Rich Ray on Zen, Ashtanga, and Living Without the Filters

Rich Ray is a KPJAYI Level II Authorized Ashtanga Teacher and the director of Ashtanga Yoga Portland, Maine. In 1998, he made his first trip to Mysore, India, to study with Pattabhi Jois, and he has made numerous trips to study with Sharath. Around the same time, he began in-depth Zen Buddhist practice and lived as a silent monastic for four years under the guidance of a Roshi.In this conversation, we explore: - Why college didn’t feel like the right path for Rich - How a phone call to a number in the back of a book changed his life - Daily life inside a silent Zen monastery - The conditioning that filters our experience (and how to see through it) - Bringing insight into Ashtanga practice — and avoiding the ego traps of performance - Working with challenging postures like Kapotasana without frustration - Why “glimpses” of clarity matter more than chasing a breakthroughWhether you practice yoga, meditation, or just want to live more intentionally, Rich offers a grounded, experience-based perspective on what it means to wake up and live fully.Where to find Rich: - Web: Ashtanga Portland Maine - Instagram: @richrayyoga Upcoming In-Person Events: Bethel Farm Ashtanga & Ayurveda Weekend featuring Rich Ray and Kate O'Donnell October 3-5, Hillsborough, NH. Link for more info. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit trippjohnson.substack.com