12. On Ambivalence, Attention, Resistance on Pilgrimage and in a War Zone #68
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
Release Date: 10/10/2025
13. On Addiction Recovery based on Buddhist Practice (#69)
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
Claude AnShin Thomas - Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - speaks about recovery from addiction in relation to Buddhist practice and responds to questions in an inspiring manner based on his Zen practice and life experiences. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind. This episode was recorded at an online talk as the keynote speaker at an online summit conference of the international Buddhist Recovery Network. For more information: If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to . ...
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12. On Ambivalence, Attention, Resistance on Pilgrimage and in a War Zone #68
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
- Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, peace activist, and author - responds to questions from students in an inspiring manner based on his Zen practice and life experiences. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind. This episode was recorded during a weekly online meeting of questions & responses on September 14th, 2025 after Claude AnShin Thomas' weeklong visit to Odessa, Ukraine and a 5-day pilgrimage in and around Cologne, Germany. For more information: If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please...
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11. Claude AnShin Thomas with Veterans on Acceptance, Surrender, Balance, and Indecisiveness
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
- Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - responds to questions from veterans based on his decades of Zen practice and his life experiences to include war. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind. This episode was recorded during a period of questions & responses during a 5-day veterans retreat in March of 2020 to address the consequences of military post-traumatic stress. For more information: If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to . Book recommendations: ...
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10. Useful Responses on the War in the Ukraine (repost from March 2022)
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
- Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, peace activist, and author - responds to questions from students in an inspiring manner based on his Zen practice and life experiences. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind. This episode was recorded during a weekly online meeting of questions & responses in spring 2022. For more information: If you want to ask Zen monk Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to . Zen Book recommendations:- Bringing...
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9. On Community, Self Esteem, Problem Solving, and Walking on Pilgrimage
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
- Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - responds to questions from students in an inspiring manner based on his Zen practice and life experiences. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind. This episode was recorded during a weekly online meeting of questions & responses. For more information: If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to . Book recommendations: - Bringing Meditation to Life - 108 Teachings on the Path of Zen Practice...
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8. On Self Denial, Wisdom, Delusion, Chastity and Making Mistakes
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
- Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - responds to questions from students in an inspiring manner based on his Zen practice and life experiences. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind. This episode was recorded during a weekly online meeting of questions & responses. For more information: If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to . Book recommendations: - Bringing Meditation to Life - 108 Teachings on the Path of Zen...
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7. Bearing Witness to War: Reflections on Violence, Identity, and the Path to Peace, Claude AnShin Thomas Speaks With Veterans
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
- Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - speaks with veterans on the themes of personal transformation, the complexity of war, and the deep moral and spiritual inquiry reflected in the questions—while remaining short, impactful, and thought-provoking. For more information: If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to . 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) - On...
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6. On Silence, Arguing, Being Rejected, Arrogance, and Getting Older
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
- Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - responds to questions from students in an inspiring manner based on his Zen practice and life experiences. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind. This episode was recorded during a weekly online meeting of questions & responses. For more information: If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to . Book recommendations: - Bringing Meditation to Life - 108 Teachings on the Path of Zen...
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5.On Manifestation, Loss, Communication, Passion, Expectations, and Daily Routines
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
- Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - responds to questions from students in an inspiring manner based on his Zen practice and life experiences. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind. This episode was recorded during a weekly online meeting of questions & responses. For more information: If you want to ask Zen monk Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to . Zen Book recommendations: - Bringing Meditation to Life - 108 Teachings on the Path of...
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4.On Sincerity, Working with: a Busy Mind, Powerlessness, Low Moods, Physical Pain, Rats, Real Teachers
ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas
- Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - responds to questions from students in an inspiring manner based on his Zen practice and life experiences. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind. This episode was recorded during a weekly online meeting of questions & responses. For more information: If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to . Book recommendations: - Bringing Meditation to Life - 108 Teachings on the Path of Zen Practice (Oakwood Publishing...
info_outlineClaude AnShin Thomas - Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, peace activist, and author - responds to questions from students in an inspiring manner based on his Zen practice and life experiences. He reminds the listener how to stay awake to life and understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind.
This episode was recorded during a weekly online meeting of questions & responses on September 14th, 2025 after Claude AnShin Thomas' weeklong visit to Odessa, Ukraine and a 5-day pilgrimage in and around Cologne, Germany.
For more information: https://www.zaltho.org
If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question, please feel free to write to info@zaltho.org.
Book recommendations:
- Bringing Meditation to Life - 108 Teachings on the Path of Zen Practice (Oakwood Publishing 2021, also as audiobook)
- AT HELL'S GATE - A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace (Shambhala Publications 2003, also as audiobook)
- On the Edges of Sleep: Poems of War and Memory (Oakwood Publishing 2024)
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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:
1:09 — How do you work with ambivalence?
1:47 — How do you deal with people who are inattentive?
2:53 — In addition to waking up, is sitting also a practice for reducing suffering?
4:48 — Does ambivalence manifest as resistance?
5:23 — Are you afraid of rejection?
6:00 — What kinds of reflections have arisen for you after your recent visit to Ukraine?
7:24 — Can you tell us what will happen tomorrow as you begin your pilgrimage?
8:55 — Do you think it’s helpful to work with the nervous system and how it stores trauma responses?
9:40 — What is your experience of walking in silence during pilgrimage?
11:02 — Would you be willing to share something about your trip to Ukraine and your time with Washin?
17:40 — During pilgrimage, did you sing out loud or remain silent?