--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are monasteries in Japan where they…" description: "\"There are monasteries in Japan where they teach Zen with rules, more rules than you can imagine, and you might feel comfortable with that. I don't teac..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/frederick-lenz-8_comfortable_there-are-monasteries-in-japan-where-the_712238.jpg" --- # There are monasteries in Japan where they teach Zen with… ![“There are monasteries in Japan where they teach Zen with rules, more rules than you can imagine, and you might feel comfortable with that. I don't teach that type of Zen.” quote by Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/frederick-lenz-8_comfortable_there-are-monasteries-in-japan-where-the_712238.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/frederick-lenz-8_comfortable_there-are-monasteries-in-japan-where-the_712238.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/frederick-lenz-8_comfortable_there-are-monasteries-in-japan-where-the_712238.jpg) > “There are monasteries in Japan where they teach Zen with rules, more rules than you can imagine, and you might feel comfortable with that. I don't teach that type of Zen.” [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He contrasts rule‑bound Zen with a freer approach, warning that excessive rules can stifle true understanding. **In simple terms:** Too many rules hinder real Zen learning. Key Takeaway Embrace flexible practice. Themes spirituality tradition freedom Mood thoughtful critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - meditation groups - spiritual retreats - teaching workshops Key Concepts Zen Buddhism pedagogy mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do rules help or hinder your practice? - Can you find a middle ground? A Different Perspective Some may find structure helpful; balance is needed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Comfortable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comfortable/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Imagine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagine/) [Introduction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introduction/) [Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan/) [Japan Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/japan-teach-5615936/) [Meditation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meditation/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Monasteries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monasteries/) [Monasteries Japan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monasteries-japan-5615937/) [Teach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach/) [Teach Zen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teach-zen-865517/) [Type](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type/) [Type Zen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/type-zen-5615935/) [Zen Rules](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/zen-rules-475981/) ## Related quotes > [Tantric Zen is the original Zen, Zen without rules, Zen without form. Zen can certainly take rules and form. So Tantric Zen might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/tantric-zen-is-the-original-zen-zen-without-rules-zen-without-form/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I teach Zen, tantric mysticism, jnana yoga, bhakti yoga, Tibetan mysticism, occultism and psychic development. I also teach poetry and literature, film and many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-teach-zen-tantric-mysticism-jnana-yoga-bhakti-yoga-tibetan/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If I am asked If I am asked, then, what Zen teaches, I would answer, Zen teaches nothing. Whatever teachings there are in Zen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/if-i-am-asked-if-i-am-asked-then-what-zen-teaches-i-would-answer-zen/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [“Near Tokyo lived a great Samurai warrior, now old, who decided to teach Zen Buddhism to young people. In spite of his age, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/near-tokyo-lived-a-great-samurai-warrior-now-old-who-decided-to-teach/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [We teach ourselves; Zen merely points the way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-t-suzuki/we-teach-ourselves-zen-merely-points-the-way/) [D.T. Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-t-suzuki/) > [The spirit of the West, of America, is different than the East. The cultural conditioning is very different. It seems to be harder for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-spirit-of-the-west-of-america-is-different-than-the-east-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You might say living in a monastery cuts down the commutation time. That alone gives you a couple extra hours a day to meditate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-might-say-living-in-a-monastery-cuts-down-the-commutation-time/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [When you visit the Zen Monasteries, one of the first things required is that you bring a donation. They have to pay for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-you-visit-the-zen-monasteries-one-of-the-first-things-required/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I recommend computer science to people who practice meditation. The mental structures that are used in computer science are very similar exercises done in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-recommend-computer-science-to-people-who-practice-meditation-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [In the old days, Zen was not really practiced so much in a monastery. The Zen Master usually lived up on a top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/in-the-old-days-zen-was-not-really-practiced-so-much-in-a-monastery/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Work sustains us as bodies and it consumes a great deal of energy. The conservation of energy is the component theme of Buddhist practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/work-sustains-us-as-bodies-and-it-consumes-a-great-deal-of-energy-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [There are two primary ways of studying Zen. Either an individual will enter into a Zen monastery and study with a Zen master there,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-two-primary-ways-of-studying-zen-either-an-individual-will/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think one can advance faster outside a monastery if you use the experiences of daily life to advance yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-one-can-advance-faster-outside-a-monastery-if-you-use-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Combine meditation with career as a yoga. You will find that your practice will not be any less powerful than a person who lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/combine-meditation-with-career-as-a-yoga-you-will-find-that-your/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The person who's in the Zen monastery, who's doing a kind of poor job at meditating and a half-ass job cleaning the gardens is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-person-who-s-in-the-zen-monastery-who-s-doing-a-kind-of-poor-job/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) ## More by Frederick Lenz > [There are places that are very draining. There are places where there is another dimensional crossover but to a dimension that is not powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/there-are-places-that-are-very-draining-there-are-places-where-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You can draw power from everything in your life. In order to do that, everything has to be set up in a proper way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-can-draw-power-from-everything-in-your-life-in-order-to-do-that/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Nirvana is a word that means enlightenment, being beyond the illusion of birth and death, the illusion of pain, the illusion of love, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/nirvana-is-a-word-that-means-enlightenment-being-beyond-the-illusion/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I think the most miraculous thing is learning. I get out of the way and let the students learn. Then you get to watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/i-think-the-most-miraculous-thing-is-learning-i-get-out-of-the-way/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [A human being can only absorb a small amount of the mystical kundalini, you can be exposed again and again to it, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/a-human-being-can-only-absorb-a-small-amount-of-the-mystical/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The sound man, immune as to a sacrifice of straw dogs, faces the passing human generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-sound-man-immune-as-to-a-sacrifice-of-straw-dogs-faces-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Karma means changing planes of reality or changing fields of attention. There will be perhaps a resulting physical action stemming from the change of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/karma-means-changing-planes-of-reality-or-changing-fields-of/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Why waste your time being around people who drag you down? You don't live forever, at least in this life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/why-waste-your-time-being-around-people-who-drag-you-down-you-don-t/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Everybody here is so caught up in the game of life they don't see death. They don't see beyond their deaths. 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