The Basic Teachings of Zen Meditation. Presented on June 29, 1986

About this episode

Lola McDowell Lee discusses the fundamentals of Zen meditation and its significance in achieving spiritual growth.

(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) --- 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, one creates a triangle of solidity that allows the practitioner to relax into themselves. This physical stillness is the prerequisite for the mental work of observing the breath. Lola shares the parable of the minister trapped in a tower. Just as the minister used a series of increasingly stronger threads—from silk to rope—to escape, the practitioner uses the…

People in this episode

Host: Lola McDowell Lee

Topics covered

• Zen meditation
• spiritual growth
• Eastern traditions
• mindfulness
• meditation techniques

Keywords

• Zen
• meditation
• spirituality
• breath observation
• mindfulness
• 1960s
• Eastern traditions

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Soto, Rinzai

Books & works: Zen meditation

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• Accumulating knowledge versus attaining true wisdom. June 22, 1986 · April 11, 2026 · 1h 1m
• The Lesson of True Listening. June 15, 1986 · April 1, 2026 · 58 min
• An exploration of the subject of death. Delivered Jun 8, 1986 · March 12, 2026 · 60 min