In this episode, I host a dialogue between Brad Warner, Zen teacher, Youtuber, and best-selling author of “Hardcore Zen”; and Shozan Jack Haubner, ex-Zen Monk, Youtuber, and prize winning author of the memoir “Zen Confidential: Confessions of a Wayward Monk”.

Brad and Jack explore their own journeys as writers, the humorous and confessional elements in their work, and the complications of writing about real life events that involve other people.

Brad and Jack reflect on what they see as the politicisation of American Zen, describe how religious institutions can compromise their principles when faced with financial and political pressure, and explain their own efforts on Youtube and elsewhere to challenge hegemony and encourage a return to essential Zen.

Brad and Jack also discuss facing criticism as public figures, consider some of their more controversial videos and views, and reveal how they stay centred amidst the polarising forces of today’s internet and social media world.

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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep271-zen-confessions-brad-warner-shozan-jack-haubner

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

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Topics include:

00:00 - Intro

01:10 - Radical self disclosure

02:49 - Why Brad began writing about Zen

05:59 - Hardcore Zen and success

06:48 - Noah Levine’s Dharma Punx

07:50 - Jack’s initial Zen writing

10:43 - Complications of being ordained

12:34 - When people find out

13:40 - Protecting others’ identity

16:29 - Compromise thru affiliation with Zen organisations

18:08 - Selling meditation as a product

21:03 - Austrian Zen and hard retreat

22:44 - Mainstream mindfulness

23:37 - Wearing Zen robes

24:55 - Why Brad stopped teaching in the USA

25:45 - Hostility in NYC

27:50 - Zen apprenticeship and closing the doors

30:53 - Boomer hippy ideals vs real Zen

31:45 - US Zen hegemony

35:11 - Politicised Zen and 80s televangelists

36:20 - Bullying and fixed views

37:25 - Sasaki Roshi’s scandal and encounters with boutique Zen teachers

39:02 - Politicisation of US Zen

41:07 - Financial pressure and running an institution

44:59 - Brad on Sasaki Roshi

47:16 - Sweeping Zen

48:08 - Challenging socio-political trends in American Zen

50:08 - Hijacking Zen

56:06 - The Jack Kornfield problem

59:20 - Attacked from both sides

01:01:16 - Right wing Zen

01:03:54 - Demonising the other side and facing your shadow

01:09:40 - Abuse and pushing your buttons

01:12:10 - Being too nice

01:13:28 - Self-justification

01:14:57 - Co-opting Zen

01:16:09 - Sasaki beats a lazy student

01:19:06 - The danger of Zen practice

01:23:06 - Patron priest corruption

01:24:58 - Dealing with negative feedback on social media

01:33:24 - Internet radicalisation and keeping your head

01:38:52 - Watching your equilibrium

01:39:49 - Jordan Peterson vs Zen

01:43:07 - Teachings vs entertainment

01:46:00 - Why Rinzai is evil and Soto sucks

Previous episode with Brad Warner:

- www.guruviking.com/podcast/155-hardcore-zen-brad-warner

Previous episodes with Shozan Jack Haubner:

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

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To find out more about Brad Warner, visit:

- http://hardcorezen.info/

- https://www.youtube.com/c/HardcoreZen

To find our more about Shozan Jack Haubner, visit:

- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt9Q74t3o7AUCJ_bKTc5CgA

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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:

- https://www.guruviking.com

Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James