Blue Collar Zen – Details, episodes & analysis

The extreme punishment for a thief -- his foot is chopped off -- transforms him into a sage.

Join us in the tea room as Sunim reads the story of the great sage Tumbledown, as told by Confucius, and then he and Myungju discuss the way forward for all of us to become free.

A story within a story.

An unremarkable monk, a scholar, a young disciple. A loving wife, a foolish husband. Their lives separated by time, yet cross on a mountain-top, fire & weeds their teachers.

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We recently purchased a second mic and a mixer, and plan to offer a new episode each month. It takes a full day to produce each episode. Won't you give if you listen?!

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1,500 years ago a simple rainstorm brought about a life-altering spiritual decision for a sincere monk.  His compassionate response resonates to this day.

This is the first of two parts to the story of Layman Pusol. Welcome to Season 2 of the Podcast.

Zen Master Mangong -- a revered 20th century monk of Korea (and grandfather teacher to the Detroit Zen Center) -- comes to the end of his life.  Without much fanfare, he departs.  

We begin this episode with the story of Mangong's last day, and move into a conversation with Hwalson & Myungju.  They discuss his life, & death, and its relationship to an action-based way of life, in contrast to the feeling-based way of our own society.

This podcast marks the anniversary of his death in 1946, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Detroit Zen Center.  As ever, thank you for listening!

Join us as we narrate Lewis Lancaster's journey with The Mad Monk Jung Kwang Sunim, one of the most controversial Buddhist figures (and renowned artists) of 20th Century Korea, amidst his practice of 'unlimited action zen'. Lancaster, a would-be student of Jung Kwang, was a professor of Buddhist Art & Studies at UC Berkley, who having been captivated by the art & calligraphy of Jung Kwang endeavored to meet and know his mind.  Jung Kwang invited him to join him in his life for a few weeks....and here is the story of their time together.

Welcome to the origin of Poduk Cave, a zen training hermitage located on a precipice deep in the Diamond Mountains of what is now North Korea.  This cave temple has been long famed as a place for the highest level of training, and the site of awakening for many hundreds of seekers. This story brings us to its origin, how a sincere monk named Hojong made this cave the site of his awakening, through his meetings & parting with Lady Poduk, and his trials with Skinny Father & Ocean Brightfellow.

Here we have the origin story of Sudeoksa Temple, the mother temple of the Detroit Zen Center.    Join us as we enter what would be an ordinary day in the life of a young upper class man named Sudeok.  Bored, he takes his man-servants out for a hunt.  But what he encounters in the woods changes his destiny, and the trajectory for countless others...

This story of Masan Bosalnim, a modern day female seeker who awakened, who helped a monk understand Buddhism.

For many centuries after Wonhyo, Korean Buddhism experienced total oppression. Monks could not enter through the gates of Seoul, and Buddhist teachings entered a period of contraction.  Monks & masters retreated to the mountains.  Remote Zen communities formed, poor yet self-sustaining & rich in spirit. It is here, during the 19th century, we find our next two sister stories.  The first, a story of Kyunghuh & his young disciple Mangong. The second story finds Mangong, years later with his own young disciple, Wondam.  Many years later, Wondam became the teacher of our Detroit Zen Center Abbot.

In this episode we continue to follow Wonhyo on his journey after awakening.

He returns to Korea, where he meets a most unusual teacher:  Big Brother.  In the followup conversation, Sunim & Myungju discuss the importance of enjoying practice, dealing with mental & emotional afflictions, and finding a teacher.