Bon Soeng
Zen Master
Empty Gate Zen Center
San Francisco, CA USA
“The biggest wisdom really comes from not knowing; if you admit you don't know, then you're willing to look.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationBon Soeng
Milestones
My road in life has been direct.
When he was 14, he realized he was "living a life that was someone else's idea."
Didn't want to go to college; parents made him a deal: he'd finish his education, then be free to do whatever he wanted.
Moved to a Zen Buddhist farm in Northern California, his first encounter with Buddhism.
First Buddhist text he read, he found himself nodding over and over again, going, "Yes, this is what I think, too."
Had seen his father's disconnection from world of physical labor; decided to go the opposite route, became a carpenter.
People kept telling him he'd be a good psychotherapist-knew he wanted to bring Buddhism to the "regular world," therapy could be the link.
Says it's unrealistic to want to be happy all the time: "You're not gonna want to go to work some days-that's just how it is."
It's helpful to find a mentor who can act as a "mirror," not someone who tells you what to do, but rather shows you who you are.
Keep following my journey
Career
Zen Master
I'm a guiding zen teacher and lead people through meditation teachings and zen retreats.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Non-Profit Organizations
Philosophy & Religion
Teaching / Mentoring
Interviewed By
San Francisco
As their five weeks on the road wind down, the Roadtrip Nation team heads toward San Francisco and interviews Author and Political Analyst Michael Parenti, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, and Zen Master Bon Soeng of the Empty Gate Zen Center. As they prepare to part ways, Sean, Tim and Christina talk about what they've learned, and Tim realizes there's lots to think about, but nothing to worry about.
