Thoughts on economics, ethics, gender, climate, language, Zen, and a few other things…
Abuses of power by spiritual teachers continue to happen. Why? How could teaching culture be improved?
In November of 2025 I spoke about building structures to support accountability on the part of spiritual teachers at a webinar. This was sponsored by the Association for Spiritual Integrity (ASI), a group with member teachers from a variety of spiritual traditions. You can find a video recording of the talk and the subsequent group discussion here.
Continue reading “Building Accountability into Spiritual Culture”A recent feminist economics conference celebrated “solidarity.” Is this always a good thing?
The theme of the 33rd annual conference of the International Association for Feminist Economics, which just finished up, was “Social Justice Through Solidarity.”
Certainly, solidarity has its strong points, especially when contrasted with an overemphasis on atomistic individualism and narrow self-interest. Yet I believe that a narrow focus on solidarity also has its drawbacks, both as an intellectual stance and in its efficacy in achieving desired outcomes.
Continue reading “Some Cautions Regarding Solidarity”On discerning healthy Buddhist communities from cultish enterprises
This essay was published by Tricycle on March 8, 2025 and is accessible with a free trial subscription. It is adapted from a chapter in my book Practicing Safe Zen.
Can’t sit still, because something urgent needs to be done? Mind racing because something has to be figured out, right now? Me too.
My favorite distraction when attempting to practice zazen (Zen sitting) is worrying about all the things that need fixing. Yet I have been reminded that we adopt a still and upright posture in Zen for a reason: The body trains the mind.
Up until now, Zen teachers, but not other Zen practitioners, have had organizations that extend across sanghas. That is changing!
The purpose of the newly formed Zen Learners Association is to create a place where all Zen learners, and especially those without other cross-sangha connections, can share collegiality. All Zen practitioners are welcome to join!
The liberation that Zen offers is real! Yet, as I explain in my book, Zen practice must be engaged with carefully.
“Practicing Safe Zen imparts a lesson we all will have to learn if we want to truly mature in our spiritual practice…” —Barry Magid, author, Ending the Pursuit of Happiness
“…This is a thoroughly engaging exploration based on deep knowledge of the tradition as well as contemporary research.” —Martine Batchelor, author, Principles of Zen
The book was released in June 2025, and is can be purchased from Indiepubs and other booksellers. With the publisher’s permission, I’ve reproduced (most of) the introduction below. I hope you will be inspired to read the rest!
Continue reading “Practicing Safe Zen”Those who lead Zen ceremonies are often thought to possess an elevated level of spiritual authority. Is this helpful?
The performance of rituals and ceremonies seems to be a common characteristic of most religions and spiritual practices, and Zen is no exception. Where does the power to perform such ceremonies come from? I think this question deserves a closer look.
Tradition suggests that teachings given by a transmitted Zen teacher carry a special mystical authority. But perhaps we should instead take our inspiration from Manjushri Bodhisattva.
In the Zen tradition in which I started, a senior student could give a “Dharma talk” but only a Sensei or Roshi could give a “teisho.” This latter type of teaching has a certain mystique about it. Should it?
The traditional Zen emphasis on patriarchal lineage is problematic. What if we recognized all who have nurtured us instead?
We are able to practice Zen today because of many the people, places, and communities that sustained the tradition in the past. We do well to remember and honor our Zen history. In the commercialized Western culture in which I live, it’s far too easy to become enamored of Zen as “the next new thing!” We may lean towards forgetting that it’s an ancient tradition.
Yet the way in which this honoring is traditionally done in Zen is highly problematic.
Continue reading “Ancestry Without Lineage”We have met with seemingly endless retaliation for calling attention to abuses of power in Zen. Yet we are surviving and flourishing.
It’s been a crazy time, since my last post. That post, and another attempt of mine to engage in discussion about abuses in Zen, brought forth an unexpected firestorm of angry responses from the three other teachers at Greater Boston Zen Center.
Continue reading “The State of the Sangha”
Julie A. Nelson 