The spirit of the West, of America, is different than the East. The cultural conditioning is very different. It seems to be harder for people to work in teams, more difficult for people here to live in harmony, in a monastery.

A Zen master is someone whose life is one with enlightenment and self-discovery. They can never be separated from that. They've been essentially mastered by Zen.

In the Far East, studying yoga is comparable to a mixture of attending one of the best Western universities, and of being an intrepid explorer.

The way people age is not the way people age ... everyone is draining everyone!

Some people are so solemn. They take their practice so seriously, that when the moment comes to let go of it, they can't.

Ideally, you would live in an area that is not necessarily in the middle of the country, out in the woods, because you can isolate yourself there and get stuck in your own thoughts.

One evening you may learn about enlightenment, koans, meditation and personal power.