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MF 21 Zen Student John Martin of the Diamond Sangha Interview

Sicco Rood interviews meditation teachers of various wisdom traditions

May 24 2015



Zen Buddhist Meditation Student John Martin

John practices in the Zen tradtion of Robert Aitken (Diamond Sangha)

Was attracted to fundamentalist Christianity as a teen for a few years. It did not work for John. He abandoned all religion in his 20's living an agnostic/atheist life. He was accepting things that other people were saying, and he decided he was not going to do that again.

He stumbled on a book On Zen by Alan Watts. That caught his attention. Then started to figure out how to meditate, learned a bit from the TM movement.

Did you understand what parts of it?

He did not understand all of it, but he did get non-duality. This was a whole new understanding that opened up for John. He by then had his own meditation practice on and off. Year on, year off kind of practice. He would feel that he would need to get back into it.

Where you attracted to meditation as a way of insight, or as a way to experience something you were looking for?

Maybe more the insight. I got fairly involved in the lead-up to the presidential elections in 2004. When that was all done, and the dust settled, I realized I was full of anger and even hatred towards the chosen political enemies. Then I phoned the Zen Center after finding them online.

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The Meditation Freedom podcast interviews experienced meditation and mindfulness students and teachers. A meditation and mindfulness practice has many benefits, both for the individual practicing, as well as those around them. Experienced practitioners talk about why they took up a meditation practice, and how it has changed their lives. They will talk about specific ways they integrate their understanding and practice into their daily lives. How do you practice in a busy, hectic world with so little time? How do you deal with struggles, grief, kids, etc. How do they find freedom from stress, fears, obligations and the many other things and thoughts that enslave us. Web Site: http://meditationfreedom.com About Sicco Rood interviews meditation teachers of various wisdom traditions

Lives in the Anza Borrego desert.

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