Vermont Zen startup days

 I was part of the zen startup in Vermont.  I didn't know I was though.  Those days it was just a few of us on the fringe of UVM.  Ahhh days of hiking trails and the long trail.   Before were hiking books - moments of spectacular beauty - green mountan lush forests.  Streams.  As pure as one could imagine or want.  Friendly vermonters that everyone waved to each other.  Always wave.

It was my magic mountain - paradies of God's country.  Back then it was before Shunruy Suzuki was well known before all that Richard Baker guck.  D.T. Suzuki alan watts, GRY SNYDER OF COURSE but then there the 3 pillars of zen by Philip Kapleu - with the teaching and process taught by Yasutani Roshi.  The true thunderous foundational moment of zen.  It was a revelation, inspiration but most importantly how to get started in zen where ghings could really be experienced first hand - no more reading about zen.

That went on for years - I literally mu'd my way through the end years of vermont - or my end years (6 years total).  A true collapse of an era - the shooting of Richie in Burlington - the economic downturns - what we were living was un-sustainable .  Fir there I wanted to go to sear - I got pointed to the coast guard instead of the merchant marine - I was warned that the MM was full of semi-criminals.  One of the best things that ever happened  for me - the experience of boot camp and working the koan - made it a very monastic disciplined and physical fit thing.

And uprightness in the service of the country.  I count this a a great blessing - I'm very grateful that I was able to get directed there.

Two years on a ship

Two years on a shore rescue center in Pureto Rico

Reality of non labeled sexual enjoyment - almost ruined.

Then Htfd State, Then Boston Digital and marriage to Hedy SwackhammerIt had always been about Dhyana - samadhi and asking mu.  There was no real in interest in vinaya and I always thought things were ok.  There was no emphasis with Fugen and Kuan Yin as this focus was mu.

There wer no centers back then - in fact the notion didn't even cross our minds  - there was some teachers - mostly in classes - otherwise - to the Library!!  No relying on any organization, just informal coming together of teachers and like minded students.  Looking back was I an anarchist or opposed to organizations? No - but this was the time of anti-establishmentarian sentiments - the power trips and ego stuff was to be avoided. Don't we wish the free days could be here?

Back then we didn't even know that we were outside the way it was suppossed to be - we just did the practice as best as we knew or learned about.  Gurus, Lamas, Roshis - back then I was clueless about it all and in fact, in hindsight, I think it was meant to be that way.