Shinzen Young
Encyclopedia
is an American meditation teacher. He leads residential meditation retreats for students interested in learning the Vipassana
(mindfulness) tradition of Buddhism. Although Vipassana
is traditionally a Theravada
technique, Shinzen was originally ordained in Japan
as a monk in the Shingon (Japanese Vajrayana
) tradition. He has studied and practiced extensively in other traditions, including Zen
and Native American traditions.
He frequently uses concepts from mathematics as a metaphor to illustrate the abstract concepts of meditation. As a result, his teachings tend to be popular among academics and professionals. His interest in integrating meditation with scientific paradigms has led to collaborations with neuroscientists at UCLA and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is working on various ways to bring a secular mindfulness practice to a wider
audience, using revamped terminology and techniques and automated expert systems.
Vipassana
Vipassanā or vipaśyanā in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the true nature of reality. A regular practitioner of Vipassana is known as a Vipassi . Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha...
(mindfulness) tradition of Buddhism. Although Vipassana
Vipassana
Vipassanā or vipaśyanā in the Buddhist tradition means insight into the true nature of reality. A regular practitioner of Vipassana is known as a Vipassi . Vipassana is one of the world's most ancient techniques of meditation, the inception of which is attributed to Gautama Buddha...
is traditionally a Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
technique, Shinzen was originally ordained in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
as a monk in the Shingon (Japanese Vajrayana
Vajrayana
Vajrayāna Buddhism is also known as Tantric Buddhism, Tantrayāna, Mantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Esoteric Buddhism and the Diamond Vehicle...
) tradition. He has studied and practiced extensively in other traditions, including Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
and Native American traditions.
He frequently uses concepts from mathematics as a metaphor to illustrate the abstract concepts of meditation. As a result, his teachings tend to be popular among academics and professionals. His interest in integrating meditation with scientific paradigms has led to collaborations with neuroscientists at UCLA and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He is working on various ways to bring a secular mindfulness practice to a wider
audience, using revamped terminology and techniques and automated expert systems.
Personal Life
Shinzen was born Steve Young in Los Angeles, California. He had a strong interest in Japanese language and Asian culture in high school, which led to him living as an exchange student in Japan. There he was exposed to Buddhism and Buddhist teachers, which eventually led him to become a monk.Books
- Break Through Pain: A Step-by-Step Mindfulness Meditation Program for Transforming Chronic and Acute Pain (2006) ISBN 1-59179-199-5
- Emotional Healing through Mindfulness Meditation: Stories and Meditations for Women Seeking Wholeness (2002) ISBN 0-89281-998-7
- The Beginner's Guide to Meditation (2002) ISBN 1-56455-971-8
Audio publications
- The Science of Enlightenment (2005) ISBN 1-59179-232-0
- Pain Relief (2004) ISBN 1-59179-180-4
- Beginner's Mind: 3 Classic Meditation Practices Especially for Beginners (1999) ISBN 1-56455-733-2
- Break Through Difficult Emotions: How to Transform Painful Feelings With Mindfulness Meditation (1997) ISBN 1-56455-441-4
- Break Through Pain: How to Relieve Pain Using Powerful Meditation Techniques (1997) ISBN 1-56455-365-5
- Meditation in the Zone: How to Turn Your Workout into a High-Quality Meditation (1996) ISBN 1-56455-392-2
- Five Classic Meditations: Mantra, Vipassana, Karma Yoga, Loving Kindness, Kabbalah (1990) ISBN 1-55927-035-7 (2004) ISBN 1-59397-521-X
External links
- Shinzen Young's Website - This site has a broad range of theoretical and practice focussed articles and audio dharma talks. Last updated late 2008.
- Basic Mindfulness Home Practice Program - The site offers detailed information on Shinzen's newest formulation of his practice - The 5 Ways.
- Expand/Contract - A YouTube Channel with extensive range of recent teaching videos by Shinzen. New videos added regularly.
- Video Interviews with Shinzen - Conducted by Stephanie Nash.
- Audio Interviews with Shinzen - Also conducted by Stephanie Nash ("The 4th Dimension of Spirituality" and "The 5 WAYS: 5 Techniques that are Strategies for the Spiritual Path".
- Audio Interview Series on Buddhist Geeks
- On Enlightenment - An interview with Shinzen Young by Har-Prakash Khalsa.
- A student's blog