Monthly Archives: April 2017

Oftentimes the question is asked, “Do I need a teacher in Zen?” Without going into some theoretical basis for this question, my own experience will be the foundation for hopefully providing some insight into this timely issue. My earliest exposures to Zen were through works like Thomas Merton’s, Zen and the Birds of Appetite, Zen Catholicism by Dom Aelred Graham, sundry titles from Alan Watts and other contemporary scholars and Zen sages. Then I came under the spell of Osho. I purchased numerous books and videos on Osho’s teachings and his charismatic presence that have wooed thousands over the years. It’s hard to escape from his spellbinding techniques—he really gets inside your head and becomes almost permanently ensconced within. Thankfully, in the year 1999 I came across the Zennist’s Dark Zen and Tozen’s teachings on Tathagata-garbha Unborn Mind Zen. For a more in-depth story of this part of my own spiritual sojourn, the following blog goes into greater detail. Suffice to say that Tozen became my Dharma-teacher and my ensuing spiritual formation provided a profound transformation in my life. I have to say that without a teacher’s “one-on-one” guidance, one’s spiritual growth only remains on the surface—it never becomes firmly “directed” and rooted-within, hence there is no sound spiritual foundation. read more