1. On Zen and Psychotherapy, Zen and Drugs, Zen and Conflict

These are questions and topics that Claude AnShin Thomas - Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - reflects on. He reminds the listener of how to stay awake to life and how to understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind.

This episode was recorded during a weekly zoom session of questions&responses.

For more information: https://zaltho.org/

If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question: [e-mail]

Book recommendations: 

-       Bringing Meditation to Life - 108 Teachings on the Path of Zen Practice (Oakwood Publishing 2021)

-       AT HELL'S GATE - A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace (Shambhala Publications 2003)

https://zaltho.org/en/media/our-books.html

If you are interested in a specific question, this is the list of questions that Claude AnShin responded to and the time stamps for those questions so that you can go directly to the topic that is of most interest to you.

Questions and Time Stamps:
1:12
What would you say to somebody who says:“I like to smoke pot every day. It makes me happy, productive, and I relate better to other people.. What’s wrong with that?"
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2:35
You are recommending that people sit twice a day. What would you say if someone was asking you what for?
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3:38 
How do you know and then how do you respond if someone is trying to manipulate?
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5:38 
How come there are not more people of African origins in Zen groups?
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6:27
Do you sometimes have bad temper without a reason and if so, do you then do efforts to understand how come?
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8:54
From the point of view of our practice are there good moods and bad moods?
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9:45
Would you find it useful and meaningful and also appropriate to include a meditation practice into a psychotherapeutic setting?
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11:24
How can I deal with a grieving that suddenly overcomes me in connection with animals that I was part of them dying and at the time when it happened I did not process any of that?
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12:49
In which ways can meditation be dangerous?
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13:48
Does a personal response to outside stimuli ever surprise you meaning your own thoughts?
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14:22
What does it do to you when people are initially inflamed by practice after visiting a talk or retreat and don’t continue on? Or people abandon practice and don’t come back?
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15:27
How do I deal with a conversation in which I am sharing about my experience with meditation practice and I am being treated offensively or hurtfully?
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17:36
When someone is angry with you, how do you deal with that?