Brad Warner is a known Zen master who doesn't want to be known as a master. He doesn't believe there's anything to master. He's clear it's not a religion and there's no dogma to represent. So what is it? He has taught at hundreds of locations around the world to explain it to people and he's written many books about it. It's just a practice of sitting with what is. It's not about getting "chill" and creating peace. It's not about creating anything. There are no goals except to just sit for different lengths of time. It's not about creating comfort. It's really just about being present with whatever issues come to you. Of course there are monasteries that have very strict rules and strong punishments. That's not Zen to Brad. It's just a culture some groups have formed around it.

Brad Warner, the author of "Letters to a Dead Friend about Zen", has a lot to tell us about what it is and what it isn't. He has a lot to say about the misconceptions people have that have turned the word into many different kinds of products and services that have to do with peacefulness.

 

It's not really what Zen teaches. It only promotes a practice that expects people to sit in a particular posture for sometimes very long periods of time. Zen temples are not supposed to be friendly places. They're very serious about getting the job done and that's it. Sometimes, it's even too serious. Not all of us are designed to handle the rigors of it.

 

It's really great to hear from a long time practitioner who has traveled the world and visited temples and monasteries in remote places. He's given talks in many countries and has written many books. Don't miss this opportunity to hear from him.