(KODEN OBSCURE) May 26, 2026: Zen Wisdom: Been struggling to break a bad habit for years and feel like it's losing battle using willpower?
Many of us are fighting a war we were never meant to wage. In this video, we explore a profound piece of wisdom from the Japanese monastic tradition: Zen monks never fight their habits.
Instead of using force, they use intelligent design. Discover the five unusual and quiet methods used in Zen monasteries to redirect energy, change environments, design time, and observe urges without judgment.
Learn why treating our mind with patience rather than going to war with it is the ultimate secret to lasting freedom. What this video covers:
Why willpower almost always fails in the long run
The "replacement gesture" and how to redirect energy
How breaking the spatial anchor of a room can instantly stop an urge
The danger of "empty time" and how monks structure their day
Why harsh self-judgment actually feeds our bad habits.
CHAPTERS
0:00 The monk who couldn't break a habit
1:29 The secret monastic view of habits
3:01 Method 1: The replacement gesture
4:10 Method 2: Breaking the spatial anchor
5:29 Method 3: Eliminating undesigned time
6:50 Method 4: The practice of conscious permission
8:15 Method 5: Escaping the loop of self-judgment
9:37 - Why fighting keeps the habit alive
10:29 - Wrestling the shadow (a Zen metaphor)
11:37 - How to finally become free.
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Prof. Frederick Philip Lenz III, calling himself "enlightened master" Rama (Sanskrit राम), Zen Master Rama, and "Atmananda" (Sanskrit आतमाननद), who died for 48 years between February 9, 1950–April 12, 1998, was a capitalist American cult leader, spiritual fraud, writer, coder, programmer, software designer from Atlantis, quasi-musician, and record producer.
He founded what he tried to sell as "American Buddhism," a hodgepodge of Zen gibberish, Hinduism, and Tibetan Vajrayana lite. He incorporated what teachings he could from Tibetan Buddhism, Zen, Hindu Vedanta, general mysticism, and lots of New Age ideas.
"Busting Rama" (LA Weekly 1988)
After studying with Sri Chinmoy, who allegedly gave him the name "Atmananda" (atman-ananda, which is a name he gave to many around him besides Lenz).
Prof. of Literature Lenz lectured and taught classes in meditation, before forming his own school and assuming the Hindu name of God "Rama." Though calling himself a "Buddhist," Lenz steered clear of anything like asceticism. Instead, he lived a lavish lifestyle, and encouraged students to focus on financial independence and success.
Some former students accused him of cult-like activity, including financial and sexual exploitation. Prof. Lenz denied the accusations; no civil or criminal proceedings were ever successfully brought against him. More
(Time forge Stories) BUTUAN, Philippines. This city served as the former capital of the Rajahnate of Butuan before 1001 until about 1521. The city used to be known during that time as the best in gold and boat manufacturing in the entire Philippine archipelago, having traded with places as far as Champa, Ming, Srivijaya, Majapahit, and the Bengali coasts. It is located at the northeastern part of the Agusan Valley, Mindanao, sprawling across the Agusan River. It is bounded to the north, west, and south by Agusan del Norte, to the east by Agusan del Sur, and to the northwest by Butuan Bay. More
Real-life samurai Sasaki Rui (佐々木 累), or Rui-San, was a Japanese swordswoman, Onna-musha and kenjutsu expert of the early Edo period (mid-17th century). She was known as the "Strangely Dressed Female Sword Master" [1, 2, 3].
Life of Sasaki Rui
Sasaki was born in Koga domain, located in Shimōsa province (modern-day Koga, Ibaraki), exact birthdate unknown. Her father Sasaki Uōto was a member of a clan of kenjutsu masters in service to Doi Toshikatsu and was thoroughly versed in the martial arts.
Since Rui-San had no brothers and her attempts to take a husband ended in divorce, upon her father's death from illness the Sasaki clan name became extinct [1, 2, 3].
Rui-San went to Edo, where she rented a house in present-day Asakusa and began teaching the martial arts.
At the same time that her teaching was becoming well-known, she began to be famous for her unusual dress:
She would leave the house wearing a black silk crepe haori (a man's garment at the time) emblazoned with the Sasaki family crest, her hair done up in an indoor style with hairpins, and wearing the samurai's long and short swords [1, 2, 3].
At that time, the ruffians known as kabukimono or hatamoto yakko were running rampant in Edo, and Rui-San began fighting with the "Shiroe" gang, among other groups [1, 2]. More
Various samurai clans struggled for power during the Kamakura shogunate. Zen Buddhismspread among the samurai in the 13th century and helped shape their standards of conduct, particularly in overcoming the fear of death and [the wrongdoing of] killing. Among the general populace devotional Pure Land Buddhism was favored however. More
Samurai had arranged marriages, which were engineered by a go-between of the same or higher rank. While for those samurai in the upper ranks this was a necessity (as most had few opportunities to ever meet women), this was a formality for lower-ranked samurai.
Most samurai married women from a samurai family, but for lower-ranked samurai, marriages with commoners were permitted. In these marriages a dowry was brought by the woman and was used to set up the couple's new household.
A samurai could take concubines, but their backgrounds were checked by higher-ranked samurai. In many cases, taking a concubine was akin to a marriage. Kidnapping a concubine, although common in fiction, would have been shameful, if not criminal. More
This is a reading of a talk given to a group of lay practitioners on the topic of samadhi at Hampstead Vihara, London, England, in the late 1970s.
It is designed to be listened to as a guided meditation.
The Pali and Sanskrit word samādhi, usually poorly translated as “concentration,” is made up of three parts, a verbal root and two prefixes (sam+ā+dhi).
The last part, dhi, is a noun form derived from the verbal root dhā, meaning “to put or place.” The prefix ā gives direction and suggests “placing upon,” and the prefix sam means “gathering or bringing together.”
When combined and used in a Buddhist context, these elements add up to the sense of “unifying the mind and placing its awareness upon a particular object.”
Traditional sources also emphasize that the mind focuses on a single (eka) point (agga), and “one-pointedness” (Pali, ekaggatā, Sanskrit ekāgratā) is another common way of defining samādhi (Andrew Olendzki).
Ajahn Chah was a Thai Forest Tradition Buddhist monk and meditation master. He was an influential teacher of the Buddha-Dhamma, teaching many prominent Western monks, and a founder of two major monasteries in Thailand, Wat Pah Pong and Wat Pah Nanachat. He is reputed to have been fully enlightened, an arahant.
Bodhidharma: The Master of Zen - A Gripping Buddhist Film | Unveiling the Secrets of Enlightenment
(Brandy Film Production) Master Chuen-Bo (known as Brandy Yuen) embarked on an extraordinary spiritual journey that began with his dedication to producing the evocative film Master of Zen.
In this ambitious project, he simultaneously took on the roles of screenwriter, director, and producer. This marked the start of his transformation towards embracing the Buddhist monastic life.
0:00 Movie opening
0:21 Introducing Bodhidharma
1:02 I am you
04:46 A great danger
07:18 Hell vs. Bliss
09:27 The Light of Wisdom
10:42 Vegetarianism
12:47 Who was I before I was born?
14:56 Who told you to become a monk?
16:17 Buddhist practice is in the heart
22:52 Eight ways to make you understand the Truth
25:05 Bodhidharma travels east to China
29:36 Indian monks preach without words?
34:12 Flow with destiny and stay at ease
36:36 Can one become a Buddha by sitting in meditation?
40:04 Bodhidharma: There is no Buddha in the world
41:47 How to recite the scriptures?
44:49 Cross the river with a single reed
46:46 Who can cut himself with a knife?
48:46 A practitioner must encounter obstacles
50:17 Buddhism is beyond words
52:09 Sitting for nine years
58:58 Why is there no Buddha in the world?
1:00:54 Still as a mountain
1:02:56 It's all just a thought
1:03:41 Revelation in dreams
1:09:23 We must seize the time and do more good deeds
1:10:20 The test of the master
1:11:51 Break the arm to seek Buddhism
1:17:14 Using divine power
1:23:51 Those who know do not speak, those who speak do not know
1:26:45 Carrying a shoe back to the West
During his research for the film, Master Chuen-Bo immersed himself in the study of Buddhist sutras, seeking wisdom within the hallowed walls of prestigious temples, and attentively absorbing the teachings of his revered master.
As he delved deeper into the profound study of Buddhism, his longing for the Dharma grew increasingly urgent.
Ultimately, he discovered the elusive Truth regarding life's existential questions and, in a decisive moment, chose to leave behind his flourishing film career and colorful life to walk the path of Buddhist monk.
Later on, responding to the heartfelt invitations from his devoted disciples, he journeyed back to Hong Kong from Taiwan to compassionately spread the enlightening teachings of Buddhism.
In October 2000, Master Chuen-Bo established the Buddhist Navigation Vihara in Hong Kong, wholeheartedly dedicating his life to spreading the Dharma for the betterment of all sentient beings.
Guided by the noble mission, "Seek the Buddha's path above, enlighten sentient beings below," the temple aspires to illuminate the way for countless souls. May the Navigation of this Dharma vessel steer us all towards the blissful realm of nirvana, guiding us on this transformative journey together.
Ever dream of having a casual conversation with a real-life Zen master? Here's a talk is about life, love, success, and happiness with Korean Zen Buddhist monk Ven. Pomnyun Sunim.
ABOUT: Zen Master Pomnyun is a peace activist, humanitarian assistance expert, and an environmentalist, speaking about four topics and taking questions on all topics.
The Buddha made a general distinction between two types of cultivation or "meditation," one emphasizing calm and the other wisdom, shamatha and vipassana. This tradition of calm-and-insight is inseparable, one interdepending on the other, acting as the foundation for the other. The Theravada tradition used to encourage (foolishly in our opinion) dry insight, that is, this kind of meditation without the help of the other. Begin with calm and use it as a support for insight practices, which mainly derive from the two Satipatthana Suttas or the "Fourfold Setting Up of Mindfulness Discourses."
Sharon Salzberg edited an anthology called Voices of Insight about vipassana meditation in 1/9/99
with Mirabai Bush. It has 4.7 out of 5 stars 21 ratings.
In this anthology, leading Western teachers of Buddhism share their personal experiences on the path of insight meditation called vipassana;their understanding of the basic teachings of the Buddha; the lessons they've learned in their training with their own teachers; and some good advice on following the Buddha-Dharma in everyday situations of work, family, and service. These contributors include:
Once upon a young American from the Bay Area in California decided to go on a spiritual quest.
(Yes, that's true of writers at Wisdom Quarterly, but this time we're talking about Jack Kornfield, who preceded us).
Kornfield decided to seek the wisdom of the East along with his hippie friends from the East Coast.
Jack Kornfield: Life is funny because karma is.
While working in the Peace Corps and learning languages in Asia, he trained to be a Buddhist monk in Thailand, Burma, and India (just like we did, although we added Sri Lanka, where many of the sutra texts are stored along with their chief translator, Bhikkhu Bodhi, our teacher and inspiration.
Buddhism for Beginners (Jack Kornfield)
Wishing to visit Thailand, a friend who became Tan Jess, and I heard about Kornfield's guide to young seekers, which talks about a dozen living masters one might possibly study under in the original wandering ascetic forest tradition). Kornfield was good enough to write about his experiences under ten teachers, ten living Buddhist masters, for a Western audience back home. Not everyone is called to let it all go and go East. (But we were). Thankfully, Kornfield was.
The Wise Heart (Jack Kornfield)
Miraculously, he found what he was looking for, and not only he but at least four others. All seem to have attained the path of stream entry (the first stage of enlightenment) there under Dipa Ma and others.
There is Sharon Salzberg, Joseph Goldstein (IMS, IMS Forest Refuge), Sylvia Boorstein, and we could swear there was someone else who is not Trudy Goodman (founder of InsightLA.org) because she came into Kornfield's life much later and is now his wife, but maybe it was his previous wife, Liana.
Kornfield awakened (probably in Dipa Ma's living room in India), was sent back to the US, and is now the co-founder of the Bay Area's Spirit Rock Meditation Center near San Francisco and one of the co-founders of Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Massachusetts.
Kornfield has worked to make Buddhism accessible for Westerners [10], combining loving-kindness and self-compassion with the practice of mindfulness. He incorporates the wisdom of Eastern and Western psychology. In his book After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, he writes about the honest development of the wise heart within the cycles of day-to-day life.
Original 1977 cover of the book
For instance, "amid all the Western masters and teachers I know, some idealistic perfection is not apparent.
"Times of great wisdom, deep compassion, and a real knowing of freedom alternate with periods of fear, confusion, neurosis, and struggle. "Most teachers will readily admit this" (pg. xix).
Kornfield's early lectures were featured by Joe Frank on his radio series "The Other Side." More
Jack Kornfield, Living Buddhist Masters (Internet Archive, archive.org);Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Ajahn Mahindo (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly
Jon Kabat-Zinn teaches mindfulness and meditation | official trailer
(MasterClass) A pioneer of the Western mindfulness movement, Jon Kabat-Zinn has spent more than 40 years studying, teaching, and advocating the benefits of mindfulness.
In his MasterClass, he teaches viewers how to cultivate a mindfulness practice, reduce stress, and soothe thoughts with Buddhist meditation and movement. Kabat-Zinn shares expert tips and guidance that meets practitioners right where they are.
This class helps make the most of being alive. Learn more about Jon Kabat-Zinn’s MasterClass at mstr.cl/3rr55Tg.
Lessons in this online class include:
What Is Mindfulness?
Factors of Mindful Living
What Is Meditation?
Navigating Thoughts While Meditating
Meditation Postures
Guided Meditations
Responding to Stress
Facing Physical Pain
Mindfulness in Movement
Discovering Wholeness
Maintaining a Mindfulness Practice
More from MasterClass: Matthew Walker teaches the science of better sleep: masterclass.com/mw.Emily Morse teaches sex and communication: masterclass.com/em
Who is Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn?
What did the Buddha and Freud understand?
ABOUT: An internationally known scientist, writer, and meditation teacher engaged in bringing mindfulness into the mainstream of society and medicine, Jon Kabat-Zinn has made it his life’s work to normalize the practice of mindfulness and meditation, making it accessible to all. he has more than 50 years of experience in the field and has been instrumental in bringing the practice of mindfulness to mainstream institutions such as hospitals, schools, and prisons. He is the author of 10 books, the creator of the Stress Reduction Clinic, and has a doctoral degree in molecular biology.
ABOUT: MasterClass is the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best. With an annual membership, subscribers get unlimited access to instructors and classes across a wide range of subjects. Stream thousands of lessons anywhere, anytime, on mobile, desktop, and TV.
Master Shi Heng Yi is the headmaster of the Shaolin Temple Europe (歐洲少林寺) located in Germany. He belongs to the 35th Generation of Shaolin.
For the full training experience, have a look at the latest project of Shaolin Temple Europe: ➡ shaolin.online.
If this podcast is found useful or enjoy the published videos and content, support Master Shi Heng Yi by leaving a review on the Google site of the Shaolin Temple Europe here ➡
bit.ly/3e13woW. Use Code 2023 at checkout:
(Beny Lope, May 24, 2016) African American runner Owens won four (4) gold medals: 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump, and 4 × 100 meter relay. That's amazing. What's more amazing is that he did it with the racist Führer (furor) furiously scowling at him, as Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels looked on in fury as well.
Adolf and Eva moved to Argentina after the war
But the Germans seemed to have a good time, admiring a wonderful sports figure in his moment of greatness. One can only imagine that many white Americans were siding with Hitler during the games, as American racism, discrimination, and bias were notorious and an inspiration to Hitler who took the ideas of concentration camps and eugenics from the example of the USA.
Instead of responding, the elderly Buddhist monk gestured to the young man to follow him higher up the mountain until they arrived at a deep gorge. There an old and unsteady log spanned the chasm in place of a bridge.
The Zen master serenely walked onto the log, then standing at the center of it, took aim at a distant tree, and with a clean movement released his arrow. It flew straight to meet its target.
“Your turn now,” he said to the young man, as he casually stepped back onto the edge of the cliff.
The youth stared down into the gaping chasm and began to tremble uncontrollably. He could not bring himself to place his foot on the unsteady log, much less take aim at anything beyond it.
The master observed, “You have great control over that bow, but as for the mind that wields it...”
The ego, for which we do so much, is not the way to real skill and power. See through it and awaken to reality. Source
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