Matt, a skier who used to live in Utah, wrote in a great letter and asked some interesting questions, to which I responded below. Here's his letter- it's edited for length:
Hi Kristen- I didn't see much about you in the ski mags anymore- and knowing of your absolute strength on ski's- my wondering why led me to your site and thus your blog. What you do sounds absolutely great.
To my questions: I'm curious what is your idea of the creator, however personal or impersonal. And (this sounds confrontational but I assure you I don't mean it to be) since you say you don't prescribe to any religion at all but teach Zen Wisdom, how do you divorce the practice of Zen from the Buddhism. Is it possible that the connotation of the word religion is simply something you'd like people to avoid attaching to your philosophy? Thanks for taking the time to read my humble question. Sincerely matty lundquist.
Awesome letter. Here's my response:
Hi Matty, thanks for writing. I believe in the Big Bang and evolution, which I think is, at this point, undisputed in the science world. That's hard to ignore. So to answer your first question, no, I don't believe in a creator.
That's not to say that God doesn't exist, though. And before people freak out over the word God and stop reading, here me out. (yes, it is that kind of world).
To the Buddhists God is everyone and everything. To the Catholics God is separate from us, and the image of an older bearded man with flowing robes is hard to shake. To the Taoists God is that tree over there. Zen, of course, is housed and birthed in the religion of Buddhism, so it's easy to put it in the category of religion.
The best explanation of Zen I've heard though, is that while religions are studies of what the great masters taught- for example Buddhism is the study of what the Buddha taught. Catholicism is the study of what Jesus Christ taught. Islam is the study of what Mohammad taught. Taoism is the study of what nature teaches.- Zen is actually trying to FEEL what The Buddha Felt. Feel what Jesus felt. Feel what Mohammad felt. Feel what the trees feel.
So in many ways, "my philosophy" is not my philosophy at all- it's not exclusive to me or to Ski to Live or to Buddhism- it's the embracing of everyone's philosophy, including yours. And at the clinic or in private session, we don't study anything, we practice experientially.
Thus is the reason why we can run these clinics & how I can coach the intersection of sports, adventure and Zen, and manage to include all people, and all beliefs. I would never, ever presume to think that my way of being or believing is the only true way. I am but a single human being in a vast, and beautifully complicated world. So we don't teach anyone anything in these events, or steer anyone in any direction based on our own agendas. We facilitate people into their own recognitions and realizations.
Thank you again for writing Matt, and I hope you decide to join us for a clinic or for a private coaching event some day. I think you'll feel right at home.
