If there are numerous paths up the mountain that’s religious self-discovery, author, strategist and Zen priest Cristina Moon is on one with an particularly steep incline. “I believe the vast majority of paths have quite a lot of switchbacks, however some folks need straight up the mountain,” she mentioned. “That works for them, it labored for me.”
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In her new memoir, “Three Years on the Nice Mountain: A Memoir of Zen and Fearlessness” (Penguin Random Home), Moon particulars a religious journey that led her from working as a human rights activist in Burma (now Myanmar), to operating advertising for a company mindfulness coaching group within the Bay Space, to in the end dwelling at Daihonzan Chozen-ji, a Zen temple and martial arts dojo in Hawaii identified for its monastic depth.
She finally turned a Zen priest herself, and continues to dwell on the temple at present, the place she trains in a very rigorous type of Japanese swordsmanship known as kendo. She additionally instructs college students in martial arts, ceramics and different Japanese artwork kinds to help them within the discovery of what Japanese Zen Buddhists name the “true self” — a model of oneself that’s completely happy, free and past worry or any self-imposed limitation.
Moon is aware of the arduous path she selected will not be for everybody, however her hope is that by writing actually and vulnerably concerning the challenges and development she skilled in her first three years at Chozen-ji, she is going to encourage others to hunt academics and communities that finest assist them meet life’s obstacles with fearlessness.
“In coaching laborious, it’s doable to seek out your manner residence,” she writes within the e book’s introduction.
Moon spoke to The Occasions about her transformative expertise at Chozen-ji, what it means to face challenges with “your stomach button going through ahead” and the way all of us can work towards dwelling life with much less worry.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
One of many targets of the Zen Buddhism you apply is to domesticate fearlessness, which feels very related proper now, provided that, between battle, local weather change and political turmoil, there’s loads to be afraid of in our world. What does fearlessness imply to you and the way can we work to attain it?
In a really sensible sense fearlessness is just: Can I determine learn how to dwell my life with out hesitation? If I see a gap, if I see a chance, can I simply go for it 100% with out being held again by worry? And may I encourage or transmit that to different folks as properly?
Overcoming my worry originally of my time at Chozen-ji was actually simple stuff, like not ducking and getting small when somebody was about to hit me over the pinnacle in [the Japanese martial art] kendo, or not being afraid of being uncomfortable and being in ache whereas sitting for lengthy durations of meditation.
However for anybody doing any sort of bodily coaching or train, it’s the identical factor. While you push your self via the second of doubt, while you’re operating up a hill, and also you suppose, “I’d love to surrender now and stroll up this hill, however I do know I’m nearly there.” There’s one thing about doing it bodily that lets you do it in different elements of your life emotionally, mentally and interpersonally.
In your time at Chozen-ji you studied okayendo — the best way of the sword — and chado — the best way of tea. Are you able to describe these disciplines and what they needed to train you?
“Do” is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese language phrase “tao,” which is type of a common power, a common reality. While you append that phrase to a self-discipline or an artwork, it mainly says which you can take this martial or positive artwork and use it as a manner of coaching that can form who you’re.
“Ken” means sword, and “do” means manner, so kendo is the best way of the sword. It’s a conventional Japanese martial artwork kind that’s fairly intense and aggressive. Again when samurai really existed it was performed with steel swords, however now we use bamboo or picket swords. In our method to kendo we don’t be taught any defensive maneuvers. We practice in learn how to go ahead and lower straight.
The aim is that you’re reducing extra down the middle, sooner and with much less hesitation then your opponent, so even within the face of assault, you’re the one touchdown the hit first. That individual sort of coaching cultivates fearlessness so that you simply don’t thoughts getting hit. You’ll be able to face the hit and nonetheless transfer ahead and do what it’s a must to do.
That individual sort of coaching cultivates fearlessness so that you simply don’t thoughts getting hit. You’ll be able to face the hit and nonetheless transfer ahead and do what it’s a must to do.
— Cristina Moon, on the Japanese martial artwork of kendo
Chado, or the best way of tea, may be very totally different. Chado is outstanding as a result of it incorporates philosophy and all of the artwork kinds — cooking, calligraphy, aesthetics, the tea itself and the sweets, ceramics — it truly is a complete built-in house if you end up within the tearoom. What I didn’t notice earlier than I began coaching is that male samurai had been the unique individuals who skilled in tea ceremony. It was one thing that was performed as a counterpoint to their life-style and livelihood — a quick second of peace.
What they each have in frequent is the cultivation of what’s known as “kiai,” or the very important power. The best is that the separation between kendo opponents, between the particular person and the sword, between the tea host, the utensils and the visitor — all these boundaries disappear. It is a chance to expertise the interconnectedness and the oneness of every thing.
Your e book particulars how troublesome coaching at Chozen-ji will be. Along with the bodily exertion of lengthy meditation sittings and martial arts, your academics had been consistently correcting you. Did it’s a must to construct a tolerance to being informed you’re doing one thing improper?
In Hawaii we name it scolding. You get scoldings for all kinds of issues, and it’s one of many first issues anybody who comes to coach at Chozen-ji has to determine learn how to take care of. Generally the suggestions may be very heat, but it surely’s jarring for folks when it’s sharp. We’re all the time reminded that if the scoldings and suggestions cease, that’s really when it is best to get involved as a result of it means folks have given up on you.
We don’t do something as a result of it’s valuable or holy. So, the way you maintain your fingers, the way you stroll, the way you tie your hakama [traditional Japanese martial arts training clothes] — all of these issues are meant that will help you learn to concentrate and likewise, heighten your senses.
I really like this phrase in your e book: “approaching life along with your stomach button going through ahead.” What does that imply to you?
It means tackling the challenges and alternatives in life head-on slightly than looking for a sneaky or intelligent manner round issues. It means honesty and integrity, and particularly when issues are laborious, to be prepared to face it.
You titled one chapter in your e book: “2-1=3.” Are you able to clarify that?
That’s a formulation I’ve to credit score to one of many academics right here, Kangen Roshi. It’s this concept that while you let go of one thing you possibly can release all this power and house to have an understanding that’s a lot extra transcendent than the on a regular basis understanding we have now concerning the world being zero sum and the way issues are alleged to work.
He additionally gave me a replica of “Jitterbug Fragrance” by Tom Robbins. In the long run of that e book a few characters die and they’re at this waystation to determine if they’re going to go to heaven. The take a look at is that you simply weigh your coronary heart on a scale in opposition to a feather, and solely the hearts which are lighter than the feather go to heaven. The concept is that it’s a must to have let go of all your baggage. You need to let go of every thing.
The e book particulars the primary time you probably did sesshin, an intense week of coaching the place you solely get 4 hours of sleep an evening. One in all your academics mentioned, “Cease feeling dangerous for your self, and losing all that power.” Why was {that a} breakthrough second for you?
Sesshin is an excessive state of affairs the place it’s a must to determine learn how to let go of your baggage and the issues which are holding you again. The circumstances make it so that you simply don’t have a selection.
On that first sesshin I used to be preoccupied with how drained I used to be. I had this monologue in my head that was like: “I’m so drained. I can’t do that. I don’t suppose I could make it.” For me, the simplest scolding was to be informed: You might be younger, you’re wholesome, you’ve been doing this day by day for six months. And go searching you in any respect these people who find themselves not in as fine condition as you, who don’t know what they’re doing, who don’t have as a lot expertise as you, and what affect are you having on these folks by being so down.
TAKEAWAYS
From “Three Years on the Nice Mountain”
After that, each time that voice began up that mentioned, “I’m so drained,” I might simply type of say, “No!” and put extra power into no matter I used to be doing. In a short time I noticed that I had extra power.
The actually painful and troublesome realization popping out of that was that for my total life I had been leaving one thing on the desk.
Most individuals most likely usually are not going to go away their jobs and houses to dwell and practice at a dojo in Hawaii for 3 years. What are some issues they will do of their on a regular basis lives to problem themselves, such as you did?
My expertise at Chozen-ji is admittedly irregular. Ninety-nine p.c of the individuals who practice right here don’t dwell at Chozen-ji; they’ve jobs, they’ve households, they dwell on Oahu they usually come right here one or a pair days per week. However my recommendation to folks is to seek out the dojos that exist in your communities. An important place to begin is the martial arts dojo or the boxing fitness center. It’s one thing that’s accessible for people who find themselves able to rethink how they need to method their life.
I do know that after an eight-hour workday and an hour commute it’s tempting to only drink a beer, eat dinner, watch 4 hours of Netflix and go to mattress. However how is that getting ready you for the issues which are inevitable that you will face in your life — the most effective and the worst, the toughest moments?
Lots of people are experiencing worry and nervousness concerning the future. What have you ever discovered that may assist somebody overcome these explicit fears?
The true solutions usually are not the rational ones we’re searching for. Even past one thing like local weather change, we will be sure that everybody we love goes to die and so are we, and there’s one thing that comes from embracing that in a sure manner that may lead one to really be free and completely happy and to cherish the life that we do have. The worst factor we will do is turn out to be depressed or nihilistic or hand over, realizing that’s the result for all of us.
It’s really a fairly superb alternative to have the ability to dwell, realizing that that’s coming. Perhaps each second issues. Perhaps what I’m doing proper now issues. How can I make it matter?
I’ve learn quite a lot of Buddhist memoirs and self-help books over time, and I’m struck that yours is the primary one I’ve learn written by an Asian American girl. Have I missed others or have there not been others?
There are a couple of. Sharon Suh wrote “Occupy This Physique: A Buddhist Memoir,” however I believe that was a really small press. Chenxing Han printed the memoir “One Lengthy Listening” about her expertise in Buddhist chaplaincy and likewise about dropping her finest pal to leukemia. These are the 2 I do know of which are very current.
As a lot as my e book may be very a lot a Buddhist e book, I did strive laborious to make it relatable and browse extra like a mainstream memoir. And that was for precisely this purpose: Our tales aren’t on the market. I believe there’s a better motion towards representing the Asian American folks within the Buddhist house usually, however we nonetheless have an extended methods to go.
Shelf Assistance is a brand new wellness column the place we interview researchers, thinkers and writers about their newest books — all with the purpose of studying learn how to dwell a extra full life. Need to pitch us? E mail alyssa.bereznak@latimes.com.