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"Mind precedes all mental states. Mind is their chief; they are allmind-made." (Dhammapada)
My own journey into martial arts and Zen began in college. When I arrived for my freshman year, I was already a 2nd degree in Tae Kwon Do; however, I wanted to learn new material. As chance would have it, I met Dave Moore in an Asian Studies class. We were in a group together, and as we talked about our group paper, we realized we shared similar interests.
Dave's step-father happened to have trained in Tien Shan Pai off-base during his army stint. In turn, he taught what he learned to Dave, which put my friend on a trajectory to learn more kung fu. He labored in California with an uncle who owned a construction company, In his time in California, he grappled with Hung Gar and Hsing-I.
It just so happens that a Zen Master was going to give a talk at the university, prefacing a weekend Zen seminar. Dave and I attended, and because wecould get extra-credit in class, so we showed up at the seminar the next day. Ji Bong was our teacher. As it turns out, he had trained Pangai-noon (Uechi-Ryu).
Dave and I learned three practical practices that were introduced as "ago-to Dharma Sword against samsara (suffering)." The only thing you had to do was train them.
1. Zazen
2.Chanting
3. Movement
On the second day, Dave and I talked to our Zen teacher, letting him know we were martial arts students. Ji Bong nodded, and told us that our "movement" Zen should be our practice.
I would train Hsing-I with Dave on Friday evenings and Wednesday evenings. He taught me from the 12 Animal syllabus. Our training space was alonely hallway in the university's large exercise building. Because we were adamant in our Zazen, we trained 15 minutes before our Hsing-I. On "off days," I chanted "The Great Dharani" and practiced alone.
Dave and I kept our training days. Others were attracted to it, and even did siting with us. By the time my days as a university student were over, Dave also exposed me to Hung Gar techniques, practical strikes I could use on a bag, and later on a DIY makiwara. .
I would train with Ji Bong in California for one more weekend. I told him I was a bout to head into the hinterlands of America to teach language skills anywhere that would hire me. He nodded, once again reinforcing the need to practice the three tier list.
Many years would pass, and I would structure my own training days alone. Some areas I taught in had maybe a TKD dojang, but I only had an appetite for what Dave shared. So, I held myself responsible. I bought a used heavy bag, hung it in my garage, and practiced. Eventually, I was able to chant as I trained. A few lines at first, but I would always add on slowly. One of the things I noticed was a natural circuit developing between the two. Eventually, negative thoughts like "you can't do this; this is bull; you cant train Hsing-I, wait until you find a kwoon, duh" receded over the years.
I have encountered large Zen temples filled with golden Buddhas. I practiced with those people until I realized they only wanted me around for my dues. I moved on. I would train with a Zen group online. They were surprised to see I could meditate with them without complaining. But over all, the best training was the Three Tier list I learned years ago with Dave at my side. Today, Dave is an attorney, still training after all these years. It's like what Ji Bong said: "Only go straight."
There is more I can share with my Kundalini experiences; however, they are very different.
We'll see.
"In Buddhism, it’s often said that humans’ Original Mind, that Mind we have at birth, is like a clear mirror, pure and uncluttered, without shape, form, or color, with nothing in it whatsoever. If something comes before it, the mirror reflects it exactly, but the mirror itself gives birth to nothing. If what has been reflected leaves, its image disappears, but the mirror itself loses nothing."
(Zenmaster, Shodo Harada Roshi)
My own journey into martial arts and Zen began in college. When I arrived for my freshman year, I was already a 2nd degree in Tae Kwon Do; however, I wanted to learn new material. As chance would have it, I met Dave Moore in an Asian Studies class. We were in a group together, and as we talked about our group paper, we realized we shared similar interests.
Dave's step-father happened to have trained in Tien Shan Pai off-base during his army stint. In turn, he taught what he learned to Dave, which put my friend on a trajectory to learn more kung fu. He labored in California with an uncle who owned a construction company, In his time in California, he grappled with Hung Gar and Hsing-I.
It just so happens that a Zen Master was going to give a talk at the university, prefacing a weekend Zen seminar. Dave and I attended, and because wecould get extra-credit in class, so we showed up at the seminar the next day. Ji Bong was our teacher. As it turns out, he had trained Pangai-noon (Uechi-Ryu).
Dave and I learned three practical practices that were introduced as "ago-to Dharma Sword against samsara (suffering)." The only thing you had to do was train them.
1. Zazen
2.Chanting
3. Movement
On the second day, Dave and I talked to our Zen teacher, letting him know we were martial arts students. Ji Bong nodded, and told us that our "movement" Zen should be our practice.
I would train Hsing-I with Dave on Friday evenings and Wednesday evenings. He taught me from the 12 Animal syllabus. Our training space was alonely hallway in the university's large exercise building. Because we were adamant in our Zazen, we trained 15 minutes before our Hsing-I. On "off days," I chanted "The Great Dharani" and practiced alone.
Dave and I kept our training days. Others were attracted to it, and even did siting with us. By the time my days as a university student were over, Dave also exposed me to Hung Gar techniques, practical strikes I could use on a bag, and later on a DIY makiwara. .
I would train with Ji Bong in California for one more weekend. I told him I was a bout to head into the hinterlands of America to teach language skills anywhere that would hire me. He nodded, once again reinforcing the need to practice the three tier list.
Many years would pass, and I would structure my own training days alone. Some areas I taught in had maybe a TKD dojang, but I only had an appetite for what Dave shared. So, I held myself responsible. I bought a used heavy bag, hung it in my garage, and practiced. Eventually, I was able to chant as I trained. A few lines at first, but I would always add on slowly. One of the things I noticed was a natural circuit developing between the two. Eventually, negative thoughts like "you can't do this; this is bull; you cant train Hsing-I, wait until you find a kwoon, duh" receded over the years.
I have encountered large Zen temples filled with golden Buddhas. I practiced with those people until I realized they only wanted me around for my dues. I moved on. I would train with a Zen group online. They were surprised to see I could meditate with them without complaining. But over all, the best training was the Three Tier list I learned years ago with Dave at my side. Today, Dave is an attorney, still training after all these years. It's like what Ji Bong said: "Only go straight."
There is more I can share with my Kundalini experiences; however, they are very different.
We'll see.
"In Buddhism, it’s often said that humans’ Original Mind, that Mind we have at birth, is like a clear mirror, pure and uncluttered, without shape, form, or color, with nothing in it whatsoever. If something comes before it, the mirror reflects it exactly, but the mirror itself gives birth to nothing. If what has been reflected leaves, its image disappears, but the mirror itself loses nothing."
(Zenmaster, Shodo Harada Roshi)
