On the Practice of Zen

My Zen teacher, Danan Henry Roshi, spoke with me this morning about what practice means during the upcoming holidays. He is spiritual director of the Zen Center of Denver.

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• zen
• holidays
• spirituality
• meditation
• denver
• roshi

[dantown1]

Zen is called" a special transmission outside the scriptures".Here's a special transmission: Zen in America is a f**king fraud.The Roshis in Japan passed their temples to their sons automatically, as well. That's some "Dharma transmission" for you.Richard Baker of Zen Center of San Francisco is alleged to be a

fraud,libertine and greedy nobody.I said alleged.Zen is the teaching of sitting on your ass. Just like a stupid couch potato in middle-class America.Except "Zen" is holy.

[LenEdgerly]

It's tough to hear the anger in your posts, because I love the Zen work I've done, and I can say honestly that sitting for 10 hours a day for seven days during sesshin is the most difficult, and rewarding thing I've done in my life. My wife says she noticed some improvement in me as a result of my Zen practice, and she has a front-row seat on my frequent lapses into being an asshole.

[dantown1]

What is the purpose of Zen? To hate George Bush? Not a very "Noble Path" in the long run. Do I have to hate Bush in order to practice Zen? That is a defamation of Zen.You people at the Denver Zen Center drive away people who may not buy your squalid pointless and empty worldview of political reality.You substitute political theory for Zen practice. You suck.What a stupid fraud.

[LenEdgerly]

I myself do not hate George Bush, and I will confess that I have sometimes felt uncomfortable being in a distinct minority at the Zen Center of Denver in terms of political outlook. I'm a confirmed centrist interested in hearing from all sides. But I will also say that I have never had anyone attack me for my politics at ZCD, and I respect the depth of the practice there, the seriousness of aspiration for transformation, and the compassion and authentic teaching of the spiritual director.

[MrSeniorPickle]

@dantown1 You don't practice Zen.

You're very hateful.

[eighthyogini]

Zen is the synergy of slowing down.  Alignment with a deeper rhythm.

Paying attention, time slowing down – while developing strength, flexibility and endurance.

A mental and physical cleanse.

Hot Yoga. ILIV YOGA Denver.

[psstheyyou]

Almost time to go home for Thannksgiving.

Which is why Zen is about Talking Turkey.

Isn't it?

Everyone should engage in the zen practice of talking turkey at Thanksgiving.

Zen doesn't content itself with the cranberry sauce of life, but goes straight to the heart of the turkey. That's where the real life is.

Leg or breast?

Breast or wing?

Life is full of choices.

Zen doesn't just talk turkey, but devours it. Zen IS turkey.

[vapourmile]

Oh? Shut up you boring twat.

[dantown1]

Zen is corrupt in America.Yasutani Roshi is excluded from America.The Old Roshis are kept out of America.

[dantown1]

No-seriously-thank you

[DaishinMyoyu]

Seriously - thanks.

[dantown1]

I met Philip Kapleau once only.He seemed bright.A shining example of a fine and kind person.Someone gave him a nice sculptured piece of art,placed in front of him,as a gift. He broke it, while waving his arms around,during his talk.He said-"this is zen".Maybe so.Although 75 or so then-he seemed to be about 50.A really nice guy with a toothy grin.

[dantown1]

Zen is just throwing all your ideas about Zen into the cheap dung heap. The s**t pile.Nobody cares about your opinion of Zen.The s**t-pile of opinion is a distraction.Zen is indifferent to your ideas and desires and personal characteristics.Your personal characteristics are your flaw.You are a five-year-old who has no "being".This is the beginning of Zen-which is "empty".

[dantown1]

Seriously-all the Zen Masters say it:Zen is nothing.Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form. Seung Sahn says:Put it all down.Only keep "Don't Know Mind". I thought you were supposed to get the Memo-from the sixth patriarch.G'day,mate.