Comments on: Hardcore Zen and The Truth About Reality

By: TerryG

TerryG — Thu, 10 May 2007 12:20:54 +0000

I liked this post. Actually I had never heard of it before. It was good reading. Some of those quotes are so true.

By: Delphi

Delphi — Tue, 08 May 2007 07:31:42 +0000

I am reading with much interest your blog for about six months now, and I was wondering when are you going to address this topic or any other topic related to oriental way of thinking.

May I suggest you to have a look into the writings of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh also known as Osho? I think he has a lot of unorthodox ideas that open new perspectives of the world.

By: yogi

yogi — Mon, 07 May 2007 11:36:02 +0000

To be honest I tend to question everything. For example in this day and age western society teaches us that paranaormal things such as ghosts do not exist and yet people talk about ghosts as if they are real? I don’t won’t to come across as buttish but i’m just making a point from my view.

I was just pondering about society and I realised this whilst typing the above post. All it seems to do is teach us from a young age is how to think and act in a specific way as society dictates and to be honest we are never thought to think for ourselves. Think about it isn’t this a sublte way of brainwashing people.

By: taophile

taophile — Mon, 07 May 2007 05:12:51 +0000

I love HARDCORE ZEN. Anyone who likes Brad’s take on all things Zen might also appreciate the film ZEN NOIR by Marc Rosenbush. It made the rounds of the festival circuit for a couple of years and then had a limited theatrical release last summer. Brad called it “a strange, funny, sad, happy, moving wonderful film.” Plus, on the DVD one of the bonus tracks is a commentary by Brad and Marc.

By: louis

louis — Mon, 07 May 2007 03:07:01 +0000

Steve, FYI Brad has a new book out this month:
SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!

By: Meme Pruning

Meme Pruning — Sun, 06 May 2007 21:43:38 +0000

From the anti-environment quote, I’d advise you to take read this book with a very questioning attitude, it sounds as if the author is still deluded about his place in this world. Humans are animals, and as such are a part of the environment. Poison in the environment becomes poison in you and other beings, worse than any drug. It’s obvious from the author’s other quote that they do not truly understand drugs, not all drugs are poisons, some are even spiritually beneficial.

Zen also does not focus on God as much as these quotes would have you believe, or Buddha for that matter. “Don’t bother God, he has his own problems. Everything he makes dies.”

I recommend you check out Zen Without Zen Masters, which is an excellent introduction to Zen. The author is no prude, and discusses both drug use and sex and how they relate to his Zen practice.

By: brian furr

brian furr — Sun, 06 May 2007 20:38:13 +0000

loved Hardcore Zen. in addition to the works you listed, may i suggest Zen Without Zen Masters by Camden Benares. some of the book is slightly dated in a 60’s-early 70’s kind of way. other than that i found it to be an excellent guide to personal enlightenment without having to attach ones’ self to a church or institution. be good to each other. later brian

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 06 May 2007 15:29:08 +0000

Ed,

I was drawn to read more about Zen Buddhism when I discovered that is was one of the few spiritual teachings that encouraged you to question everything, even Zen Buddhism. That appealed to me. Anyway, I hope it didn’t come across preachy, because that is the last thing I want to do.

Joseph,

Some days I feel just like you describe. Like I’m deprogramming myself.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sun, 06 May 2007 00:34:58 +0000

That is an excellent book, I also recommend “Blue Jean Buddha” edited by Sumi Loundon, and “Awakening the Buddha Within” by Lama Surya Das.

You don’t have to be a Buddhist to be a buddhist, if you know what I mean. Life is life, Zen is zen, breathe in pain, exhale pure light.

By: Ed Snyder

Ed Snyder — Sat, 05 May 2007 20:02:08 +0000

I don’t know much about Zen or Buddhism, but I was interested in this entry because it meshes with the one I wrote yesterday about continuing to dream when you grow up. I am intrigued with the idea that daydreaming and asking questions are things we do naturally when we’re children but that society (and probably public schools) crush them out of us as we grow up.

It’s important to continue to question everything and to stop telling ourselves that so many things are impossible if we are ever to come even close to our individual and collective potentials.