In this episode of Crossing Faiths, John Pinna speaks with Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, the Abbot of the Zen Mountain Monastery, about the intersection of traditional Buddhist practice and modern American life. Shugen elucidates the role of an Abbot as both a spiritual teacher and administrator before diving into core Buddhist concepts, explaining how the suffering caused by clinging to a permanent sense of self can be alleviated through the "Middle Way" and non-attachment. The conversation explores Shugen’s personal journey, from his upbringing in Atlanta during the Civil Rights movement—where the societal silence regarding segregation prompted his deep questioning of culture and history—to his transition from a budding career in mathematics and music to a disciplined monastic life in the Hudson Valley. They conclude by discussing the delicate balance between maintaining a cloistered environment for deep meditation and fulfilling the Bodhisattva vow of service, highlighting the monastery's efforts to engage with the wider community through social justice initiatives and anti-bias training.
Geoffrey Shugen Arnold, Roshi is the Head of the Mountains and Rivers Order and Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery. Shugen entered full-time residential training in 1986 after studying mathematics and receiving a degree in classical music. He received dharma transmission from John Daido Loori, Roshi in 1997. His teachings on Zen, social justice and environmental stewardship have appeared in various Buddhist journals, and The Best Buddhist Writing 2009 (Shambhala Publications). His book of poetry, O, Beautiful End, a collection of Zen memorial poems, was published in 2012.