Ep155: Hardcore Zen - Brad Warner

In this episode I am joined by Brad Warner, Zen teacher and best-selling author of ‘Hardcore Zen’ and ‘The Other Side of Nothing’. Brad recounts his unusual childhood, his passion for Punk rock ethics, and reveals what thwarted his teenage desire to become a born again Christian. Brad describes his first encounter with Zen, shares the secret of his decades of daily practice, and explains why he is at odds with the culture and institutions of mainline American Zen. Brad also discusses his awakening experience, the significance of dharma transmission, his new book on ethics, and what Dogen’s mysterious metaphors have in common with the TV show ‘Ancient Aliens’. … Video version: www.guruviking.com/podcast/155-hardcore-zen-brad-warner Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
 … Topics include: 00:00 - Intro 00:48 - Brad’s writing process 01:54 - ‘I’m not saying it was Aliens, but it was Aliens’ 03:25 - Brad’s unusual upbringing 06:22 - Finding Zen and moving to Japan 09:38 - Punk rock ethics 11:38 - Trying to become a Christian 14:39 - Practice vs belief 18:09 - At odds with institutional Zen 20:57 - Brad’s Zen vs American Zen 25:08 - American Buddhist politics 26:25 - The secret of Brad’s daily meditation practice 36:01 - Meditation consequences permanent or temporary? 39:11 - The danger of stopping practice after awakening 40:56 - Nishijima Roshi cutting Brad down 46:36 - Brad’s awakening experience 49:37 - Receiving Dharma transmission 54:01 - Links to SFZC 55:09 - Dharma transmission wars and institutional power 01:02:06 - Secret lineage of transmission 01:05:06 - Will Brad give dharma transmission? 01:09:35 - What if Nishijima Roshi had moved to the USA? 01:13:41 - Does Brad have a teacher now? 01:17:15 - Brad’s new book about ethics and non-duality 01:25:13 - Dogen’s elusive metaphors 01:30:44 - Brad on race and being a foreigner … To find out more about Brad Warner, visit: - http://hardcorezen.info/ - https://www.youtube.com/c/HardcoreZen For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James