Usually, there is nothing that can be done in life without sustained practice and training. Let me emphasize here the importance of training in Zen. The Buddhist practice of daily zazen, sitting meditation, encourages its practitioners to make attention a priority in their lives. As we know from the work of Simone Weil, prayer is nothing other than paying attention. More specifically, the practice of Zen is the practice of paying attention in a way that is both sustained and communal. What you are doing when you study Zen is nothing other than practicing a compassionate life. What does it mean to "study Zen?" How does one go about it? This experience of wisdom and compassion is a great Buddhist gift that I thought could enrich the church in an interfaith manner. Specifically, it is a Jesuit ideal to bring gifts of greater worth to the church. "Enlightened life" is a Buddhist term for a life that is based upon wisdom and compassion. It was through these Jesuits that I came upon the Buddhist ideal of the enlightened life. At that time, there were many Jesuits who were engaged in interfaith work with Zen Buddhists. I became involved in Zen through my work in Japan during the late 1950's and early 1960's. His books include "Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit" and "Zen Gifts to Christians." Kennedy sits with his Zen students daily at the Morning Star Zendo in Jersey City, NJ. Peter's College in New Jersey and is a practicing psychotherapist in New York City. Kennedy teaches theology and Japanese at St. Ordained a priest in Japan in 1965, he was installed as a Zen teacher in 1991 and was given the title Roshi or master in 1997. Kennedy, S.J., is an American Catholic priest and a Zen master. This interview is excerpted from Commonweal.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |