Zen has no soul whose […]
Visions
Before we get started, tomorrow is our monthly half-day zazen in Culver City at the Veteran’s Memorial Complex located at 4117 Overland Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230. Come for any portion you like. We go from 9:30am till around 3:30pm. Show up early, show up late, leave in the middle, we don’t care. But it’s more fun […]
The More Drama You Have in Your Life the More Real You Feel
So I was talking to somebody about some drama she’s been having in her life. A person from her past had re-emerged and together they were digging out memories of things that had transpired between them, many of them quite unpleasant. Before I go on, dear readers, I should note that if you’re inclined to assume […]
FAQ: How Can I Become a Zen Priest/Monk/Nun?
I’m gonna start compiling some of my frequently asked questions (FAQ) and maybe someday someone with some technical expertise can help me assemble them into a page I can just refer people to when these questions come up. I’m often asked how to become a Zen monk/priest/nun. My book Hardcore Zen tells the story of how I […]
Buddhism and Politics
It’s never as easy as you would like. To say Buddhists should not be involved in politics is obviously silly. But to say that all Buddhists should share a certain specific set of political views is also ridiculous. A few years ago I was giving a talk at the Houston Zen Center. Gaelyn Godwin, who […]
