So much of our suffering—as individuals and as a society—is caused by fear. In fact, according to Buddhism, fear is at the very root of ego and samsara. Four outstanding Buddhist teachers discuss the vital practice of working with our fears. Starting on the Path of Fear and Fearlessness By Judith Lief It helps to explore how we can work with fear from the point of view of [...]
Did you know there a screamo/hardcore band named for the modern Zen master Daido Loori?
Rod Meade Sperry looks at a a punk band who took its name from John Daido Loori, the pioneering late founder and abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery and the Mountain and Rivers Order. While I do follow both music and Buddhism (and how the two sometimes mix together, as you'll see in my article about just that in our next issue), I was definitely surprised to learn today that [...]
The Symbol and the Symbolized
John Daido Loori, Roshi, a pioneering teacher who helped lay the foundation for deep and authentic American Zen practice, died on October 9 at age 78. In his honor, we offer a dharma discourse he gave on the profound meaning of art and creativity, which he practiced through his lifelong love of photography. The Main Case A monastic asked Master Zhaozhou, “Of the three [...]
Dharma Brother Daido
Bernie Glassman recalls his longtime friendship with John Daido Loori. I met Daido at Naropa in the summer of 1976, where he was teaching Zen and photography. He was a striking figure, even among the throng of famous and infamous counterculture icons gathering around Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. He would stalk about, camera pointing, tall, lanky, slightly hunched forward. The [...]
Till We Meet Again
Robert Thurman pays tribute to Daido Loori and his legacy in American Buddhism. Oh Daido! Dear Daido! Farewell! Go in peace and come back soon! We first met in the summer of ’81 to hold our American Institute of Buddhist Studies summer school at your newly acquired―and still to be organized and paid for―Zen Mountain Monastery on the beautiful slopes of Mt. Tremper in the [...]
“The Great Way” — A classic teaching by John Daido Loori
Because there's no finer way to remember great teachers than to recall their great teachings, here’s a classic commentary on this seminal Zen text by the American roshi, John Daido Loori, who died this morning at the age of 78. It’s perhaps the greatest single-sentence summary of Buddhist practice: “The Great Way is not difficult, it only avoids picking and choosing.” If [...]
Dharma Brother Daido: Bernie Glassman recalls his longtime friendship with the late John Daido Loori
In this tribute, which will be published in the forthcoming issue of Buddhadharma along with additional recollections and teachings, Bernie Glassman recalls his personal connection to the fellow Zen roshi who, though now gone, will be remembered as an inspiration and dharma-friend by so many. I met Daido at Naropa in the summer of 1976 where he was teaching Zen and [...]
John Daido Loori, American Dharma pioneer, dies
We are sad to report that, after the illness that in part led to his decision earlier this month to retire, prominent Zen teacher John Daido Loori (b. 1931) has died. Loori passed away at around 7:30 am this morning. Details on services in recognition of his death will be forthcoming. A dharma-heir of Taizan Mazeumi Roshi, Loori founded and served as Abbot General of the [...]
John Daido Loori retires
John Daido Loori, certainly one of the most influential of Amercian Buddhist teachers, has made the decision to retire as Abbot General of the Mountain and Rivers Order, whose home base is the famous Zen Mountain Monastery, located in Mt. Tremper, New York. Geoffrey Shugen Arnold will step into the position; Konrad Ryushin Marchaj will become Abbot of ZMM itself. This [...]
Is There a Zen Person Around Here?
John Daido Loori comments on koans from Dogen’s Treasury of the True Dharma Eye Japanese master Eihei Dogen is best known for his comprehensive and profound masterwork, the Kana, or Japanese, Shobogenzo. This monumental achievement, a collection of ninety-five discourses and essays composed in Japanese between 1231 and 1253, is a unique expression of the buddhadharma based on [...]
