C.S. Sloan's Integral Strength

That is  the Question On the Importance (or Unimportance) of Spiritual “Experiences” such as Kensho and Satori in Budo Zen and Zen-Influenced Budo Are Experiences of Spiritual “Awakening” Important?  Should They be Purposely Cultivated?  Can Kensho be Achieved—as Some Budoka Claim—Through the Training of Budo Alone?       After writing the following, I have been hesitant to post it.  I’m not entirely sure what to make of it.  Nonetheless, I decided that I would go ahead and do so.  If you practice Zen, Budo, or both—or you have enjoyed reading my past essays on the subjects—then perhaps you will find something in it that is of interest.  It is, at times, deeply personal, as well, which had something to do with my hesitation in making it public.  I’m also unsure as to whether or not it conveys my thoughts adequately on the subjects it addresses, but if it helps even one reader, then that’s good enough.    ...

Zen Budo and the Path of Striving for Achievement      “Decay is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.” ~the final words of the Buddha       “The image of Buddhism has gone through quite a lot of change over the years. Nowadays people don't tend to associate Buddhism with striving so much as with peace and withdrawal, with being rather than doing. Whatever would old Shakyamuni think of that?       “Buddha pointed out that things are impermanent and you might take it from that that he was suggesting that it is futile wasting effort on things that are not going to last. However, the original moral was probably just the opposite. Buddha put a new spin on the idea of karma, remember. Karma had been taken to mean that you are what you are because of what you did in your last life so there is nothing you can do about it. This logic underpinned the caste system and it still does. This was a ...