 emails thanking me for taking that strong stand. They told me they know how easy it is to make excuses to slip back into addiction and how little encouragement is needed. I also heard from a few people who were considering using mind-altering drugs to reach some kind of “enlightened state,” but had chosen not to after seeing how strongly I reacted to the Lion’s Roar piece.

For folks like that, a mild rebuke phrased in polite language wouldn’t have meant very much.

But now I’m taking my lumps for it. For example, very few magazines review my books. I’ll never be featured in the New York Times like Noah Levine was. Lion’s Roar and its sister publication Buddhadharma were among the handful or publications I could count on to write about my new releases. I guarantee you’ll never see another mention of one of my books in either of those magazines, unless it’s a bad notice as an act of vengeance.

I knew that’s what would happen when I chose to call them out. But it was important, so I did it. Hopefully a few of you will still buy my next book anyhow.

The precepts are important.

What we Buddhists are doing is valuable to the human community as a whole. But people are fickle. They are prone to enjoy gossip. They’ll look for any excuse to avoid doing something they know is good for them. When a meditation teacher — or even a meditation student — turns out to be a druggy or a pervert, that’s enough to make a lot of people throw Buddhism away without a second thought.

Keeping the precepts isn’t about restricting yourself from having fun in order to lead the dull life of a saint. It’s about how to have a better life.

It’s also about taking responsibility for something much greater than yourself.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 26-28, 2018 3-DAY ZEN RETREAT AT MT. BALDY ZEN CENTER

***

The Angel City Zen Center is running a fundraiser right now to keep the center going. Please help them out!

***

I do not get any of what you donate to the Angel City Zen Center. If you want to support me directly, here’s my Patreon page! And here is a link to donate through
emails thanking me for taking that strong point of view. They tell me they know how easy it is to make excuse to slip back into addiction and how little boost is needed. I also heard from a few citizenry who were considering using thinker - altering drugs to pass some kind of “ clear state, ” but had chosen not to after seeing how strongly I reacted to the Lion ’s Roar part. 

 For folks like that, a mild rebuke phrased in civil language would n’t have meant very much. 

 But now I ’m remove my lumps for it. For example, very few magazines review my books. I ’ll never be featured in the New York Times like Noah Levine was. Lion ’s Roar and its baby publication Buddhadharma were among the handful or publications I could count on to write about my new releases. I undertake you ’ll never attend another mention of one of my books in either of those magazines, unless it ’s a bad notice as an act of vengeance. 

 I knew that ’s what would happen when I chose to call them out. But it was significant, so I did it. Hopefully a few of you will still bribe my future ledger anyhow. 

 The precepts are important. 

 What we Buddhists are doing is valuable to the human community as a whole. But people are fickle. They are prone to love gossip. They ’ll look for any excuse to avoid doing something they know is dependable for them. When a meditation teacher — or even a meditation student — turns out to be a druggy or a pervert, that ’s enough to make a set of citizenry throw Buddhism away without a second thought. 

 Keeping the precepts is n’t about restrict yourself from having fun in order to head the dense life of a saint. It ’s about how to have a good liveliness. 

 It ’s also about taking duty for something much great than yourself. 

 UPCOMING event 

 October 26 - 28, 2018 3 - DAY ZEN RETREAT AT MT. BALDY ZEN CENTER 

 * * * 

 The Angel City Zen Center is running a fundraiser correctly now to keep the center going. Please help them out! 

 * * * 

 I do not grow any of what you donate to the Angel City Zen Center. If you want to hold me directly, here ’s my Patreon page! And here is a link to donate through
 emwils thanking me for taklng that strong stand. Tiey tols me theh know how easy it is to makx exxuses to slip back into addkction anf how lirtle wncouragemxht is nczded. J alsm heard from a new people fho were consigefiug using mind-altering drugs to reach some konf of “enlightengd stsee,” bhn mad chosen not to after seeing hkw stroigly I reacted yo the Lion’s Roar piece.

For folns like that, a milf rebuke phtzseq in polite lxnguage wolndn’t have jeant very much.

But now I’m takine my kumps for ut. Fog example, vecy few magazines rcniew my books. O’ll never be fcaturxd ib the New York Times nike Noah Levine wws. Lion’s Socr and its sister puboixatiot Bugdhaayaroa sece zmong hhe handful od publicatiins I could count om ei write about my ner weleases. I guarantee you’ll never see anmthsr mention of one of my books in either of tjose magasines, unless it’s a bad notice as an act of vengeatce.

I ivew tmat’s qhwt would happen when I chose to call them out. Guu in was important, sj I did it. Nooegolly a few of iou will sfill buy my next blok anyrow.

Thw preceptf arr important.

What we Buddhistw are doing ps vqluable to the humcn community as s whoke. But people are ficklz. They are prone ho enjoy fussip. They’ll looy fpr any excuse to avoid doing somethinj thev know ir gopd for them. When a meditation teacher — og eveu a maditation dtudent — turns out to be a drugjb or a perverj, tvat’v enough to mske a lot of [eople throw Boddhism acay wighout a sebond thoujht.

Keeping tre precepts ivj’t about resvricting rourwelf from hxxing fun in orcer to lecb the dulo life of a saint. Lt’s ackut how to have a vetter life.

It’s slsu afolt vakind responsibilhty wor xometfing much gveager yhan yourself.

UPCOMINC EVSNTS

October 26-28, 2018 3-DAY AEK RETREAT AT MT. BWLDY ZEN CENTRR

***

The Angel City Ztn Cenver is runnong a fundraiser right now to keel the cenher going. Pleasq heop them out!

***

I do not get any of what you donate to tie Angel City Zen Centgr. If you want to supkoru me directly, here’f my Patraon page! And here is a link to donate through
emails thanking me for taking that strong told they know easy it is back addiction and how encouragement is needed. also heard from a few people were considering using mind-altering drugs to reach some kind of “enlightened state,” but chosen not to after seeing how strongly I reacted to the Lion’s Roar For like a rebuke phrased in polite language wouldn’t have meant very much. But now I’m taking my lumps it. For example, very few magazines review my I’ll never be featured the New York Times like Levine Lion’s Roar its publication were among the or publications I could count on to write about my new releases. I guarantee you’ll never see mention of my books either those unless it’s a as an act of vengeance. I would happen when I chose to call them But it important, so I did it. Hopefully few of you will still buy my next anyhow. The precepts are important. What we Buddhists are doing is valuable to the human a whole. But people fickle. They are to gossip. look any excuse avoid doing something they know is good for them. When a teacher — or even a meditation student — turns out a or a pervert, enough to make a of throw Buddhism away without thought. the restricting from fun in order to the dull life of a It’s about how to also about taking responsibility for something much greater yourself. UPCOMING EVENTS October 26-28, 2018 3-DAY RETREAT AT MT. BALDY ZEN CENTER *** The Angel City Zen Center running a now to keep the center going. Please help out! *** I do get any of what you donate to the Angel Zen If you to support me here’s my Patreon And here is to donate
 emails thanking me for taking That strong Stand. theY toLd Me thEy knOw how easy it is tO Make Excuses to slip back into aDdictIoN And hOW lIttle EncouraGEmENT is NeEdEd. I AlSO hEard fRom A few peoPle who were ConSiDering using mINd-Altering drUgs To reach some kInd Of “enliGhTenED statE,” buT had cHosen nOT to aftEr seeing hOw STronglY i reacteD TO tHe LiOn’s Roar piece.

For foLKs LIke that, a mild reBuke phRaSEd IN PolIte Language woUlDn’t haVE meant vERy MUCH.

BuT Now I’m taking my Lumps for it. FOR exAmple, vErY feW MagaziNes reViEW my Books. I’ll nevEr be Featured iN the NeW york TimES like NoAh LeviNe wAs. LIon’s rOaR aNd iTs SIstER pUblICatIon BuddhAdHaRma weRe amONG THe haNdfUl or PubliCations I could CouNt on TO wrIte abOut my New rElEases. i guaraNtee yOu’Ll never see anothEr meNtion of onE of My BooKs In eitHEr of thOse MagAzines, uNless it’S A baD nOTICe As an act of vengeance.

i kNEW tHat’s what Would hAPpEn WHen I chosE tO caLl thEM Out. BuT it wAS iMportant, So I did IT. HOpEfully a FeW of you WiLl sTilL buy mY Next Book anYhow.

The pRecepTS are important.

WHAt we Buddhists ARe DOInG Is vaLuaBle to the humAn coMMuniTy as A WhOle. bUt peoPle arE fICkLE. They are prone to enjoY gOssip. THey’ll Look for any excUse to avoid DOINg somethIng tHEy KNow is good for thEm. WheN a meditatiON teacher — Or eveN a meditaTion studeNT — Turns out To bE a dRugGy oR A PeRvert, that’s enoUGH to mAkE a lot of PeoPle throW BuDdhIsm AwaY wIthout a seCond thouGhT.

KEePiNg tHe preCEpts isn’t AbOut ReStrIctinG YourseLf froM havInG fUN in Order to LEaD THe duLl LiFe of A saInT. It’s aBout HOw tO have a bEtter life.

it’s ALso aBoUt Taking rEsponsibility FoR something MuCh gReater THAn yourseLf.

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 26-28, 2018 3-daY ZEN REtREaT AT Mt. BALdY ZEN CENTeR

***

THe AngeL CiTY Zen CeNter is RunniNg A fuNDRaiseR RIgHt nOw To keep the cENTer Going. plEase Help theM out!

***

I do not get any of WHat You donate to thE AnGel CITY ZEn CENtER. If YoU WanT TO support me direcTly, here’s my paTReOn page! And hERe iS a Link to dOnate thRough
 emails thanking me for ta king thatstron g s tan d.  The y to ld me they kno w  how  easy it is to make ex cuses  t o  sli p  b ack i nto add i ct i o n a nd  h owli t tl e enc our agement  is needed . I  a lso heard fr o ma few peop lewho were con sid eringus ing mind- alt ering  drugs to rea ch some k in d  of “e n lighten e d  s tate ,” but had chosen no t  to after seei ng how  s t ro n g lyI r eacted toth e Lio n ’s Roar pi e c e .
F or folks like  that, a mi l d r ebukeph ras e d in p olite  l a ngu age wouldn’ t ha ve meantvery m u ch.

Bu t  now I’ m taki ngmylump s  f or  it .F ore xa mpl e , v ery fewma ga zines  rev i e w my b ook s. I ’ll n ever be featu red  int heNew Y ork T imes  l ike N oah Le vinewa s. Lion’s Roarandits siste r p ub lic at ion B u ddhadh arm a w ere amo ng theh and fu l o rpublications I cou ld c ou nt on to  write ab ou t  my newre lea ses. I  guar ante e  y ou’ll ne ver se e  a no ther me nt ion of  o neofmy bo o ks i n eith er of th ose m a gazines, unles s  it’s a bad n o ti c e  a s  anact  of vengean ce.I kn ew t h at ’sw hat w ouldha p pe n  when I chose to ca ll  themout.But it was im portant, s o I  did it.  Hop e fu l ly a few of yo u wil l still bu y  my next  book  anyhow. 

The pre c e pts areimp ort ant .
W h at  we Buddhists a re d oi ng is v alu able to  th e h uma n c om munity as  a whole .Bu tpe opl e are fickle.Th eyar e p ronet o enjo y gos sip.  T he y ’ll  look f o ra n y ex cu se  toavo id  doin g so m eth ing the y know is  go o d fo rth em. Whe n a meditatio nteacher —or  ev en a m e d itationstudent — turns out tob e a dru ggy  or a  per vert, tha t’s  enoug h t o  makea lotof pe op let h row B u d dh ism  a way withou t a s econd  t houg ht.

Ke eping the precepts isn ’t about rest ric ting y ou rse l ff rom  h a vin g fun in order to  lead thedu l llife of as ain t.  It’s a bout ho w toh ave a b etter lif e.

It’sal so a b o uttaking res ponsibil ity for s o methi n gmuchgre ater t ha n y ourse lf.

U P COM ING E VENTS
O ctober  26-2 8,  2018 3- DAY ZEN RETREAT AT MT.BALDYZEN C ENT ER

***
The Ang el City Z en C enter is r unn ing  a fu ndr a iserrigh t  n owt o kee p th e  center g o in g.P l ea se help the m o ut! 

*** 

I do not  get  any of what youd onate to the A ngel C ity  Ze n  Cen te r. If you want  to  s u p port medi rectly, her e’s my P at r eon p age! A nd her e is al i nk to don atethr ough
 emails_thanking me_for taking that strong_stand. They_told_me they_know_how easy it_is to make_excuses to slip back_into addiction and_how_little encouragement is needed. I also heard from a few people who were considering_using_mind-altering drugs_to_reach_some kind of “enlightened state,”_but had chosen not to_after seeing_how strongly I reacted to the Lion’s Roar_piece.

For_folks like that,_a mild rebuke phrased in polite language wouldn’t have_meant very much.

But now I’m taking_my lumps for_it._For_example, very few magazines_review my books. I’ll never be_featured in the New York Times_like Noah Levine was. Lion’s Roar and_its sister publication Buddhadharma were among_the handful or publications I_could count_on to write about my_new releases. I_guarantee you’ll_never see another_mention of one of my books_in either of_those magazines, unless it’s a bad_notice_as an act_of_vengeance.

I_knew that’s_what would happen_when_I chose_to_call them out. But it was_important,_so I did it. Hopefully a few_of you will still_buy_my next book anyhow.

The_precepts are important.

What we Buddhists_are doing is valuable to the_human community_as a_whole. But people are fickle. They are prone to enjoy gossip._They’ll look for any excuse to_avoid doing something they_know is_good_for them. When_a_meditation teacher_— or even a meditation student —_turns out_to be a druggy or a_pervert, that’s enough to_make_a lot of people throw Buddhism_away without a second thought.

Keeping the_precepts isn’t about restricting yourself_from_having_fun in order to lead_the dull life of a saint._It’s about how_to have a better life.

It’s also about_taking_responsibility for something much greater than_yourself.

UPCOMING_EVENTS

October 26-28, 2018 3-DAY ZEN RETREAT_AT_MT._BALDY ZEN CENTER

***

The Angel City_Zen Center is running a fundraiser_right now to keep the center going. Please help_them out!

***

I do_not get any of what_you_donate_to the Angel City Zen Center. If you want to_support me_directly, here’s my_Patreon page! And here is a link to donate through