In this episode, I host a dialogue between Guo Gu, Chan Buddhist teacher and scholar and author of ‘Silent Illumination: A Chan Buddhist Path to Natural Awakening’, and Meido Roshi, Rinzai Zen Abbot of Korinji Monastery and author of ‘Hidden Zen: Practices for Sudden Awakening and Embodied Realisation’.
Guo Gu and Meido Roshi reflect on their long friendship, recall their first meeting in 1989 at a meditation retreat led by Master Sheng Yen, and extol the virtues of dharma friendship.
They challenge common misconceptions about awakening, explain how to train the body in Chan and Zen practice, and reveal the suprising results of an integrated body-mind.
They also describe the enlightened field of a true master, the power of being close to one’s teacher, and how to master energy, time, and space.
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Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep266-meeting-of-masters-guo-gu-meido-roshi
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
00:00 - Intro
00:58 - Meido and Guo Gu reflect on their friendship since 1989
08:20 - What is a dharma friend?
11:36 - Sharing experiences in Chan vs Zen
14:28 - Half baked experiences and marking history
16:25 - Keeping a practice journal
20:16 - Dreaming about Master Sheng Yen
24:30 - Developing as a teacher
28:30 - Embodying the master
31:04 - Master Sheng Yen’s sharp humour and private sarcasm
34:01 - Face to face training and being an attendant
35:55 - Drawbacks of online training
39:22 - The teacher as friend
41:46 - Dharma projections
43:16 - The resonant field of a master
47:42 - Embodied practice and interdependence of being
51:47 - The power of the retreat container
52:39 - The silent influence of one’s practice
57:33 - Learned bodily aptitude
58:39 - How to train the body
01:01:44 - Content and clear
01:04:32 - Mastering energy, time, and space
01:06:57 - Everyone is different
01:09:33 - The body-supporting experience
01:10:46 - Working with injuries
01:13:47 - Zazen emerges organically
01:15:20 - How to use the teacher’s influence
01:17:09 - Learning to let go
01:20:39 - “Put it down”
01:25:40 - Delusion is baked into the body
01:31:24 - Mind and body conditioning
01:34:20 - Solving problems
01:36:40 - Integrating the body-mind
01:30:01 - The entire universe is the true human body
01:38:30 - Putting down awakening
01:39:11 - Effort vs allowing
01:40:47 - Concluding remarks
Previous episodes with Guo Gu:
- https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=guo
Previous episode with Meido Roshi:
- https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep98-meido-roshi-hidden-zen
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To find out more about Guo Gu, visit:
- https://guogulaoshi.com/
To find our more about Meido Roshi, visit:
- https://www.korinji.org/
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For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- https://www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
