Melissa Myōzen Blacker Roshi’s wisdom pierces like a needle - that’s what I first discovered by studying koans under her guidance.
Melissa Roshi is the Guiding Teacher of Boundless Way Zen Temple in Worcester, MA, and a Dharma heir of James Myōun Ford Roshi. From 1992 - 2012 she was a teacher and director of programs at the Center for Mindfulness, founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn. And she co-edited The Book of Mu: Essential Writings on Zen’s Most Important Koan.
We start off our conversation by talking about her experiences at the heart of the mindfulness movement and the similarities/differences with Zen Buddhism.
The focus of our talk, though, is Record of Going Easy, Case 3: “An Invitation for the Ancestor to go to East India.”
One of the highlights of the interview is when Melissa Roshi says,
“The path of suffering is the way into insight.
[Suffering] is not something to be carved away from our experience,
but is a part of the awakened life.
We value suffering, not as a problem….
There’s nothing to get rid of. Everything is included.”
You can learn more about the focus-koan here:
Next week, I’ll offer my translation of the full case.
I hope you enjoy our conversation. You are welcome to leave comments below. Finally, thanks to Sam Kigen for editing this video!
Meanwhile, over at Vine of Obstacles Zen:
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