War: The curse of humanity. An old man with a wrangled & broken arm shares his story from youth, of being the lone surviving man in the entire region, of a long & bloody war in 8th century China that killed 10 million men over the course of decades. A story in the book of prose & poems by Po Ch'u I, a famous poet & Taoist of 8th century China. Translated by David Hinton. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/support ..read more

A simple cook shares the Way of Tao with his ruler (the Emperor). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/support ..read more

Yielding, with the 4 Adepts from the Chuang Tzu The 4 Adepts is a story read from the Chuang Tzu.  Story read by Abbot Hwalson Sunim, then a conversation afterward together with Vice-Abbot Myungju Sunim. On the 4 Adepts (Taoist Sages):  As Adept Cart becomes sick and faces death, he shares with us & his fellow sages his own fearless and yielding view of death, as a simple extension of the eventual passing of all things.... This version of Chuang Tzu has been translated by David Hinton, and is part of his collection The 4 Classics (of Taoism). Thank you for listening... --- S ..read more

Enter the world of Zen nuns.  A common kitchen nun finds her teacher's instruction simple enough, but eventually the endless work & burden of cooking in the zen community becomes a serious complication in her quest for mental, emotional & spiritual peace.  Frustrated, hastily she makes the fire to prepare the winter solstice dish -- red bean porridge -- and winds up at the brink. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/support ..read more

Abbot Yang Chu is excited to hear that his master Lao Tzu is on his way back from his remote hermitage.  He drops everything to travel up to meet his teacher on the road home. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/support ..read more

This episode follows the second part of Pusol's life, and his death. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/support ..read more

1,500 years ago a simple rainstorm brought about a life-altering spiritual decision for a sincere monk.  His compassionate response resonates to this day. This is the first of two parts to the story of Layman Pusol. Welcome to Season 2 of the Podcast. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit/support ..read more

Zen Master Mangong -- a revered 20th century monk of Korea (and grandfather teacher to the Detroit Zen Center) -- comes to the end of his life.  Without much fanfare, he departs.   We begin this episode with the story of Mangong's last day, and move into a conversation with Hwalson & Myungju.  They discuss his life, & death, and its relationship to an action-based way of life, in contrast to the feeling-based way of our own society. This podcast marks the anniversary of his death in 1946, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Detroit Zen Center.  As ever, thank you ..read more

Join us as we narrate Lewis Lancaster's journey with The Mad Monk Jung Kwang Sunim, one of the most controversial Buddhist figures (and renowned artists) of 20th Century Korea, amidst his practice of 'unlimited action zen'. Lancaster, a would-be student of Jung Kwang, was a professor of Buddhist Art & Studies at UC Berkley, who having been captivated by the art & calligraphy of Jung Kwang endeavored to meet and know his mind.  Jung Kwang invited him to join him in his life for a few weeks....and here is the story of their time together. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcast ..read more

Welcome to the origin of Poduk Cave, a zen training hermitage located on a precipice deep in the Diamond Mountains of what is now North Korea.  This cave temple has been long famed as a place for the highest level of training, and the site of awakening for many hundreds of seekers. This story brings us to its origin, how a sincere monk named Hojong made this cave the site of his awakening, through his meetings & parting with Lady Poduk, and his trials with Skinny Father & Ocean Brightfellow. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bluecollarzendetroit ..read more