Modern American Zen
What must first be understood is that this definition of Zen is something quite different from the common preconception of what the word has become known to mean. Within this conception, Zen doesn’t mean tranquility; it doesn’t mean peace or happiness or ease of mind. These are the products of Zen, what Zen leads to, but these things are not to be confused with Zen.
For the sake of explanation, it should be noted that Zen goes back to ancient Taoist teachings, but this isn’t about the history of the word or the rituals which have become associated with it; this is an attempt to explain it from a perspective removed from its history and customs, an awareness of the science behind its concept.
Zen is the process through which life happens; it’s the entirety of the connections that become entangled to produce a result. Zen is not always peaceful, at times it’s cataclysmic in its happening, but ultimately it leads to a peace, harmony and a balance which lay at the center of our existence.
To understand Zen, one should first understand Tao, which literally means “the way” to discovering Zen, to bringing about the connections of Zen. Taoism is essentially a study of what defines the circumstances which bring about Zen.
What often gets confused is the destination of the word’s purpose, similar to that of Karma, which commonly gets thought of as a matter of reciprocity, that “good Karma” is something that comes as a result of one’s actions, when in actuality it’s the action which precedes the return; good Karma simply means doing good things, regardless of what may come of doing them. That doing good things inevitably leads to good things in return is a matter of truth that’s irrelevant.
What is the purpose of the Modern American Zen Experience; is this an attempt to teach people about Buddhism?
The purpose of MAZE is to teach people about Zen and how to find it while living within modern American society; Buddhism is a religion, and though many find Zen through it, one should not be confused, Zen is a state of being, not a religion or philosophy.
But Zen is a Buddhist idea, isn’t it?
While Zen is an idea that Buddhists focus a lot of attention on attaining, its meaning originates in Taoist teachings.
Do you worship Buddha?
Sadly, this is a question I’ve been asked on multiple occasions; I say sadly because this question exposes a great deal of ignorance of what it was that Buddha taught; Buddha wasn’t a God, he was a human being that came to discover a path to finding Zen through the process of enlightenment.
Enlightenment, isn’t that like omniscience, that seems like something Godly.
Many people have the wrong idea about what it means to be enlightened; enlightenment is a process of conscious recognition; it means coming to a sudden understanding, an instantaneous awareness that you’re going about something entirely the wrong way which leads you to the discovery of universal truth.
What is universal truth?
Universal truth is that which is true, not from your perspective or mine, but from all perspectives; it’s what’s true beyond simply our perceptions.
Okay, so then what exactly is Zen?
Zen is a state of being, quieting the mind which brings about a heightened awareness and understanding that brings the connections into place; it’s sometimes referred to as “being in a zone”, it’s a kind of an awakening which can be found as a result of meditation.
Meditation, you mean like yoga?
Not entirely, Yoga teaches a specific type of meditation, but meditation literally means silencing the mind, stopping the chaos of thought and contemplation in such a way that it allows you to tap directly into a stream of consciousness; it’s any technique which is used to discipline the mind in order to unlock the full potential of your being; but there are many different ways to meditate, in fact many people do it without even knowing that they are.
What do you mean by “many people do it without knowing that they are”?
Driving a car, exercising, listening to music, dancing; there are all types of moments where suddenly your mind just goes quiet and you’re there fully within the experience, totally aware, but without the buzzing of the mind; this is what’s known as active meditation, it’s a core principle of the Modern American Zen Experience.
Okay, so then how does one find Zen while living within American society?
That’s a question with a lot of complexity; in a society as diverse as America’s there are many different paths one can take to find Zen. That’s what I created the Modern American Zen Experience to do, to help people discover the steps to be taken in order to find their own unique path. Sometimes it’s simply an awakening to the perspective of another, or even the recognition that multiple perspectives exist, which can be enough for someone to find their direction. MAZE simply teaches how to find Zen by teaching people how to create moments of meditation within their experience.
I’ve studied ZaZen and your use of the word Zen is different to what I’ve read about.
While many people think Zen is a Buddhist word that comes from ZaZen, a type of meditation, Zen has roots in Taoist teachings from long before the Buddhist message had ever reached China. The word Zen is used to describe an experience, a state of being within the flow of existence that allows one to come to a point of deep awareness and conscious ability; when I refer to Zen, it is this experience I’m referring to.
What temples do you belong to, what teachers have you studied under?
These are questions of conditioning, an attempt to distract from the message being communicated about the state of Modern America and guidance towards achieving a state of Zen within the constraints of society while it goes through a challenging and tumultuous time. Much the way people refer to the blending of Taoist and Buddhist ideas as the birth of Zen Buddhism; I believe this is the birth of Zen Americanism, the creation of a Modern American Zen Experience.
What’s the difference between me and my ego?
You are what ultimately lies at the core of your being, your ego is everything that extends externally from that point; specifically, the ego is all things which exist beyond the center of our spirit, the total perception we have of our physical reality removed from the consciousness which is perceiving it.
I don’t like meditating; I have a hard time sitting still.
You don’t need to sit still in order to meditate; meditation is the act of silencing the mind, it can be done anywhere at any time; MAZE teaches unique meditative techniques, designed to achieve meditation and still the mind while being immersed within the Modern American experience.
Do you do private consulting?
Yes I do.