Interview with a Zen Buddhist

We talk a lot about Zen on this show, but what is it really? Well, we have a real Zen Buddhist practitioner in our midst and she offered us an interview from beautiful Hawaii! Julia tells us what it's all about as I ask her lots of the questions you've always wanted answered. Check out the show notes below for details!

• Julia (Mangohead on Triscoop.com) tells us her athletic background.


• She swam Bay to Breakers in San Francisco


• Keeps tearing her miniscus, but rehabs by swimming and cycling.


• How did Julia become a Zen Buddhist? By teaching English in Japan.


• She ended up in Boston, decided the cold weather sucked and moved to Hawaii to study Japanese studies with a focus on Zen Buddhism.


• A lot of Americans get into Zen through books first.


• The three sects of Zen - Rinzai (they practice Koans), Soto (simply sitting and focusing on breath), Obaku , and then Julia's. What was julias?


• How does a typical Japanese triathlete incorporate Zen into her daily life in comparison to a Western Christian?


• Just like Westerners, a Zen Buddhist may never go to temple, go once a month, once a week, or even almost every day. It depends on the person.


• What attracts Westerners to Zen?


• Would Americans like Zen so much if they had to practice all the structure that really comes with it?


• Julia describes seeing a Catholic nun bowing to a Buddha statue and hearing Zen being Americanized into hymns.


• Julia finds Zen has taught her to really listen to people and be aware of her surroundings.


• You can have Zen moments while open water swimming and rock climbing.


• I describe Zen's versions of Heaven and Hell and how I answered my own Koan, "If a tree falls in the woods, does it make a sound?" Yes it does. Well, for me anyway, at least on that day.


• We talk about the Japanese barefoot running monks. They run a marathon a day over and over again. Zen has a history of focus on breathing and paying attention to the moment. Great for practicing proper triathlon training technique.


• Julia and I trade stories on how meditation is like long distance training and vice versa.


• Julia describes how breathing excercises in the pool help relax her.


• How to play Sharks and Minnows.


• Check out Urban Dharma. He has a cool podcast.


• Julia talks about the differences between American and Japanese culture.


• Don't read so much about Zen. Just do it!


• Try being more "in the moment" by leaving your iPod at home on your next run.


• How to give without expectations.


• Examples of removing yourself from your normal environment and going on a pilgramige. It's more common than you think!


• Julia recommends Robert Aitkin's books "Taking the Path" and "The Chi of Running".

Comments

[Big D]

This was a good one Brett thanks