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“In the Zen classic Blue Cliff Record, Case 14 offers a succinct dialogue. A monk asked YunMen, “What are the teachings of a whole lifetime?” Master YunMen said, “An appropriate response.” What is an appropriate response in this age of pandemic, of systemic racism, of environmental crisis, and rising tides of violent nationalism? Without getting sucked into the maelstrom of right and wrong, self and other, what is a Buddhist vision of justice? We can investigate our practice in the world through the lens of the Zen Peacemakers’ Three Tenets: Not Knowing (Beginner’s Mind), Bearing Witness, and an Appropriate Response.
ABOUT SENSEI ALAN HOZAN SENAUKE
Hozan Sensei began his practice as a student of Sojun Roshi in the early 1980s. He was ordained as a Zen priest at BZC in 1989, receiving Dharma Transmission from Sojun at Tassajara in 1998. After serving as Tanto or Head of Practice at BZC since 1997, Hozan was installed as Vice Abbot in 2007. He is past president of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association.
Hozan also has wide experience and a global perspective on engaged Buddhism as a force for social transformation. From 1991 he was in the leadership of Buddhist Peace Fellowship and the International Network of Engaged Buddhism. Hozan is founding director of Clear View Project, offering Buddhist-based resources and support, with a focus on Indian Dalit Buddhists, Myanmar and the Rohingyas, and prisoners in the U.S.
Alan has written two books: Heirs To Ambedkar: The Rebirth of Engaged Buddhism in India and The Bodhisattva’s Embrace: Dispatches From Engaged Buddhism’s Front Lines. He was the co-editor of Safe Harbor: Ethics for Buddhist Communities, along with numerous articles and essays. Alan is also an accomplished musician. His musical credits include two albums Everything is Broken: Songs About Things As They Are and Wooden Man: Old Notes from the Southern School.