"Mondo Zen training is one of the most important, creative, and novel additions to the meditation pantheon, highly recommended for the accelerated effect it has on spiritual growth and development. Definitely check it out!" - Ken Wilber, The Integral Vision
What is Mondo Zen?
Mondo Zen™ is based on Japanese and Chinese Zen, updated for the 21st Century. Mondo Zen™ transcends the hierarchical/authoritarian, gender-biased and constraining monastic aspects of traditional Zen in favor of practical, experiential “in the world” engagement. Relying only on direct personal experience—as taught by the Buddha himself—it does not allow mythic constructs to complicate its philosophical orientation. This includes ideas such as reincarnation, soul as personality, bardo realms, past lives, a creator deity, or other faith-based beliefs. It is important that in our practice of Mondo Zen™ we consciously choose to set aside all such ideas at least until we have experienced, tested and evaluated for ourselves a simpler and stronger way of knowing. Why is this important? Because those beliefs and concepts force our immediate experience into a container of pre-defined understanding, robbing us of the experience of deeper insight. By letting go of our attachment to our beliefs and mythologies, at least while we are actively doing this practice, we remove a barrier to insight caused by our attachment to those views. Leave old concepts at the door with your hat and shoes—you can always pick them up again on the way out, if they still fit!
We are a sacred order,
bringing into being
a harmonious and loving world
through the practice
of meditative, compassionate awareness
and mindful stewardship. - From Our Sutra Book
Sisters and Brothers,
I am delighted to share with you that we have matured and improved our practice
form and we have made it even more beautiful and effective. I request that you return to the Zendo for
another 7 Day Mondo Zen Sesshin to experience this truth for yourself as soon
as you can. Do not wait to come to awakening and freedom. Samadhi is indeed
right here, right now!
The sesshin we just completed at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center
was the deepest and most beautiful we have led to date. The addition of
alternating Qi Gong embodiment practice and walking meditation allowed for a
deeper more comfortable sitting practice. This releasing of physical pain and
tension and balancing of physical energy allowed a deeper insight experience.
The morning one and one half hour Mondo Koan Ego Deconstruction Dialog practice
and the afternoon one hour Emotional Koan Awareness Intervention practice
[Mondo Zen] shared in small groups clarified our understanding and released
emotional blockages resulting in a deeper insight experience. These processes
allow us to return home with a much clearer Understanding and a set of tools
that allow us to remain insightful and compassionately awake in the normal
commerce and intercourse of our ordinary lives.
The Mondo Dialog shared with four different facilitators and others in
attendance clarifies where we stand in reference to and exposes where we doubt
our Buddha nature and changes our view. And the Emotional Koan work with four
different facilitators and others in attendance allows us to experience and
transform negative feeling reactions and frees us for deeper more genuine
compassionate responses. We have successfully added skillful means practices to
embody our wisdom and compassion.
In any case, please remember that awakening takes practice.
Be well and do not doubt this Truth, "Ata Dipa, you are This light".
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