Episode 1 - A Conversation about Zen Art with Author John Stevens Sensei


John Stevens Sensei is a Zen priest, a former University professor and teacher of Buddhist studies, and the author of more than thirty books on Zen, Buddhism, Aikido and Asian culture.
 
Born in Chicago and raised in Evanston, Illinois, Stevens Sensei made a life-changing decision to move to Sendai, Japan in 1973 to study Buddhism. It was during this time that he discovered Aikido under the guidance of Hanzawa Yoshimi Sensei and later Shirata Rinjiro Sensei.

Stevens Sensei went on to create his own distinct style of Aikido, called Classical Aikido. He has shared his teachings with people all over the world, making him a globally recognized authority on the subject.


In this episode Alex & Stevens Sensei come together to discuss:

• The origin of the “Red Beard” in Red Beard Somatic Therapy - the connection to Bodhidharma (a historical Zen figure) and Zen painting
• How Alex has been deeply influenced by Stevens Sensei’s books on Yamaoka Tesshu (a famous 19th Century Japanese swordsman, calligrapher, and Zen master)
• Stevens Sensei's fascinating biography and his lifelong exploration of Zen and Japanese Martial Arts (Budo)
• The relationship between Zen & Western embodiment practices
• How Zen art can assist us in deepening our spiritual practice
  
  

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