Rev. Shudo Paula Lazarz is a 6th degree Black Sash in Shaolin Kung Fu and an ordained priest in the Soto Zen lineage of Shunryu Suzuki. Her over two decades of study in the martial arts and Buddhist practice has been an exploration of the idea of the historical Shaolin Temple, culminating in Warrior’s Path Buddhist Academy. Paula is a co-owner of Energy Fitness, Inc., Head Instructor at HealthKick Kung Fu and a Practice Leader at Ancient Dragon Zen Gate.

For more information about Paula and the above organizations, please see the following links:

Ancient Dragon Zen Gate

https://www.ancientdragon.org

Warrior's Path Buddhist Academy 

https://warriorspathacademy.org

HealthKick Kung Fu 

https://healthkickkungfu.com

We discussed how practicing martial arts in tandem with Chan/Zen peels back the onion layers of our humanity and reveals our true nature, feeling a sense of homecoming while visiting Shaolin Temple as well as Green Dragon Temple/Green Gulch Farm, lay ordination and female representation in sangha leadership, and the importance of remembering that difficulty is part of the training.