Liquid Zen is a personal exploration of the intersection between zen training and whitewater paddling.
The Author
I have been interested in zen buddhist practice sine I was 16 and first picked up the book, “The Art of Zen and Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert Pirsig. I was a “book buddhist” reading and trying to apply what I read from each new perspective. When I was 40-years old events lead me to request fromal training from a certified teacher. This was a road unto itself. I was finally accepted as a student by Yoshin Sensei, who was trained by Taizan Maezumi Roshi, one of the first Japanses zen masters to come to America. I was given Tokudo, which is the ceremony designating a preist in the zen tradition, when I was 48-years old.
There is a saying that, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” I had been involved in athletics my entire life and I’d always wanted to learn to paddle, but there wasn’t much opportunity and it just stayed on my list. At 48 I got into the river for the first time and from the first shaky moment I knew I’d found my next teacher.
Because it was that way, we sold what we had, packed what we couldn’t and moved from Santa Monica, CA to Hood River, OR where I’ve been making my living raising money for cancer research through sports (www.athletesforacure.org) and training with my new teachers in the rivers that surround our home.
This blog started because it was time.
I came upon your website via a Twitter relationship with Jay Giifford. I read through many of the posts and will go back and reread them later today when I have more time.
I started practicing Tibetan Buddhism (Theravada tradition) approximately 4 years ago and practice Vippasana meditation daily. Three years ago I confronted my fear of water and got into my first sea kayak.
My practice has allowed me to successfully confront my fears and enjoy this wonderful sport. When I successfully crested my first 4-foot wave and learned to “roll” with the water conditions I realized I too had found my teacher. I have learned so much about myself and life from this sport. Now annually I take a group of behaviorally challenged kids to the Adirondacks to learn what I have about themselves. It is an amazing sport and an even more amazing teacher!
Thanks for your wonderful site.