(Note: Although there is some remaining quiet delayed echo from the original cassette tape, this talk by Lola about the basics of Zen meditation is still a good primer for a new student of the discipline)

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Zen Roshi Lola McDowell Lee, explores the essence of Zen practice, noting that while the era of the 1960s opened Western minds to Eastern traditions, it often lacked the rigorous supervision required for deep spiritual growth.

By the mid-80s, she observes a stabilization where Zen schools (Soto and Rinzai) have established roots, offering methods developed by Chinese and Japanese masters to help individuals realize a state of unity with the absolute.

Lola explains that Zen meditation is not an abstract concept but a grounded practice. It begins with the physical act of sitting (Asana). By adopting a stable posture, on ...