![\"zen](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/81\/2016\/12\/zen-wrapped-in-karma.jpg\")
<\/a>\nAt ten years old I was just told my blog\u00a0Monkey Mind is now one of the older continuing Zen\u00a0Buddhist blogs available. While a blog with the name \u201cmonkey mind,\u201d should be about a number of things, and is, Zen and Buddhism<\/a> remain central currents here and in my heart. <\/em><\/p>\n
Over these years I\u2019ve enjoyed following a number of other Zen Buddhist oriented blogs. Of course everything ends, and so have many of those that have enriched my life. This list is just a small bouquet of a baker\u2019s dozen that are active, or, at least I hope are, and which I commend to anyone looking at our living western Zen communities.<\/em><\/p>\n At the same time as I consider them, I notice how they aren\u2019t genuinely representative of our emerging Western Zen in several ways. For one if it were to look like our zendos there should be about equal numbers of women and men. Also, I am unaware of any current blog focused on Zen by a person of color. Actually, beyond blogging, the low numbers of practitioners of color is a significant problem for us, and a\u00a0subject\u00a0of reflection within our Western convert\u00a0sanghas. Here\u2019s one reflection on race and our convert communities<\/a>. I think it is\u00a0worth a read.<\/em><\/p>\n Zen and Related Blogs<\/strong><\/p>\n American Buddhist Perspectives<\/a>\u00a0(Buddhist scholar Justin Whitaker. Alright, not Zen, per se, but Buddhist, and near the top of my must reads.)<\/em><\/p>\n Angry Asian Buddhist<\/a> (Aaron Lee. Not Zen specifically. Irregular but worth waiting for. Has just announced a serious illness. Wishes for his healing\u2026)<\/p>\n Firefly Hall<\/a>\u00a0(By the wonderful Zen priest, and, yes, my first Dharma<\/a> heir Melissa Myozen Blacker. Not as frequent as I wish, but always worth reading.)<\/p>\n Hardcore Zen<\/a>\u00a0(I once described Zen priest Brad Warner as presenting \u201cZen at a full shout.\u201d He\u2019s mellowed a little over the years, but still provocative and worth reading.)<\/p>\n Karen Maezen Miller\u2019s Cheerio Road<\/a>\u00a0(Zen priest and author of some very good books.)<\/p>\n Lion\u2019s Roar<\/a> (Okay, not specifically Zen, either. But really good. Keeping up with Dharma news.)<\/p>\n My Journey of Conscience: a Zen Priest Tries to Save the World<\/a>\u00a0(Another Zen priest, Domyo Burke, my \u201cniece\u201d in the dharma.)<\/p>\n No Zen in the West<\/a> (by the Zen priests and brothers Hondo Dave Rutschman & Jiryu Mark Rutschman-Byler. Really, really good, but infrequent.<\/p>\n Nyoho Zen<\/a> (Zen priest Koun Franz. Brilliantly written, but I fear not very active of late. Still, great archive and links to the writer\u2019s current projects.)<\/p>\n 108zenbooks<\/a>\u00a0(Author and psychologist Lynette Monteiro. Again, not Zen specifically, but thoughtful and worth reading.)<\/p>\n Oxherding<\/a> (Zen teacher Barry Briggs, also does\u00a0Zen Women<\/a>. Neither are updated as frequently as I would like.)<\/p>\n That\u2019s So Zen<\/a> (Zen priest Gesshin Greenwood. not actually current, but so good I have to list & hope for more to come\u2026)<\/p>\n