Hello, Reader. I am glad you’re here!
That’s me, the bald one; who’s having the shura shaved off my head by my teacher in October 2014 during my ordination as a Soto Zen Buddhist priest. My teacher gave me the Dharma name: Shōren Chōshin, which translates as: Fire Lotus, Listening Heart. How did I get here? Good question. Being a Zen priest was never on my bucket list, and yet that’s where life’s led me.
In June 2008, I quit my comfy 9-to-5 life and entered a life of rigor as a novice monk at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. Back then, I thought I’d stay for six months; however, the months turned into years, and my spiritual sabbatical morphed into a way of life. In total, I resided amid the peace and beauty of the monastic valley for seven years. While a monk, I completed 12 ango, which translates as “dwelling in peace.” These ango are cloistered, 90-day practice periods where we monks meditate five hours a day. Every month, we participated in intensive retreats or sesshin (“collecting body-mind”), meditating for 13 hours a day, for seven to nine days. I’ve participated in meditation intensives with Pema Chödrön, Tenshin Reb Anderson Rōshi, Shōhaku Okumura Rōshi, and Shodo Harada Rōshi.
What is Spark Zen?
Spark Zen grew out of my twin passions for storytelling and Zen. It’s a newsletter and podcast for introspective, outta-the-box thinkers interested in Zen/Buddhism, personal essays, and waking up in the here-and-now.
I aim to offer a more authentic and embodied understanding of Zen. That tiny word that’s tossed about by just about everyone to describe just about everything from cosmetics to gardens to spa treatments to blissed-out mystical experiences.
The heart of Zen goes beyond words and phrases. It’s a direct, felt experience of life, precious moment by precious moment, eternal breath by eternal breath.
So what’s the point of writing a newsletter if words and phrases miss the mark? The title of a book by my Zen teacher’s teacher Katagiri Rōshi says it all: You Have to Say Something. So Spark Zen is my attempt at saying something!
I hope my words say something beyond words. That transmit the power this ancient practice has to transform our modern lives from one of constant seeking to one of sustained contentment. I hope that by sharing how practicing Zen lifted me out of a swamp of suffering, you might be inspired to jump off the 100-foot pole and walk the path toward a more liberated life.
The secret of Sōtō Zen is just two words: "Not always so." Oh—oh—three words in English. In Japanese it is two words. This is the secret of the teaching. — Shunryū Suzuki Rōshi
I Currently Offer Free and Paid Subscriptions
Every week, subscribers receive: 1. The Sunday Spark, a twice monthly Zen reflection by Reverend Shōren 2. SparkZen podcast on alternate Sundays 3. Every Wednesday, Zen in Ten, a list of facts, figures, and fun about Buddhism, and 4. Zen Sparks, inspirational quotes and photos posted on random days!
Questions?
Please send me an email at: reverendshoren@gmail.com.
You can also find me on: Twitter: @spark_zen.
Thanks again, and share the Spark!
