Buddha Meets Buddha: Teacher / No Teacher in Zen

Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast - Podcast autorstwa Joan Halifax | Zen Buddhist Teacher Upaya Abbot - Poniedziałki

In this informative Wednesday Night Dharma Talk, Sensei Zenshin Florence Caplow explores the meaning of “Buddha meets Buddha” in the context of how we might skillfully navigate our relationships with spiritual teachers. Zenshin journeys through the relative ethical imperatives and moral responsibilities of teacher-student relationships while illustrating our need to self govern through Suzuki Roshi’s teaching: “I am one tree, and each one of you is a tree. And by yourself, you should stand up. When a tree stands up by itself, we call that tree a Buddha.” Drawing from her own experiences with calligraphy master Sato Sensei and Zen teachers Norman Fisher and Bruce Fortin, Zenshin points to the ability of teachers to guide and support, while emphasizing that we must stand on our own spiritual foundation. Her talk addresses the complexities of American Zen’s brief but troubled history with teacher misconduct, advocating for relationships grounded in “shizen” – naturalness without pretense – rather than idealization. Sharing wisdom gleaned through her decades of practice, Zenshin offers ten pieces of practical advice for those seeking to enter teacher-student relationships. At the core of her recommendations is being skillful and aware: “Check them out carefully… Listen to talks, read about them. See how they interact with others,” while remembering that “we are in this together – Buddha meets Buddha.”

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