Response:
"Ask three times" is traditional for
those who wish to begin Zen. If someone does not have serious motivation
and willingness to persevere, it is unlikely that he or she will be able
to benefit from Zen training. Marketing, selling and proselytizing
are quite foreign to Zen. The commercialization of Zen — the
avalanche of advertisements using the word "Zen" to market everything
from sushi to cars to soap to perfume — is not Zen!
No one has to practice Zen in order to "be saved!" It is not our mission
to convert people or sell anything. Our outreach is limited to
situations that will help people who are looking for a Zen or meditation
or Buddhist center to find us, rather than trying to stimulate or
manufacture an interest in Zen where none exists. There is a
"self-selection" process, which we respect and trust.
We keep an eye on matching our center's finances and programs to the
means and needs of our participants, so we are not subject to bringing
in people for their money or finding attendees to make our programs seem
successful. My teacher used |
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to say she would rather work with eight
people who were sincere and whose lives were being genuinely helped by
their practice, than have hundreds of people hanging around.
It is a standing joke at our center that we would
attract more participants if we did less meditation! Our community forms
through the bonding of those who practice and share Zen meditation and
its applications in daily life. It does not form around golf, potlucks,
music entertainments or other kinds of "candy." We have a low-key
social after our sitting periods, where people drink a cup of tea and
talk about practice, movies, family, vacation and so on. We have
designed programs for newcomers and beginners, and we try to let those
who might be interested know we are here through our website, yellow
page listings and so on. We are committed to deepening our practice and
forming a community of regular Zen practitioners. We do not see
marketing, media hype, inducements or fads as contributing much to this.
- Rev. Dr. Deborah Barrett |