Hi everyone,

Just released a new episode with Daizan, a British Zen Roshi with dharma transmission in both Soto and Rinzai Schools. Of particular interest to this board is his use of the 4 Path Model and his detailing of his path attainments from Stream Entry onwards...

Would love to know what you think.

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https://www.guruviking.com/ep56-daizan-skinner-zen-and-the-unknowing/

Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

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Show notes:
In this interview I am joined by Daizan Skinner, a British Zen Roshi holding lineages in both the Soto and Rinzai schools.

We learn about Daizan’s Catholic upbringing, his fascination with the 14th century Christian contemplative text the Cloud of Unknowing, and how a search throughout Asia eventually led him to become a Zen monk for over twenty years.

We lift the lid on his traditional training, including intensely painful meditation practice, severe sleep deprivation, and deep emotional catharsis.

Daizan also reveals why he emphasises enlightenment in his teaching, lays out a traditional four stage model of awakening, and details his own awakening experiences in accordance with that model.
…

Topics include:

0:00 - Intro
0:49 - Daizan’s biography
5:37 - Why Zen over Catholicism?
7:10 - Learning meditation from a Catholic priest
9:44 - Dialogue between Catholicism and Zen
10:22 - The Cloud Of Unknowing
12:24 - Daizan’s research into the Cloud of Unknowing
18:41 - The spiritual heritage of the British Isles
26:36 - Asian spiritual quest and choosing Zen
32:51 - Suicide at the monastery
34:37 - Soto monastic training
36:11 The secret to succeeding in a monastic environment
39:51 - Daizan’s emotional catharsis
45:58 - The Way of Pain
52:42 - The Enlightenment Intensive
56:24 - Daizan’s intense yaza (night sitting) training and dream yoga
1:09:49 - The Rule of St Benedict
1:10:20 - Celibacy as a monk
1:14:48 - Enlightenment or passivity?
1:18:12 - Applying monastic training to lay life
1:20:38 - Daizan’s enlightenment experiences
1:28:36 - Attaining stream entry
1:34:11 - Attaining second path
1:37:22 - Awakening in Tibet
1:46:30 - Working with Daizan

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https://www.guruviking.com/ep56-daizan-skinner-zen-and-the-unknowing/

Audio version of this podcast also available on iTunes and Stitcher – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.

Looking forward to watch it, but when we click on the site it goes to "page not found".

Edit: Ok got to it by going to your podcast page.

Happened the same. Here's the link:  https://www.guruviking.com/ep56-daizan-skinner-zen-and-the-unknowing/  It's just the same as above, but it works ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I really liked when you asked him to describe the phenomenology of his initial awakening (SE) and in his descriptions you could tell there was a cessation with the metaphores he used (blink, light bulb off and on, computer reset..).

Thanks.

Thanks for the heads-up, I think I fixed it in the original post: https://www.guruviking.com/ep56-daizan-skinner-zen-and-the-unknowing/

64 hours of retreat, even with no meditation background, to get to SE. Easier than getting your driver's licence. That sounds quite a bit easier than most people describe. It's even easier than what he describes for himself, which was that he got it 9 months into monastic life.

I wonder what goes on at his retreats that is different from other retreats. Does anyone know?

In the interview he says that he uses a combination of Charles Berner's Enlightenment Intensive material (dyad work), traditional Zen practice, and dream/sleep techniques. 

Quite amazing to contemplate the range of approaches out there.

Steve: 'why don't teachers talk about enlightenment' 

Daizan: 'i suspect in some cases it's because they don't know it'

Steve: 'thats fighting talk'

Daizan: 'i suppose it is' 

I do feel doubt about his presentation of SE as occuring in 64 hours.  


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maybe since I feel doubt it menas i don't have SE