In this episode, I host a dialogue between Guo Gu, Chan Buddhist teacher and scholar and author of ‘Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening’, and Meido Roshi, Rinzai Zen Abbot of Korinji Monastery and author of ‘Hidden Zen: Practices for Sudden Awakening and Embodied Realisation’.

Guo Gu and Meido Roshi reflect on their long friendship, recall their first meeting in 1989 at a meditation retreat led by Master Sheng Yen, and extol the virtues of dharma friendship.

They challenge common misconceptions about awakening, explain how to train the body in Chan and Zen practice, and reveal the suprising results of an integrated body-mind.

They also describe the enlightened field of a true master, the power of being close to one’s teacher, and how to master energy, time, and space.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep266-meeting-of-masters-guo-gu-meido-roshi

Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

00:58 - Meido and Guo Gu reflect on their friendship since 1989

08:20 - What is a dharma friend?

11:36 - Sharing experiences in Chan vs Zen

14:28 - Half baked experiences and marking history

16:25 - Keeping a practice journal

20:16 - Dreaming about Master Sheng Yen

24:30 - Developing as a teacher

28:30 - Embodying the master

31:04 - Master Sheng Yen’s sharp humour and private sarcasm

34:01 - Face to face training and being an attendant

35:55 - Drawbacks of online training

39:22 - The teacher as friend

41:46 - Dharma projections

43:16 - The resonant field of a master

47:42 - Embodied practice and interdependence of being

51:47 - The power of the retreat container

52:39 - The silent influence of one’s practice

57:33 - Learned bodily aptitude

58:39 - How to train the body

01:01:44 - Content and clear

01:04:32 - Mastering energy, time, and space

01:06:57 - Everyone is different

01:09:33 - The body-supporting experience

01:10:46 - Working with injuries

01:13:47 - Zazen emerges organically

01:15:20 - How to use the teacher’s influence

01:17:09 - Learning to let go

01:20:39 - “Put it down”

01:25:40 - Delusion is baked into the body

01:31:24 - Mind and body conditioning

01:34:20 - Solving problems

01:36:40 - Integrating the body-mind

01:30:01 - The entire universe is the true human body

01:38:30 - Putting down awakening

01:39:11 - Effort vs allowing

01:40:47 - Concluding remarks

Previous episodes with Guo Gu:

- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=guo

Previous episode with Meido Roshi:

- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep98-meido-roshi-hidden-zen

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To find out more about Guo Gu, visit:

- https://guogulaoshi.com/

To find our more about Meido Roshi, visit:

- https://www.korinji.org/

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James