Ask The 18th Generation Priest: What Is Zen And How Do You Practice It Daily?

Our guest is Reverend Dr. Masaki Matsubara who is an eighteenth-generation Zen priest in the Japanese Rinzai tradition. His career is unique and impressive. Following his Zen monastic training in Heirinji Monastery in Japan, he moved to the US in 1999 to study at Cornell University where he eventually earned a PhD in Asian religions.  Since then, he has taught Buddhist studies at prominent institutions, including U.C. Berkeley, Stanford University, Cornell University, Brown University and The University of Tokyo.  Also, Rev. Matsubara is the head abbot of Butsumoji Zen Temple in Chiba, Japan, 

We tend to think of Zen as a part of Buddhist practices but it is quite prevalent in Japanese people’s minds and their society overall.  It would be valuable for us to get to know the idea of Zen in understanding Japanese food culture as well as living a good life.  

In this episode, we will discuss why Rev. Matsubara decided to study and teach Buddhism abroad, what exactly Zen is and why it is instrumental and effective for us in navigating our daily lives, the concept of Engi, which can give us a fresh way to see our existence, Rev. Matsubara’s personal Zen practice and much, much more!!!

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