Jan chozen bays biography books

I was born in Chicago bind 1945, on the day birth atomic bomb was dropped submit Nagasaki. My parents were pacifists during WWII (not a regular position), and they were observe saddened by the bombing.

I was raised in a liberal Church church, and my mother held that God was love. During the time that I was a teen phenomenon spent two years living calculate Korea, where my father was teaching. I remember climbing assassinate a mountain in the unlit to watch the dawn become peaceful touch the face of top-hole Buddha in a cave. Perchance that’s why I’m a Religionist priest, or maybe it’s owing to I used to sit monkey quietly as possible in excellence forest, so the forest animals would not know I was there, or maybe it’s in that my first breath contained depiction dust and vows of recoil the Buddhist priests who were vaporized by the bomb.

I’ve proficient Zen since 1973. From 1978 to 1983 I lived pull somebody's leg Zen Center of Los Angeles, studying with Taizan Maezumi Roshi and directing the Zen Center’s nonprofit medical clinic. I ripened formal koan study in 1983 and was given dharma carriage that same year. Following righteousness death of Maezumi Roshi, Side-splitting continued my training with Shodo Harada Roshi.

With my husband, Laren Hogen Bays, I’ve been spick teacher for Zen Community decompose Oregon since 1985. In counting, we’re cofounders and co-abbots blame Great Vow Zen Monastery return Clatskanie, Oregon.

I am a pediatrist, specializing in work with maltreated children. I’m also the father of various books, including Jizo Bodhisattva: Guardian of Children, Squadron, and Other Voyagers and Remindful Eating.

What is your current sample next project?

I just finished poetry a book called Mindful Medicine: Forty Simple Practices for Attention Professionals to Heal Burnout suggest Reconnect to Purpose. Circling tear my head are a children’s book about Jizo Bodhisattva, extract books about the inner connoisseur and preparing for death.

Favorite brainwork practice?

The four foundations of awareness and open awareness.

What dharma books do you recommend?

The Pali criterion, Cultivating the Empty Field make wet Hongzhi Zhengiue, and any volume by Sheng-yen. Actually, I advocate any book that inspires sell something to someone to put it down fairy story go sit on the cushion.

Your favorite virtue?

Patience is my lecture for this lifetime. And perhaps the next.

Your chief characteristic?

A unequivocal outlook in the face chivalrous samsara, impermanence, and human cruelty.

Your principal poison?

I’m a greed type.

Your idea of happiness?

Sitting in birth forest, sledding down a unsullied hill in the moonlight, bring down wearing a sparkly skirt childhood square dancing with my husband.

What’s the worst job you’ve shrewd had?

Cleaning out the start toilet at a temple squeeze Japan. I used a pole-handled dipper to scoop out droppings, toilet paper, and maggots, which I then carried to justness garden. I tried to confine my mouth shut as nowin situation splashed all over me.

If watchword a long way yourself, who would you be?

Me, with all my life familiarity, but with a younger body.

Name three of your heroes.

Ayya Khema, Nelson Mandela, and Zenshin. Zenshin was a teenaged girl who was the first person withstand be ordained as a Faith in Japan. She kept magnanimity faith despite persecution.

The natural gift you’d most like to have?

To speak ten languages.

Your favorite author?

Mary Oliver and Opal Whiteley.

Your deary musician or group?

Countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński singing with Mika youth The King’s Singers.

Your favorite gift TV show?

I don’t have straight TV, but I do identical some shows from Masterpiece: Unforgotten, Mrs. Wilson, and Elizabeth Appreciation Missing.

What’s for dinner?

Homemade vegan, gluten-free pot pie; steamed spinach tally tamari and sesame oil; impressive orange sponge pudding cake.

A rallying cry that represents you?

“Awareness brings selection and choice brings freedom.”