the lineage transmission (shiho, shisho) is a Chinese cunfucian instituition transfered to Japan and had the only function to transfer the chinese imperial rule, also a totally nonsense in Western culture and way of life
@@HardcoreZen "Why is it useless to know your teacher's lineage?" Because any individual teacher (esp in the modern era) has a low probability of being superior to the teachings of the classic source texts. And a high probability of subverting those source teachings with their own personal distortions...like Nishijima's theory of balancing the autonomic nervous system.
Calling Kapleau phony is over the top. Sure maybe he didn’t dot all his i’s or cross all his T’s in terms of getting formal authority to teach- nonetheless he studied with some of the great foundational Zen Masters of the 20th century and his 3 Pillars book introduced multiple generations of Westerners to Zen, and is arguably the most influential Zen text of the 20th century
@@HardcoreZen 0:00 "Today I wanted to talk about phony Zen masters" 0:42 "I am starting out the chapter talking about a couple of phony Zen Masters, two phony American Zen Masters. And when I was researching this I could only actually come up with two phony American Zen Masters...The two are Philip Kapleau Roshi and Zen Master Rama" 9:32 "That doesn't mean that he was a complete fraud you know. So that's a this is kind of a fine line. He was a fraud in the sense that he was not telling the truth about his transmission, Dharma transmission, but he wasn't just a complete phony."
@@HardcoreZen "After spending three years at Hosshinji with Harada Roshi, Kapleau became the first Westerner to begin formal study with Haku’un Yasutani. After some twenty sesshins with Yasutani, the roshi confirmed Kapleau’s awakening." Says James Ford. I assume Awakening equals Enlightenment.
@@HardcoreZen These times refer to THAT OTHER VIDEO. 0:00 "Today I wanted to talk about phony Zen masters" 0:42 "I am starting out the chapter talking about a couple of phony Zen Masters, two phony American Zen Masters. And when I was researching this I could only actually come up with two phony American Zen Masters...The two are Philip Kapleau Roshi and Zen Master Rama" 9:32 "That doesn't mean that he was a complete fraud you know. So that's a this is kind of a fine line. He was a fraud in the sense that he was not telling the truth about his transmission, Dharma transmission, but he wasn't just a complete phony."
My former teacher, who I really respected and still do, actually interacted with you at RZC (he was very close to Kapleau). I eventually left my former center here in NC for a few reasons … Kapleau’s lineage is essentially dead, and I never felt right about his own use of a title not earned. Plus they (Sanbo) stress koans as practice, which never felt right to me. They also see Soto Zen as the “Cult of Dogen”, and really seem to mostly embrace other Sanbo teachers. I just never felt at home there … as nice as everyone was. But it was a fine place to start!
Didn't Frederick Lenz write that truly shocking piece of shit called Surfing the Himalayas? To be honest, I found that book to be really pretentious, contrived, and creepy. I mean, what kind of idiot is called Master Fwap, lol.
Brad, have you seen the letters between Yamada Roshi and Kapleau? They are public and out there. Yamada claimed to have worked on koans with Kapleau just prior to Kapleau's definitive departure for the states and that Kapleau was somewhere around number 36 of the Blue Cliff Record. Kapleau replied that he had finished the Blue Cliff and only wanted to "check" his understanding of a few koans. Whatever the case may be, Kapleau had finished far fewer than a third of the koan curriculum. He never even worked on any precept koans, although he denies this and said that had worked on a few with Yasutani Roshi -- which is utter nonsense. The precept koans come at the end. We don't "work on a few" here and there.
@@HardcoreZen I understand ! and, yes his transmission is certainly good. but it would be interesting to hear what you think about his teaching role? and if Nishijima had been happy for him today? but I understand that you are keeping your distance. 😉🙏🧘♂️🙏
@@erikmokusostrom7716 Nishijima Roshi was very unhappy with Jundo when he was alive. I think he would be even more aghast at what he's doing now. I'm pretty sure you can still find some of Nishijima Roshi's comments about Jundo from the early 2000s on Nishijima Roshi's blog. I haven't checked for a few years, though. But I assume it's still there.
Dude that Downey McDonald’s I live in Downey , we can meet at Downey library, we have a book club. We are reading Ever green by Naomi Harada Well, growing up in Downey, we had Norwalk Japanese American Community center which back in the 1980. I had several Japanese American friends , but today. I am part of Seicho no ie in GArdena I am learning of Nishintani. Which he hung out with the big phenomonlgy guys. I just found this about a month ago …. Well, we need to talk. Well, when can we meet. Downey. Library or any event in Los Angeles.. I know, I am not crazy, Frank Martinez Downey California
Loved it but 3 Pillars of Zen was a bit confusing for me when I read it 30 years ago. Incidentally, Rochester Zen Center is about the only place I think a person can go to apply for ordination. Which is great, but somehow odd. Another great video Brad! ❤You’re a handsome guy!
I only watch for the Venerable Ziggy. I don't know who this Brad guy is. Please stop being stingy and give Ziggy dharma transmission. Ziggy has the Buddha Nature, we can all see it.
@HardcoreZen Just finished the video you mentioned from @AtrocityGuide , How significant do you think the impact of Frederick Lenz was? Is American Buddhism still experiencing the influence of the ripples he and his followers created?
I found your mention of Toni Packer quite interesting, and was prompted to do more reading about her. I enjoy your videos, Brad, but honestly I do not understand the purpose of much of the complicated zen/buddhist philosophy you talk about. I understand (somewhat) the purpose and potential benefits of meditation. It sounds like Packer went somewhat in the direction of eschewing the traditional trappings and beliefs to focus more directly on the meditative aspect? I would like to hear more sometime your thoughts on the role of meditation in zen versus the more intellectually-oriented (writing, discussing, philosophy, etc.) side of zen.
People probably got mad a the “phony” moniker in the title; and being lumped in with ‘Master Rama’. My local center is in Kapleau’s lineage; I wouldn’t bother to go because of the hypochondria and the fact that you must pay for an orientation before you can sit with the sangha in person. That said, Three Pillars of Zen was the first book I read on the subject, and I liked it as an introduction.
I’ve met a number of people, just through living ordinary life, who were most assuredly Zen masters. Though they themselves perhaps didn’t know it. I’ve also studied Zen at Zen Studies Institute in NYC and met real Zen Masters. And they were notably mediocre. So I don’t think it means too much at the end of the day. And if it doesn’t mean too much, people should just call themselves what they want.
Roshi is an old man(possibly immortal) who lives on a small island, has a turtle as a friend and trains some monkey looking kid and a bald kid in the martial arts, duh!
Brad, Three Pillars of Zen was certainly one of the first books I read back in 1978. It reinforced the enlightenment model that drove me thru the next 30 years. As I have previously written to you, the quest led to some pretty dark places in the quest for the "peak experience". I hope others did not make the same mistake. Gassho, Stephen
My former teacher, who is a dharma heir in the Kapleau lineage, once gave a talk where he addressed the fact why Kapleau didn't have dharma transmission. In the talk he told that the real reason was that Yasutani, Kapleau's teacher, insisted that his student Eido Shimano would be placed in Rochester as an assistant teacher. Kapleau didn't want Eido Shimano to come to Rochester, because he had met Eido and he did have a bad feeling about him. Yasutani wasn't pleased for Kapleau rejecting his wish, and refused to give him inka because of this. Just wanted to add this story to the soup.
@@HardcoreZenI trained for 12 years in the Soto tradition, and practiced shikan-taza. But when it became time to actually find a sangha and teacher, the only center that offered that in my area was a Sanbo Kyodan center. I've read 3 Pillars of Zen, and disliked the emphasis on enlightenment and counting breaths. Other then that, they practice the same way the Soto center I attended does, only adding koan practice as well. At this Sanbo Kyodan center NOBODY uses honorifics. The 2 teachers (everyone there actually) Insists on being addressed by their first names. But, I'm curious about what you would do if you were in my position. Having practiced Soto style on your own for 12 years, then finding the only place that offers sesshin, dokusan, and weekly zazenkai was Sanbo Kyodan. Would you go? Should I go...?
its all about money, yasutani was miffed kapleau didn't cut him in for kapleau's book royalties (3 pillars of zen) which were substantial, much more interesting is the fight that went on that got toni packer expelled, brutal !
Forgive me, but all this made me think of a funny idea of a skit: The Original Buddha doesn't arrive until the modern day, and must rely n RU-vid & other social media to spread the word. Of course he would start by founding a physical Sanga around himself to test & verify that he could explain things clearly to his followers. But it's hard to imagine the up hill battle of going global, online, in today's world. So much friction and noise. So little patience, respects (much less reverence), and equanimity. And we call this progress? Good thing he came when he did. As long as I can remember, people in the US would ask themselves, what if Jesus reappeared today, (but not as the final judgement). But that is viewed more in terms of would each person be willing to listen and take what he said to heart. Today, that would be the easy part. Getting through all of the noise & friction would be the hardest part. And so I conclude that we all need to calm down and listen carefully to each other with an open mind. & Brad's channel is far better than most at doing that.
"The Original Buddha doesn't arrive until the modern day..." How many people existed in ancient India...maybe a hundred thousand compared to today's billion. Everything today is diluted by the sheer weight of numbers.
@@Teller3448 (The sheer weight of numbers) x (Communications at the speed of light) x (The level of networked interconnectivity) =================================== An overwhelming potential for good & bad.
I feel like the Buddha wouldn't do anything to "spread the word". He'll just do his thing on his own and those who learned about what he does and want to follow will have to go seek him out.
@@deborah3783 I see your point. That's what Bodhidharma did. But what about the Bodhisattva Vow of: "I vow to deliver innumerable sentient beings." Would he be missing out on a golden opportunity? But my real point is about how much more accepting people were back then. We're so inundated with sales pitches that we keep looking for ways to tune people out.
@@JimTempleman "We're so inundated with sales pitches that we keep looking for ways to tune people out." Imagine if there was a law prohibiting advertisers from broadcasting images of anything other than what they are selling. That would cut the pitches by 80% at least.
