Expert: Joe McSorley - 8/27/2003

Question
I actually stumbled on to this web site to ask a question about fixing my truck but this is much more interesting.  

Anyway, I've been trying to modify my life/thoughts etc and learn to meditate.  I was very impressed with your response about the incompatibility of Catholicsm and Buddhism (I'm Italian) and I've been thinking/feeling the same way but you put it much more concisely/eloquently then I ever could.  I have to believe in some way I was supposed to stumble on this thread.

My question then, is how do I find a good teacher in my area for meditation/Zen etc.  I feel I'm at a point where I need this.  I'm leary about just going to the phone book as I want someone reputable if you know what I mean.  I would hate to end up like John Lennon.  

I live in Western Massachusetts in the Berkshires.  I'd appreciate any connections/recomendations you might have.  

Hope all is well,

Chuck

Answer
Hi Chuck,
  I don't get the Lennon reference, do you mean the Mahareshi or Yoko? I don't know which one was worse though maybe the Mahareshi can at least sing.  You can guess by my name I was raised RC too as was Dr. DeMartino my primary teacher and a student of Suzuki.
 It is the job of the teacher to prod the student, to push them to the limits so that all presuppositions collapse.  A teacher cannot ‘teach' per say, they direct and motivate.  One must be involved in  profound inquiry to drive the consciousness to the conditions for awakening, a teacher can monitor this and make sure the student is going in the proper direction.
  Now for the big problem, how does one find a good teacher?   This is unfortunately a very daunting task; there are many teachers out there but few good ones.  A teacher must be able to handle the challenges of a student, should have a profound understanding and be able to communicate effectively.  I just witnessed a situation where a Zen ‘priest', dually ordained by a monastery in California, was so insulted to have their authority questioned ( in a very minor way I may add)  that they threw out several students.  The grievous offense was that the student, in whose home was used as a zendo, was leaving town and would not be able to open up on a certain day.  This ‘priest' was so angry because she is supposed to be the sangha, the authority and her students obviously ‘do not know their place and are usurping my authority as granted by my priesthood”.  I bring this sordid tale up because this is a sanctioned teacher from a monastery.  This individual does not do teishos, does not allow discussions or inquiries, how can one be a teacher?  But she is…..so how does one find a good teacher?  It is a very unfortunate situation, I don't know.  I was lucky to have two great uncompromising teachers who hammered away at me and made me think and delve to a depth I would not have be able to on my own.  In the end I would say that it is most important that you learn as best you can from the books of D.T.Suzuki, Shin Ichi Hisamatsu, Masao Abe, Zenkei Shibayama and Richard DeMartino.  I would strongly suggest finding a copy of  “Zen Essays Series Two” by Suzuki as it is one of the most profound works on Zen I know.  It is difficult to find but I've found it several times on the web in India for a decent price.   I would also read “Zen and Psychoanalysis” by Fromm, DeMartino and Suzuki.  I would read DeMartino's chapter several times, it took me years to understand it.  I would be uncompromising in my quest and my inquiry. Unfortunately I don ‘t know what else to tell you the fact is that there is mainly garbage out there.  There are several Zen centers in MA but I can tell you stories about some of their teachers that would make your head spin.  I think that if you do your best to educate yourself you might at least have a insight into anyone you might meet that claims to be a teacher.
  I wish you luck.  Please contact me anytime.  
             Joe