Julie Seido Nelson is a transmitted teacher (Sensei) in the Maezumi Roshi Zen lineage. Her home Zen community is the Greater Boston Zen Center, a sangha which has experienced three major upheavals due to teacher arrogance and abuses of power over the last several years. She is also a teacher at the Great Plains Zen Center in Monroe, Wisconsin, and has written for Buddhist audiences in Tricycle magazine and on her blog.

Having begun Zen practice in 2004, she has found it to be of immense value. She is deeply saddened when people, either in addition to or instead of realizing the benefits, suffer great harm.

When not reflecting writing about Zen, she sometimes writes and give talks based on her pre-retirement academic work as a feminist and ecological economist. She enjoys visiting her two children and two grandchildren and enjoying the New England outdoors.

Books:

Practicing Safe Zen: Navigating the Pitfalls on the Road to Liberation (Monkfish, 2025)

Amazon

Indie Pubs

Economics for Humans (University of Chicago Press, 2nd ed. 2018)

Website: julieanelson.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded May 11, 2025

 

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 The Myth of Teachers as Exemplars in Education

00:05:07 Measuring Spiritual Attainment and Its Challenges

00:10:46 The Journey to Self-Realization: Insights from Soto Zen  

00:14:29 Importance of Ethics in Spiritual Teaching  

00:19:30 The Transformative Power of Momentary Cosmic Experiences

00:24:23 Shadow Work and Spiritual Growth

00:28:30 Legal Challenges in Zen Communities  

00:32:31 Identifying and Avoiding Cult-Like Spiritual Groups

00:37:38 The Challenges of Becoming a Zen Teacher

00:41:51 Zen and the Importance of a Beginner's Mind  

00:46:30 Trusting the Dharma vs. Human Advice  

00:50:48 Embracing Buddha Nature Through Life's Storms  

00:55:50 Examining Zen Precepts and Self-Awareness

01:00:23 Navigating Zen Teachings and Moral Conduct

01:05:06 The Misunderstanding of No-Self  

01:09:12 The Impact of Long-Term Meditation on the Brain  

01:14:22 Power Dynamics in Teaching and Spiritual Leadership  

01:17:44 Navigating Teacher-Student Boundaries in Dharma Practice  

01:21:06 Institutional Misconduct and In-Group Protection

01:25:22 Understanding DARVO: Strategies of Manipulation  

01:28:38 Recognizing and Avoiding Cult-like Behaviors in Groups

01:32:04 Understanding Authority in Charismatic Groups and Zen

01:36:13 Discernment in Supporting Charities  

01:39:36 The Essence of Dharma Teaching Transmission

01:44:16 Recognizing Genuine Spiritual Awakening

01:48:28 Finding Inner Security Beyond External Influences  

01:53:01 Financial Misuse in Spiritual Communities  

01:57:21 Navigating the Path to Spiritual Development

02:01:19 Pre-Order "Practicing Safe Zen"  

02:03:38 Engaging with Greater Boston Zen Center Online