Spitting Out the Bones
“You have to swallow the whole fish,” Zen Master Taizan Maezumi told his students, “and then spit out the bones.” First absorb the tradition, endure the hardships of Zen training, then you can spend the rest of your life separating the real treasure from the culture it came in — learning what you can let go of and what is truly yours.
Spitting Out the Bones is Genpo Roshi’s story of his uplifting, exhilarating, and humbling journey, including the last five years rising from the ashes of his very public fall from grace, and a candid exploration of the challenge of bringing the essence of the great tradition he inherited to life in the West.
$12
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Stories of Transformation
“Following Roshi on his European tour was groundbreaking. He truly embodies the hazy moon, transcending light and dark, sanity and madness. I witnessed him teach with full force—whether seated, napping, or walking. The mornings spent in Zazen with him were most powerful, as he embodied a state of being both alive and dead. His sharing of a lifetime of practice, from breakthroughs to breakdowns, was profoundly touching. Roshi teaches with rawness and humanity that resonate deeply. The entire month was a strong pull to let go of everything I thought I knew about Zen, the world, and myself. How wonderful!”
“A powerful experience of radical honesty and self-disclosure from both Roshi and the Sangha. It confirmed my own path of teaching with openness and vulnerability, helping me and others move deeper into self-acceptance. Something remarkable happens when you simply show up, question without judgment, and allow the process to unfold.”
“A magical experience—joyful, inspiring, and crystal clear. His presence was electrifying, blending wisdom, humor, and performance into an unforgettable experience that touched my heart and filled me with energy, love, and understanding.”
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