This week on The Highway House Podcast we hear from Ethan Nichtern and Osho Zenju Earthlyn Manuel. They talk about the overlap of science and spirit, the techniques that oppress us, and the significance of ceremonies.
Osho Zenju Earthlyn Manuel is a poet, creator, ordained Zen priest, and drugs girl of the drum. She is the dharma inheritor of Buddha and the late Zenkei Blanche Hartman within the Shunryu Suzuki Roshi lineage by the San Francisco Zen Middle. Osho Zenju’s observe is influenced by Native American and African indigenous traditions. She holds a Ph.D. and labored for many years as a social science researcher, a improvement director for non-profit organizations and people serving ladies and ladies, cultural arts, and psychological well being.
Take a look at Osho Zenju’s new e-book: The Shamanic Bones of Zen.
Neighborhood in Zen Apply
Osho Zenju begins by telling us about her journey of turning into. She attended a three-week intensive on the San Francisco Zen Middle and was eternally altered. Having a extra regimented meditation schedule and a collective house to observe propelled her deeper into her spirituality. As an African American feminine scholar, author, and scholar of mysticism who grew up attending church, she carries distinctive views into her inventive retailers and zen practices. Do you may have expertise in any kind of communal non secular ceremonies or rituals? In that case, including zen practices into your life will probably be a clean transition.
“The phrases are simply there to bow deeper, to make the choices to the ancestors, to grasp life, the character of life – the entire ceremonies are about that. The dharma talks are very western, they’re the cherry on high.” – Osho Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
To listen to extra from Osho Zenju, hearken to her talk about her new e-book with Raghu Markus: Mindrolling – Raghu Markus – Ep. 430.
Fragmentation of Science and Spirituality (15:20)
Ethan brings up the difficult relationship between science and spirituality. Because of the western separation of church and state, there may be this essence that what’s concrete and what’s religious can’t conjoin. Osho Zenju gives an attention-grabbing perspective on science:
“Science is to me… a manner of concretizing spirit and affirming spirit, and affirming reverence, and affirming the magical.” – Osho Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
For instance, persons are finding out meditation to take a look at its constructive results. We all know it feels good and makes a distinction in our lives, however there may be this human urge to measure issues and discover tangible proof. On this manner, there may be an overlap of science and spirit.
Rituals and Techniques (29:43)
The techniques of patriarchy, misogyny, and white-centricity affect our world. There isn’t a doubt about this. Ethan asks Osho Zenju how these techniques have an effect on rituals, ceremonies, and spirituality. Osho Zenju tells us that there could also be oppression from such techniques inside rituals and the religious world, however the rituals themselves are to not blame. We have to discover a solution to contain and invite everybody with out oppression or selectiveness. Then, we can have a very collective house.
“To have the ability to make choices to ancestors within the midst of all of it is profound to me. That’s what makes ritual and ceremony profound and transformative–if we’re doing it in reverence and if everybody can take part in it.” – Osho Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
For extra data on white supremacy tune into Ep. 30 of ReRooted w/ Francesca Maximé: Ending White Physique Supremacy & Turning into an Embodied Antiracist
Struggling and Buddhism (45:08)
Buddhism is there for us to navigate the struggling in life. The instruments we acquire from mindfulness enable us to take a seat with our ache, trauma, and all of the horrors of being alive. This contains international issues like oppression and racism. We’re all wounded ultimately and we dwell in an imperfect world. We should incorporate this into our observe as a result of ache shouldn’t be averted or ignored. Osho Zenju articulates that our wounds are locked in our consciousness, personally and collectively, and if we attempt to simply take away that wound, we are going to endure extra. She says:
“It retains hurting you, and you retain attempting to chop it out, but it surely’s in you. If you happen to minimize it out, you’re going to finish up slicing one thing of your self out. You suppose you’re slicing out the dangerous, however there is no such thing as a dangerous and good. There simply is.” – Osho Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
Photograph by way of Osho Zenju Earthlyn Manuel