Zen for Fun and Profit

[@jerryalder2878]

As you have helped spread the Buddha dharma you should have no regrets. There will be many people who have benefited from your decision but you won't be aware of that. In the months of Covid lockdown me and my partner started to watch your videos. I brought a couple of your books and significantly introduced me to the teachings of Dogen. My partner died and the loss was indescribable. I also left the sangha which we had been part of for many years. Certainly I came through depression by continuing to practice each day and reading 'Realizing Genjokoan' by Shohaku Okumura. So thanks for being there.

[@HardcoreZen]

Thank you for watching. I'm sorry for your loss.

[@ukerocker]

Brad- I hear ya and get it when sometimes ya think about what you might have done different in the past…but the fact is you did the best you knew at the time -which I think was putting the inner light before anything else. Whatever it’s worth, and even though you struggle with it, I can only say thank you for your books and your channel. You have been enormously helpful to not only me, but the many people who are sincere in trying to follow that inner light. Dont ever think your efforts have been wasted - Absolutely incorrect. I am so grateful for what you do.

[@HardcoreZen]

Thanks!

[@dr.jeffreyzacko-smith324]

Your choices and approach are admirable … and like it or not, you (and Nishijima Roshi and Dogen) have taught me a lot!

[@michigandersea3485]

I appreciate your "informal" dharma teaching. One thing you mentioned in a video a while back has been priceless to me--the idea that our minds are problem-solving machines looking for problems to solve, and that if there is no problem, they create one so they can solve it. I think about that a lot. Maybe you have a karmic bond with doing what you're doing the way you're doing it. Maybe the path you took is your ultimate skillful means. And of course, there are a good 84,000 different Buddhist texts that state you'll gain great merit from promoting the dharma in your own (IMO, fundamentally correct) way.

[@jiiiiim_xyz]

I've benefited so much from your books and videos! I do get put off when it goes political, but I will keep buying your books and I love anything that talks about how the self doesn't exist.. Pretty sure you could write an entire book on not existing :) I also look back at previous job opportunities that I passed on, but I think whichever path you choose you will always feel somewhat stuck.. So hopefully you can feel some freedom knowing that your content is inspiring many! PS.. when I say inspired, I literally mean it inspired me to join a Buddhist centre and go to a retreat, something that I wouldn't have done had I not found your books! But then I felt the retreat wasn't as good as listening to your audiobooks aha

[@shokuchideirdrecarrigan7402]

Yes, I too noticed the rich people thing at SFZC. And after practicing and training there as a resident for a dozen or so years, I “got out”. But-I went for a non-residential job at another Zen Center and was there until COVID closed us down. Saved by the pandemic! Now I focus my income efforts on Health and Wellness coaching and yoga teaching and Zen is not income related.

[@Mac-ku3xu]

Prospects? Jobs? You're the world's most highly qualified Brad Warner.

[@Spudcore]

It's funny how there are so many parallels between Zen and punk.

[@georgwilliamfriedrichhegel5744]

I'm thinking about the alternate universe where Brad takes the offer and now Ultraman is bigger than Marvel.

[@whoisthegaucho]

I like how you weaved in and out of subjects, leaving some until later, but managed to tie everything up neatly at the end.

[@Being_Joe]

Catholicism is very diverse. There are monasteries where they are isolated but even there they tend to "do something" for money. There is that German beer made by monks, those guys in upstate NY that train dogs. You have orders of priest that belong to a order and don't own anything and rely on the order to have their needs taken case of. There are also priest that belong to a diocese and can own things but then have to figure out how to make money. Then you have the different nuns. Oh, and I am just talking about Roman Catholic, there is the Eastern Rites that are also Catholic and have their traditions. In the end though, it kind of works out.

[@aaronschwartz13]

I really prefer the way you introduced your videos before with the music video snippets.

[@TheTarutau]

.Cause and effect. Learned and passed. This is growth. That was then this is now. Options you learn of later may be utilized earlier by others. This is the art of the student and the benefits of the classroom. Some will listen some will not. Some will remember later. Some will not. This is life. No regret but through recollection I open the book of my life and by sifting through its pages I can find lessons I have learned that may be of use to others. To learn is to grow and to grow is to nourish. Some lesson learned early some later and some become mistakes. That too is life.

[@jefffedorkiw1619]

if you’re anything like me, if you took that dream job 15 years ago then by now you’d have already been sick of it for about 13 years. i think you’re absolutely right about not doing zen as a job though.

[@HardcoreZen]

Probably true!

[@Mumon7]

Although I have been, and am, a layman practitioner of Zen, I can fully, fully appreciate those I know who ARE monks. It IS true, Warner would have made a lousy monk, but he errs in saying that being a Zen monk is a temporary thing - that one should go back to being a layman at some point. First, the whole damn tradition of Zen involves lifers who propagated the Dharma. At least in my experience, those monks know how to live a life that is well lived, and rich, just not with material things, although those things that are material - such as food - can often be of high quality. And they don't compromise their messages, for sure! The thing is, is to be a monk you've got to be really really ballsy - most people, including me, couldn't cut it. You've really got to forego material goods. It is, at its core, a radical approach to meeting and interrogating the role of material goods and its interaction with the 5 Aggregates. It's not easy. That said, even the monks, the very senior ones, do have businesses whether via books, pottery, calligraphy, or even gardening/farming, or blogging. And I realize there are bougie sanghas are there... but it's just not my experience.

[@blackbird5634]

"Hardcore Zen'' changed my life for the better because I learned to sit Zazen with your help. Alan Watts' books don't have that chapter, DT Suzuki hasn't got one, in fact it's hard to find the ''how to'' section in Zen Literature. 😉🙃

[@TYPHON2713]

No dharma here. This is strictly "ZENTERTAINMET BABY!!!"😂

[@brokeboyswagger]

You're such a natural storyteller I think if you got back into fiction writing and instilled it with the wisdom you have learned, it could be some seriously groundbreaking stuff. Whatever you choose to write I will read though!

[@snowflakemelter1172]

American culture has long been trying to commercialise Zen , turn it into a trendy new lifestyle choice to show your friends how good you look in Star Wars robes and now eat with chopsticks like a true Zen master, these people want a Zen to give themselves stuff when in fact Zazen is giving everything to practice .

[@zenmite2525]

Great video. I take exception to one thing you said, though. Prison is not a pleasant option for just chilling. I used to think the same thing...before I went there. I was young and only served four months, but we chopped bushes, dug ditches and shoveled sand five days a week unless it was pouring rain. We had the same exact breakfast every morning and one of two possible lunches. No A.C. Of course this was Georgia during the 1970s, so it was basically a chain gang without the chain. I'm 66 and have no prospects either. Ha ha. There's always social security, that was my only option when my business went bankrupt during covid. I'm glad you're doing it your way. I've enjoyed your books, blogs and videos since Doubtboy.

[@Teller3448]

"that was my only option when my business went bankrupt during covid." So many lives destroyed by government...I'm sorry.

[@HardcoreZen]

@@zenmite2525 Thanks. Of course you’re right! I was joking, but it wasn’t a great joke.

[@TikuVsTaku]

@@Teller3448 Do you mean, that by providing something like social security, the government makes it possible for people to just be and do nothing “productive” with their lives? Or did I totally misunderstand what you were saying? 🤷‍♂️

[@Meoooweww]

Selling different initiations and various LEVELS of membership participation is a BIG $$$ deal at many Zen Temples. Zen might be for nothing, but Money is always Honey!😅

[@nodnarb1457]

Do you believe Nishijima would be disappointed that the Dogen sangha was dissolved or do you believe it was inevitable if he wasn’t the glue to hold it together? I think I recall you saying there was a lot of jealousy/infighting over your appointment as head and that it was a loose org in the first place. Good video 👍🏽

[@HardcoreZen]

He would probably be disappointed. But I could not hold it together. In have no interest in holding something like that together. I actually tried to give the job to someone else, but nobody else wanted it any more than I did! However they still pushed me to to do it, which I thought was kind of funny.

[@nodnarb1457]

@@HardcoreZen It’s too bad, but from what I remember in your writings, a lot of the drama over your position does sound like dissolution was for the best. Thanks for your response

[@joshberg7944]

​@@HardcoreZenthat sounds like an interesting story. Where can we read that story?

[@Jigokucake-lg1xj]

"It's all right to turn monk for enlightenment, but it's all wrong to do it for a livelihood. It's suffering to covet just one hundred koku. Enough to keep yourself alive is ample. Those who've gone to hell because of the world have a hope the Buddha's teaching will save them. But those who've gone to hell because of the Buddha's teaching - who's going to save them? They haven't a hope of rising again for all eternity." -Suzuki Shosan

[@Teller3448]

"Enough to keep yourself alive is ample." Thats a very dangerous way to live....one should always have savings to fall back on in a crisis.

[@Jigokucake-lg1xj]

@@Teller3448 I get what you're saying, but I imagine this particular statement was intended for men who were either considering becoming monastics or had recently become monastics, and thus relied largely on the charity of others. Shosan often wrote in Roankyo about the priests of his time (the Edo period) and how they constantly fell into the "realm of the starving ghosts." They would covet things like having their own temples, but once they got them, running the institution took priority and the Buddha-dharma fell into the background, and they always kept wanting more. It's somewhat similar to what Brad said about Buddhist organizations. This is also probably why Shosan wrote in another sections of Roankyo: "it's the laymen who practice these days."

[@Teller3448]

@@Jigokucake-lg1xj "They would covet things like having their own temples, but once they got them, running the institution took priority and the Buddha-dharma fell into the background" Thats why the founder of Buddhism put restrictions in place that would prevent his teaching from becoming a Religion. Those restrictions only lasted a few centuries. Religions are very lucrative because they offer a product that large numbers of people are willing to pay for.

[@kampar82]

I liked the SG phase. People are so judgemental.

[@gc1200]

great talk

[@fhoniemcphonsen8987]

Brad's Zen Mosh Pit

[@sakurakinomoto6195]

What did I learn from this video? a) Do not make a living from buddhism b) Ziggy is male.

[@markbrad123]

Recently watched 'Messiah' on Netflix. Makes you realise what a burden it would being famous and being able to perform miracles. Unfortunely they discontinued the series due to complaints. Would have been interesting if they continued it and brought in a battle with an anti-christ and stuff. 'The Devil Conspiracy' is another interesting movie about cloning Jesus from the shroud of Turin.

[@KingJorman]

Great Zentertainment

[@terryleggo943]

love your honesty...cutting through. Can anyone really 'hide from the world'? you're still dealing with the guy who is passive aggressive or oversalts the porridge ..every darn day...and yourself (with all your stuff)! so the world is sitting in your favourite chair ...damn...and you're ground fine in the proverbial crucible, goalless or not - its inexorable, stupid Reality. As you know, monasteries are hot houses, everything is heightened and intensified, even the boredom.

[@robertyorga]

There are no stupid questions, only stupid people. 😂

[@cibelon]

I own and have read all your books (as audio books), watched you for years here, and never heard this story before. I am going to have to take a break after reaching 9:12… I am too fearful of the next chunk of story. 😮 I know it’s in the past, and that you’re fine, but it sure sounded like everything you wanted… so I’m feeling the “Oh no, what is he doing walking into the woods alone while the axe killer is still on the loose…” feeling…

[@chrisplaysdrums09]

Meaningful words on making a living. It’s sad that the practice has become subject to these things. I’m glad you are at terms with it. 南無観世音菩薩 Homage to the triple gem

[@HardcoreZen]

Thanks!

[@desmondmccabe8321]

catholic, eastern orthodox and anglican monks take life-long vows of celibacy and obedience etc - of course nowadays they can opt out officially (as opposed to unofficially bunk off which always happened) - but it would be healthier if they were almost expected to leave. But there is a clerical caste problem in the 'catholic' christian denominations (even if milder now than long ago) - doing real buddhism or anything else of intrinsic worth as a living is an obvious problem - poets and musicians (another of your problems?) face the same issue - but the problem of not making a living doing with integrity what is good, is i suppose in a sense the 'solution' or the work that has to be done specially if it is not a nice or bearable problem and such problems change, age by age -- i liked your music bits at the start and am sorry they are not going to be continued in their old form -- i very much like your stuff but rightly or wrongly accept no authority except my own on ultimate questions - almost certainly this will be my undoing. That's okay. I am one of those who would love to live in a cosy monastery where i could do what i wanted (including some spirituality) and eat and drink without blasted worries. But the obedience thing (which has some meaning) is too horrible for my non-existent ego or my real essence (?) and also, perhaps, too stunting. I'd rather do what my wife tells me to do than some blooming abbot (i think zen confidential has the same opinion). your stuff is entertaining but, in spite of your best efforts, it also instructs.

[@1337-t8l]

You're in that weird place where your simlutaneously overqualified and underqualified. Whatever you're doing, you're doing well, so why not keep spinning that wheel.

[@HeikkiLiitoksia]

maybe after one loses his or her hope for a better tomorrow...

[@JoachimRotermund]

THNX a lot 🙏

[@Teller3448]

Brad could have become a record producer/engineer...thats something he's good at. And I dont say that lightly...its a lot of hard work and most people fail. Another option would be to teach Japanese language to Americans.

[@OKSezMe]

Right, I was thinking the same thing. Why not something in music?

[@dougbanner6165]

What kinds of things scare people off? 👻

[@Teller3448]

Anything that requires effort or pain.

[@omalila7399]

How are you sixty and looking like 39?

[@HardcoreZen]

@@omalila7399 genetics I guess. My dad kept getting carded into his 40s.

[@rainydaycommenter8537]

Brad, If someone wants to come to one of your retreats where can I get more information? The Hardcorezen blog event page only lists the European Tour. But for meetups / retreats in LA, I couldn't find any information there nor on the patreon page.

[@OKSezMe]

I think that's all he does. A few videos talk about that. Invite him to your sangha!

[@ante-z1g]

hm who knows 🤷

[@walterjoosten5750]

Compliments for honouring the tradition of Dogen, Kodo Sawaki and Kosho Uchiyama of totally disregarding fame and profit. Shows you as a real teacher of Soto Zen.

[@1337-t8l]

All were great writers if you think about in entirely different ways.😂 So, there are more flavors and personalities to this Zen thing than we might think?

[@samueletoccafondo235]

Where do i find your books?

[@HardcoreZen]

I've noticed most of the big chain bookstores have tiny sections for Buddhism. Basically 3 books by the Dalai Lama, 2 by Thich Naht Hahn, and a handful of others that usually have nothing to do with Buddhism. ANYWAY... these days the best place to find my books is online. All the major online sellers sell them. But it may be worth asking your local bookstore to order them. That helps them & helps me.

[@samueletoccafondo235]

Thank you I just discovered your books in Amazon (superbe covers 🎉). Is It profitable for you if i buy them there? I am from Italy and It will be difficult to get them from another channel. Can you suggest me where to start from? My approach Is more like from the Advaita side (but i am more like a stray dog, i don't like to follow a school or an institution), and I never approched Zen tradition directly. I Just know something little about the old chinese masters, but nothing about the japanese masters. Thank you!

[@JimTempleman]

I thought the Buddha taught us that 'discriminating' people will always be 'deluded'?

[@discardedyouth8023]

"Stupid people" ruin everything. Now where da ladies at????

[@Boonton2010]

I think you're being a bit too modest about your employment potential. You speak Japanese, you've helped translate a difficult ancient text, you've worked in office environments and the entertainment industry. No you are not qualified at the moment to be at the top of any of these fields. Why? Because there are people who've spent decades doing nothing but those things. But there are few people who have touched all the fields you have. But you don't need to be at the top of any of these fields. All of them need people who are not top level managers but require skills and command pay higher than Walmart greeter. Off the top of my head: - tutor to kids at nearest college (or remote) who are learning Japanese or Japanese speakers learning English - research assistant to someone doing Phd work on Japanese history or older literature. - Who writes the subtitles for Japanese film and anime? I don't buy Google translate is that good all the time, even if that's what they use I'm sure a proofreader is still helpful. - Music teacher/tutor. I think a helpful lesson I've learned getting beyond the point where I could say "I'm middle aged" without secretly thinking that phrase is getting more hopeful than real is that everything is much more complex than it seemed when I was young and that's actually a feature rather than a bug. The complexity opens up so many niches where there's room for one person and that person can be helpful and useful...and if they don't then it just won't get done. For example, say there's a writer writing a history of Pearl Harbor. He may need someone who can read Japanese to read every diary and letter written by the service men who were part of the attack. That little project may only amount to a few paragraphs of the finished project but who can do it if his expertise is everything but Japanese? Do you assume the expert historians have already done it? Maybe but it's surprising what hasn't been done yet. I'm assuming you're more or less fine but I think we all get into funks when we think there are few options left for us in life and then it just takes a bit of the right jolt to look at it from a different angle.

[@HardcoreZen]

Yeah... Maybe I could do those kinds of things. I was offered a job translating Pokemon cards. But that was at least 15 years ago. Thanks!

[@Boonton2010]

@@HardcoreZen So came across two things. First was a video about writing history, how anyone can write a history of something and probably should (kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5e4moV4iraheMUsi=Y8B_QDVRELvSwFfb) The other is The Bad Movie Bible channel (www.youtube.com/@TheBadMovieBible) which has great histories of, well, bad movies mostly ripping off blockbusters. Two and two together: A Bad Zen History! A history of bad Zen takes in the US. Not necessarily evil cults and stuff but more like misunderstandings, silly ideas, random mixing with other ideas and such. This, of course, is unlikely to make you any great amount of money but then think of the rest of us!

[@saraswati999]

Can you speak japanese if so how did u learn ?I think you made great choice because it allows you to express your thoughts otherwise you have to please the crowd 😂

[@mattrkelly]

theres just no money in it...

[@sebychick5279]

Oof... yeah I agree with you. It wasn't the smartest choice and your life would probably have been a lot easier if you had taken the other route. Oh well. Onwards. Probably good to tell others not to follow in your footsteps.

[@Valosken]

I think about this semi regularly for some reason. And it always goes in one direction, toward a specific line of questioning. You do this to keep your teachings pure, which is obviously good. But you don't have any dharma heirs, and that's pretty bad for propagating Buddhism in the longer term. Without future teachers, Zen dies, and if your Zen is even any good - if not better because it's not beholden to donors - then it is important to keep it going. It concerns me that the two Zen teachers I most respect, you and Shozan, will not pass on your superior style of Zen at all.

[@OKSezMe]

Are we the viewers not the dharma heirs?

[@Valosken]

@@OKSezMe No. We completely obviously aren't.

[@marcusgronwall1340]

I don't mind you calling out stupidity but why, why, why would you write about about corporate life?

[@paulengel4925]

you turned down that job!? you one crazy mofo