He really speaks to why I left Zen and it's a shame to see such a deep and real energetic tradition that I did not encounter. I was taught to sit in good posture and count my breaths. Some lunch rituals and general talks with a master. No talk of embodiment of hara cultivation. I got the sense and a stereotype of Zen that it has an allergy to skillfulmeans, like the Alan Watts/ Kristnamurti bias that any technique is ego and just be a ware or something. I sat dissociated in zazen for years until I left and encountered the Gurdjieff Work and later Diamond Approach. There I learned how to work with sensation and energy and to tactfully employ skillful means without it being a canned prescribed path of practices. Great talk and interview and remarkable Roshi.
I have found both of Meido's books to be extremely lucid and a couple of years later I'm still applying the teachings daily. If you're looking for a guide that cuts through and explains some stuff clearly, I can fully recommend them. Really enjoyed this conversation, thank you Meido and Steve!
This is such a fantastic podcast with Meido. So fantastic. I've practiced yoga for several years with different teachers, and the framework for meditative practice he gives, the potential pitfalls of individualism in relation to a teacher and practice methods, the explanation of ba and how it functions, it also makes so much sense. Coalescing a lot of loose ends I had in me. A bit of happy tears here at the end hearing him talk about the dissolution of fear. Thank you so much for posting this interview.
I’m an Asian trained in Thien (Zen) tradition. It took me 10 years of scripture studies to understand the full tenet of Buddhism, another 17 years to embodied Zen training and receiving full authorization from my teacher. It takes many years to train a Linji/Rinzai zen teacher. The issue with Zen teachers in America is rigour and duration of training which is highly related with the quality of a teacher. The Koan and inquiry practice isn’t something cultural because what it points to isn’t cultural: a direct experience of awakening. It’s an excellent tool but people who hasn’t completed the full training dismisses it because they don’t fully understand, experienced or embodied it.
I really like his point about orientalism. I’d add that it’s more a symptom of bad epistemology. It’s just a stack of bad ideologies and assumptions. Also a lack of assumptions, or placeholders for unknowns.
Looking forward to this interview. Can't wait, but have to. Is this a koan? Can't wait, but have to. I'm gonna spin this in my mind as practice until 4th june 16:00... leeds to nowhere, just where i need to be.
Thanks Steve! Really enjoyed this one. I think it would be fascinating if you brought Guo Gu. He is an incredible teacher, disciple of Sheng-Yen. He is available on Facebook, I'm sure he would be happy to chat :).
32:00 Yes the tree of tradition has structure and form, growth occurs at the boundaries of that structure and form. The earth provides the material for the leaves covering the tree. All the leaves are different. Each leave seeks light given their position on the tree. The energy of the sun is captured by the leaves creating a cycle of growth and development. The way prunes the tree. if god was a dog, would he think to himself, so many assholes, so little time.
Religions like zen have been changed countless times by countless people. Saying that my zen is better than your zen is an ancient human story. Perhaps the issue is the story that there is one right path.
I very much enjoyed our conversation, Steve...nice to relive it now. Thanks so much! - Meido
Likewise! Thank you for such a fascinating interview 🙏🏻
Meido Roshi is an exceptional person. My interaction with him and studying his work has been a great source of inspiration for me.
Excellent as always , thank you, Steve.
Thanks Jacob!
He really speaks to why I left Zen and it's a shame to see such a deep and real energetic tradition that I did not encounter. I was taught to sit in good posture and count my breaths. Some lunch rituals and general talks with a master. No talk of embodiment of hara cultivation. I got the sense and a stereotype of Zen that it has an allergy to skillfulmeans, like the Alan Watts/ Kristnamurti bias that any technique is ego and just be a ware or something.
I sat dissociated in zazen for years until I left and encountered the Gurdjieff Work and later Diamond Approach. There I learned how to work with sensation and energy and to tactfully employ skillful means without it being a canned prescribed path of practices.
Great talk and interview and remarkable Roshi.
It's very amazing to see me Moore practicing , he's a true boddhisttava
I have found both of Meido's books to be extremely lucid and a couple of years later I'm still applying the teachings daily. If you're looking for a guide that cuts through and explains some stuff clearly, I can fully recommend them. Really enjoyed this conversation, thank you Meido and Steve!
Another good one! It is very useful to see the contrasts between traditions and experiences.
This is such a fantastic podcast with Meido. So fantastic. I've practiced yoga for several years with different teachers, and the framework for meditative practice he gives, the potential pitfalls of individualism in relation to a teacher and practice methods, the explanation of ba and how it functions, it also makes so much sense. Coalescing a lot of loose ends I had in me. A bit of happy tears here at the end hearing him talk about the dissolution of fear. Thank you so much for posting this interview.
🙏🙏🙏
Thank you very much, both of you.
A pity you haven't asked Meido about his Shugendo practice and studies. Could make an excellent part 2 though
I’m an Asian trained in Thien (Zen) tradition. It took me 10 years of scripture studies to understand the full tenet of Buddhism, another 17 years to embodied Zen training and receiving full authorization from my teacher. It takes many years to train a Linji/Rinzai zen teacher. The issue with Zen teachers in America is rigour and duration of training which is highly related with the quality of a teacher. The Koan and inquiry practice isn’t something cultural because what it points to isn’t cultural: a direct experience of awakening. It’s an excellent tool but people who hasn’t completed the full training dismisses it because they don’t fully understand, experienced or embodied it.
I really like his point about orientalism.
I’d add that it’s more a symptom of bad epistemology. It’s just a stack of bad ideologies and assumptions.
Also a lack of assumptions, or placeholders for unknowns.
A really interesting interview. I found myself nodding along in agreement. Great observations that any Western Buddhist can learn from., 🙏
Looking forward to this interview.
Can't wait, but have to. Is this a koan?
Can't wait, but have to.
I'm gonna spin this in my mind as practice until 4th june 16:00... leeds to nowhere, just where i need to be.
😂👍🏻
Thanks Steve! Really enjoyed this one. I think it would be fascinating if you brought Guo Gu. He is an incredible teacher, disciple of Sheng-Yen. He is available on Facebook, I'm sure he would be happy to chat :).
Same experience with running barefoot, simply by praying to the Great Mother for grace in practice, and submitting and surrendering.
32:00 Yes the tree of tradition has structure and form, growth occurs at the boundaries of that structure and form. The earth provides the material for the leaves covering the tree. All the leaves are different. Each leave seeks light given their position on the tree. The energy of the sun is captured by the leaves creating a cycle of growth and development. The way prunes the tree.
if god was a dog, would he think to himself, so many assholes, so little time.
Religions like zen have been changed countless times by countless people. Saying that my zen is better than your zen is an ancient human story. Perhaps the issue is the story that there is one right path.
1:10:41 reminds me of Anna Karenina: Every unhappy meditator is unhappy in their own way
yeah no one says that... but dokusan is just shaktipat.
Smart decision to house the genders together - building 72 dorms would be a nightmare.
Nothing is hidden!! … pls. be silent while talking ...
What's American Zen? Zen is Zen and you're an American practicing Zen.
good stuff thank you