Interview with a Zen Monk - Part 1
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- Опубліковано 10 чер 2020
- This is the first in a series of conversations with Bunsei-san. He is a Soto-shu (Zen) Buddhist monk. His temple is called Jurenji (鷲連寺) and is in Hachimantai, Iwate. If you're in the area, you can visit his temple. He also is open to teaching mindfulness and Zen meditation classes by appointment.
You can find the temple located here: goo.gl/maps/7CQCqJ2zcQmwzYiE7
View the rest of my conversations with Bunsei-san here:
• Interviews with a Zen ...
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![From US Marine to Zen Monk [Documentary] 米海兵隊から禅僧へ [ドキュメンタリー]](/img/n.gif)
If you like this, we'll make this a normal series. Maybe monthly, and answering your questions! Feel free to ask them here and we'll answer some next time!
Sounds great Quinlan! Impressive as always!
Please do! Very interesting.
Can you ask him about his meditative practices とありがと！！！
I'd like to hear more about the buddhist university and the curriculum they had. Is it more a kin to studying the subject theology at a "regular" university or more specific to a university established by the roman catholic church to be come an ordained priest? It made me curious because of the reafirmation of being a licensed counselor.
I hope this video does well, because I sure loved it. How did you meet and became friends with him?
“Whether we live in paradise or hell is decided within our heart and mind” Thats a very insightful way of dealing with challenges in life.
Brilliant stuff thank you! ☺️
“whether we live in paradise or hell is decided within our hearts and minds”
Great ending point :-)
Dopest monk ever!! I mean hes more metal than most normal people so hes gotta be the most metal monk to ever exist in history quite literally so...dam
At the end I was like nooo! Don't stop talking!! lol I loved this so much. Yes, definitely do more if your friend is willing. It's funny when he said temples are meant to be open but some monks don't like it because I remember feeling so happy and calm at this quiet temple near Tokyo but I was kicked out because it was closing lol I was so sad to leave, back into the chaos. I would love to find that feeling in every day life. I feel that is the biggest challenge. I do believe I have to change myself more than the people around me, but it's a battle for sure. Thank you for a great video as always Quinlan!
So glad to hear that! He is willing so we'll definitely make this a series.
Yeah, I know what you mean. I believe there's an old Buddhist parable about how the world is covered with sharp objects and broken glass. We can't cover it up to make it safe for walking, but we can wear shoes... so yeah- the lens through which we interact with the world is so important. A continuing challenge!
@@GoNorthJapan I love that, so true! 🙏
Hi, I’m Bunsei’s younger Brother ,Yoshi.Thank you for interviewing my brother! I’ve never seen him talking so happily and passionately lol. Hopefully this video helps not only the viewers but Bunsei himself as well!
Wow! And you're fluent in English! Did you see the second interview that I just posted recently? Also- do you have any photos of him from when he was in a heavy metal band? I only have the one, and would love to see more.
@@GoNorthJapan Haha, thank you. I dabble a little in English lol.I work for the Board of Education in Hokkaido and my main job is to take care of all the English teachers from overseas and I’m also an interpreter for my town government. I haven’t finished watching the second one till the end but I will! And I’m sorry, I don’t think I have his photos when he was in the band. He was pretty good at hiding his personal stuff from us. I do have some photos of when we were little. Plz let me know if you need them.
Just thought I'd fill in some spots that the subtitles left out. at 3:03 he mentions 肉食妻帯, which is literally "meat-eating, wife-marrying". It's worth noting that not all monks are allowed to do so, those practising Buddhism under a big 本山/Honzann (think of it as the Holy See of Buddhism) are demanded much higher than those practising at a 末寺/Matsuji (equivalent of your local catholic church, sits under management of the 本山). Many of the local Matsuji run under hereditary, which almost demands the abbot to marry and bear kids in order to sustain the heritage, but the Honzanns still practises a type of meritocracy.
Thanks for taking the time to write this, Senpai!
Another thing is at around 7:35 he says that their temple is a 檀家(Dannka). This concept is unique to Japan, where the Japanese government in the past used temples to manage household registrations, and every household in a temple(Dannka)'s area of management had to report to the temple regarding their newborns and deaths. This is no longer the case, but the local temples still take care of a large proportion of Japanese funerals.
Great explanations! Thank you!
My first draft of the subtitles had a bit more detail... but in the end I thought I should simplify it down to normal subtitle length.
I'm really interested in Buddhism, though I'm a relative newcomer to Japanese Buddhism. (I majored in Tibetan Buddhism and classical Tibetan language in university.)
@@GoNorthJapan You beast, you! Now that's an interesting path for a young American lad to tread.
@@RedBlitz00 Interesting about the two types of Buddhism in Japan. The system of birth registration at temples isn't unique to Japan. Most of the catholic world was that way until recently. I was born in Quebec in 1962 and all births were registered at the local church. It was changed sometime in the 1980s, not long ago indeed. I still used a hand written birth certificate until the 1990's when the govt made a law that only govt issued birth certificates were acceptable. In fact, until the late 1960's, churches ran most things, schools, hospitals, charities even had a strong influence on politics. I grew up in a small town and the priest was the highest authority since there was no police.
I liked this one a lot Quinlan! Great idea, looking forward to the upcoming Q&As with him!
This was an absolute pleasure to watch. Thank you for filming this and having this conversation. Please extend my (our) gratitude to Bunsei-san, as well.
Will do! Thanks!
An excellent and insightful interview, I'd love to see more!
Happy to find this series! Grateful for your conversations with Bunsei-san **
Loved this! Was very interesting. Can’t wait for more. Until then I’ll watch this a few more times.
Very excited for this video, ever since your announcement in your last video :)
Thanks for the video, it was great to watch. I would love to see more!
Please continue with this! Great video!
PERFECT....
i've no question for now, but a series is highly appreciated. and 🙏🏽
Great idea! Please make a series out of it. Thanks 😊
Thank you so much for this interview. Please, continue the series!
Will do!
This was fantastic
I really enjoyed watching this. great converation and nice editing :)
Great idea to make it a series.
Excellent conversation. You can easily tell that this man has so much wisdom
Really interesting! Love your videos.
Hello Quinlan. This video was exactly what I was hoping for. I would imagine one would have plenty of time to reflect when enjoying nature, especially when hiking. I appreciate this insight from Bunsei-san and I hope to see more of these videos.
What's it like being a monk in modern times like these? Beautiful and inspiring interview, thank you both so much!
can't wait to see more!
I enjoyed this very much, and I would love to see more
More Zen content would be great 👍🏻 I really enjoy your hikes!
Thank you for this. Finding the Buddha in daily life and on the highways and byways is the key isn't it? What a wonderful conversation.
i really wanna hear more from him! it’s so interesting!
I love this video and would love more with Bunsei-san!
Going to meet him and film another next week!
Thank you: great, enlightening video - a head above the rest of the usual UA-cam nonsence. Please continue your friendship and the series!
Great job, Quinlan! Going to share on IG
Thank you for this wonderful interview! I've heard some negative things about Buddhist monks in Japan from Japanese friends and rumors of corruption in some places, so it's really nice to see a human face and a personal experience presented. Nice work!
Thanks for this lovely interview. Having read about Zen and Buddhism since about the age of 12 (weird kid!) - and sat a lot of zazen - I think Bunsei-san gives one of the neatest and most elegant explanations of Buddhist approach to self and interdependence I've ever heard. And exemplifies the grounded approach that can be so great in Soto. ありがとうございました！
Interesting video, thanks. I'd definitely watch more in this series. I'd be curious to hear about what an average day is like for Bunsei-san.
Great video! ❤🙏🍀
Yeah I really liked the video. It was very interesting.
Question: what's the daily life of a monk? Where does he get up and such things.
Otherwise great video.
I loved this, Quinlan! Great video, and I would definitely enjoy seeing more! Bunsei-san is a delight. I really enjoy how you’re always delving into areas (physical or topical) that are not always discussed on other channels! I’m always being exposed to something new, whether in nature or Japanese culture. ☺️
Thank you! I'll definitely make this a regular segment!
Love this! As a Westerner, I have very basic questions, like - is all Buddhism Zen Buddhism? And I would love to hear more about how we create our own happiness or unhappiness inside our own minds. I know this, but changing my attitudes is the challenge.
VERY generally speaking, think of Zen as a highly-concentrated meditation. Zen is one of the six virtues held by Mahayana Buddhism practised in China/Japan/Korea, and it stands in contrast to Theravada Buddhism practised in Southern Asia. When we refer to "Zen Buddhism", we are discussing a specific branch of Mahayana Buddhism that takes Zen to be the best method to reach enlightenment. Those practising Buddhism in places like Nepal and Thailand may recognize the practice of Zen, but they will not consider it their core value to enlightenment/salvation. Having said all that, I highly doubt that I can cover the concepts better than Wikipedia, or many of the Buddhist youtubers out there.
Regarding the second question, I'd say a fairly straight-forward concept that I hold is impermanence. Once again, my explanation will not do the concept justice, but here's a simple version of what I do: try observe the formation of thoughts in your mind, and notice the fact that all of your thoughts, as well as everything in the world hold a common property of *impermanence*. Observe the forming of a happy thought, observe the experience of "happy", observe the concept decompose, and observe the absence of happy, the same applies with the other emotions.
Alternatively, maybe go read up the philosophy of Epicurus. In my humble opinion, his philosophy shares a lot of the merits in the non-religious part of Buddhism, and is a much more effective way of living a happy secular life without committing to a religion.
Zen is one icing of the Buddhist cake. But all of the traditions are the same flavor, with different icing.
Man I love this💙
I really liked the video :)
Thank you for the interestin and inspiring content.
I'm looking forward to your next video ^^
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
I'll start off with my questions: What was the process that he personally went through to become a monk? How did he feel about it at the time he went through it (things that were difficult/ easy, things that he didn't understand at the time), versus now?
I'm also curious, what exactly do they teach at a Buddhist University?
I love the content on your channel. I always get what I expect and more, without the clickbait and the over-the-top editing.
Plus your voice is so soothing!
This series has an interesting and inspiring start, so definitely looking forward to future videos. In this video, I like how you show parts of the temple and its surroundings after each topic the monk talks about. It really helps pace the information better and helps maintain my attention.
Thank you so much for sharing your videos with us, and for taking the time do so with research and care :)
super cool, thank you
I really liked this style of video! Definitely do more of these! I for one am really curious about what Bunsei-san thinks about modern culture and especially youth culture around the world changing with things such as the internet, video games, anime and otaku culture, social media and so on. Which aspects of the modern technological world does he personally find positive and which does he think influence us poorly? :)
I love this
Thanks for this, keep sharing more about zazen vis a vis modern life.
I found this a very interesting video and personally like to see more. 👍
I remember this monk. He came to my family's temple helping my mum's funeral.
Small world!!
Would love to see more videos in this series! I'm from the UK but Zen Buddhism has had a great impact on my life. I first properly learned about it from the novel "A Tale for the Time Being" written by Ruth Ozeki, an American-Canadian of Japanese heritage and a Zen Buddhist nun (it's my favourite novel and I really recommend it for anyone interested in Zen Buddhism or other aspects of Japanese culture and the Japanese diaspora experience). Having previously received treatment for mental health issues including depression, I immediately related it back to the mindfulness I had been taught about that greatly helped me when I was struggling. From then on I have endeavoured to incorporate the Zen Buddhist worldview into my life by living in the moment and practicing gratitude. I honestly wonder if I would have ended up pursuing a life like Bunsei-san's if I had grown up Japanese. I wish I could think of a question but there are already a lot of great ones here. If anything I would just like to express gratitude towards those like Bunsei-san who still practice Zen Buddhism in the modern day as it was able to reach me and change my life, even on the other side of the world.
I really liked this.
Glad to hear that!
very intriguing
Thank you for another great video Quinlan, I love that your videos give a unique perspective of Japan. My favourite thing when in Japan is spending time at temples and shrines and receiving Goshuin where I can. I'd love to see some videos showing us around some temples and shrines and educating us on some of the common features that one sees but still don't fully understand. I'd love to be able to learn more so I can fully immerse myself when visiting these wonderful places.
Great idea!
I was a Buddhist back in the early 70s (still am) and went to visit the Throssel Hole Zen temple (Monastery) near Hexham, northern England. I was on a 7-day retreat that was led by the founder, Rev Jiyu-Kennet Roshi, a wonderful lady monk. It was an inspiring week and it has never left my memory even after all those years. Fantastic video by the way!!
very interesting !!!!!!
Great video! I am reading Zen Mind Beginners Mind and would love to hear his thoughts on every day Buddhism as he mentioned!
Love this! I'd be super interested to know a monk's perspective on the integration of zen principles and mindfulness into lots of modern psychological therapies?
As always, thank you for the great video. Now, I need to learn how to cut down my ego :)
Don't we all...
And nice name!
This is wonderful. I was able to talk with a Zen Buddhist monk in Arashiyama, Kyoto and he was the most humble and down to earth person I think I've ever met. It would be great to hear Bunsei-san's thoughts on how we can move through these current events (like the pandemic) more peacefully. America is experiencing many protests and riots right now and my hope is that we can move through these things toward peace and unity.
Arashiyama is so beautiful! That must have been dreamy.
Yes - these are very trying times. Great question!
With all the back and forth camera shots you climbed the mountain twice this hike i guess 🤔😉😅(great mini movie, edit, music, interviews, all very well done)😍😊😁
Thanks!! Yeah - I did a lot of setting the camera down and walking away or to it. I actually did it too much this time and only used about half to avoid too much repetition.
Very interesting ! My question what is The role & value of Buddhism in present day Japan. Thank you
Very nice series! His term "interdependent self" regarding self without ego was clever. My question would be, can you explain the concept of impermanence in such an approachable way?
Hi, Quinlan, I like this interview for a couple of reasons, First, it reminds us of how interconnected we are with people and nature, as we are all animals in the web of life and (in terms of our molecules) rebirth. Second, I think it may help physicists ask better questions about the nature of the universe. Religion is psychopathy, but being able to keep two contradictory thoughts in ones mind is an essential skill for a scientist.
Absolutely love the video production. Only thing I would suggest is to have more sounds/background audio during the temple visuals and other transitions! Maybe chimes or something? :0 The water was awesome.
My question:
“Where do you believe we go after death if anywhere?”
Great question. The continuation (or not) of consciousness after death is a great topic. And yeah- I wanted to do some audio but couldn't find the right sounds. I'll try harder next time!
Finally someone that made a zen monk interview speak in japanese!
Hah- he doesn't speak English, so no way around it!
Very interesting! I’d like to know: Does Zen Buddhism teach that it is the only correct religion similarly to Christianity? What does he think of the colloquial use of the word Zen and what is the difference between that concept and Zen Buddhism?
Great questions!
GoNorth Japan I can’t wait to hear the answers! I’m very interested in Christian theology, so it’s fascinating to hear about how different religions think too!
Zen buddhists, understand that there's no such thing as "only one religion" or "we are right you are wrong". We believe in coexistense and we respect different beliefs. The coloquial use of the word "zen" is wrong, but not a problem, we can deal with it. 🙏
No they do not think that. They just have a set of rules and principles they follow, which a christian can follow but still believe in Jesus. As all religions do come from the same source. God.
I'd love to hear what Bunsai-san has to say about Economics and US politics. :D
Also i'd like to know what he things about other religions.
i liked that video alot but a very low effort music would kinda have helped to focus :)
still a very very good idea :)
it was very interesting, i'd like to hear more of him. Could you ask Bunsei-san about "the buddhist concepts of emptiness and suffering"? it doesn't sound very desirable.
Will do!
Is he a vegetarian? If so is it hard for him to be so when there's so many food products that have either meat or animal products in them?
How does he feel about other religions or even someone not having a religion and not believing in anything like a higher power, heaven and hell, or a traditional after life (or another life).
I'd like to ask a question; We often place great stress upon ourselves by comparing ourselves to others. What does Buddhism teach on how to deal with feelings of inferiority and fear of not living up to expectations?
Bunsei san, arigatou! Thank you Quinlan, looking forward to more. I have questions about the process for discarding the ego that monks go through. Is it always ongoing or is it achieved before being “ordained?” if that is the appropriate word, and who determines that? A teacher, the Abbot? Could Bunsei-san address temple etiquette for visitors? Thanks in advance!
Very nice and interesting video, he looks like a funny and kind monks. Anybody knows the name of his metal band?
It will be very interesing to see zen monks visiting Athos and orthodox monks visiting Koyasan.
It's awesome that you're enabling so many people to gain an insight into a Zen life.
I'd be interested to know whether he has any tips for maintaining a regular meditation practice? I am a very unscheduled person so really struggle to sit down to practice each day. My teacher's advice has been to do it first thing in the morning so that it is done, but I really struggle with habit-forming.
Thank you!
Great question! Yeah- I'm the same way actually. I've gone on and off with meditation (and some practices I've been trying to make regular like stretching out and practicing guitar) but I seem to always fall out of doing them daily. There are hundreds of books out on that topic for a reason! Maybe Bunsei-san knows something we don't! I will ask.
@@GoNorthJapan I wonder if the question might come down to self-discipline. I know routines and schedules are integral to life in a temple so this may be what we're lacking? It would be interesting to hear his thoughts.
Thanks again for the video and opportunity to ask questions Quinlan ✌️
Such an interesting man with a really open smile 😊 I'd love to know if westerners can become monks, and do any women become monks. Also I loved the scenes you filmed 💖
👍👍👍
Do series pls....
Will do!
What this interview really says is this: monk = Human being.
私は禅宗です。 そして私は仏教が大好きです。
Could you ask him about his thoughts on Shintō?
Sure! We sort of did converse on the relationship between Shinto and Buddhism but I ended up cutting it from the final video. Can try it again.
Ask him Why can't we Control time
まず、この動画を投稿してありがとうございます。僕は今妖怪についての本を読んでいるから、妖怪に関して質問があります。仏教を勉強した時に、神だけでなく、妖怪についての勉強もあったんですか？ Thanks for this videos, and sorry for my bad Japanese.
Mr Zen monk. How do I keep the boat from capsizing on the sea of life?
I guess what I'd like to know is his stance on politics from a monk perspective... but moreso on the ground level - what would his advice be for those stressed out by events in the West? What does he think about them overall?
I was wondering how Bunsei-san came to grow up in a monastery: was it a children's home kind of thing? Is there a traditional in Japan where some parents send one of their children off to train as monks, like in Myanmar and the Himalayas (and medieval Europe)? In addition to that, I'd also like to know more about the position of monasteries, temples and monks in Japanese society and how it's all organised.
I'll answer this one for you quick. In Japan - most schools of Buddhism now allow monks to marry, and they do. So being raise din a temple means that his father is a monk. So he can inherit the job from his father.
In terms of the general organization, etc. I'll pass that question along to him!
@@GoNorthJapan ah, so I misremembered the bit about where he was raised! I was too lazy to go back and check, sorry! Thanks for the answer :)
can I use a clip of him talking in a. song
What words? Any link to your music? I'll ask him if you can tell me that!
I have been interested in becoming a zen Buddhist monk. Where can I interview someone. Perhaps this venerable zen monk
Sure, if you come to Iwate, you could meet and interview Bunsei-san, or another Zen monk that I know. There are several of them up here!
It is a shame to see Traditionalism dying out in Japan. This seems to be an unfortunate trend around the world at the moment, although I don't believe it will last. I think we all just need to reconnect with our past. What a nice chap Bunsei-san is, although I think he may have misunderstood Christianity a little though; didn't Jesus say that' the Kingdom of Heaven is within'? If I had one question to him: how do you square the idea of non-attachment, that the self is illusory, with the idea of a reverence to our, supposedly, also illusory ancestors?
I think it was just in the Gospel of Thomas that Jesus said the Kingdom of Heaven is within. That's one of the Gnostic Gospels they found in Nag Hammadi(?) and it's not accepted as doctrine by mainstream Christians.
I could be wrong though! But I was raised Catholic and as far as the Catholic Church is concerned, the Kingdom of Heaven is up above. ;)
Thanks so much for watching! I'll pass along all the questions!
@@GoNorthJapan From Luke, I believe, although there is some debate whether the translation from the Greek is accurate. Interesting video though, and I'd like to hear more. I must admit, I thought ancestor worship was more a Shinto thing; have the two blended a little?
@@CJHolyoak Oops, yeah. I shouldn't try to say anything about the Gospels, not my field of expertise!
Yeah- ancestor worship is a Shinto thing. In Shinto your ancestors becomes gods of sorts! There is definitely blending going on in Japan. Actually the Shamanistic tradition of Bon in Tibet also blended with the Buddhism there, so it's a phenomenon that occurs in a number of places I guess!
That was really him at 19!?
Yes!
.
Would they sponsor me