Integrating Eastern and Western Spiritual Traditions

1. Integrating Eastern and Western Spiritual Traditions Banyen: What first led you to Dharma teachings? In this Banyen interview, Doug Sensei and Catherine spoke with us about their innovative teaching work, the blending of Eastern and Western traditions, and the integration of the shadow aspects of our psyches for transformation. Banyen: Doug Duncan Sensei and Catherine Pawasarat, how did you first arrive at the Dharma teachings? Doug Duncan: In my 20s, I traveled around Europe and Asia for a year, which I found life-changing. Returning to Canada, all my friends were doing the same things as when I left. I was searching for something more, something that integrated the culture shock when I realized my home world, its values and priorities, weren’t those of the whole world. Dharma was the vehicle to begin the process of integrating that. Catherine Pawasarat: In my early 20s I moved to Japan, and without much of a inner compass I suffered a lot. I saw medical doctors in the US and they concluded I was extremely healthy, which made me interested in what the rational, “Western” mind doesn’t usually perceive. I started receiving acupuncture and studying tarot and astrology, which provided insight and relief. Later I became an ayahuascera and helped establish a community in Japan. I loved that path, and as an American woman the Latin American cultural framework presented some challenges for me. I met Doug Sensei nearly 20 years ago and I haven’t found anything more powerful and joyful than these teachings.

2. Banyen:How has your approach to teaching paths of Awakening changed and evolved over the decades? Doug Duncan: Mine started out including both Western and Eastern methods, heavily focused on meditation and the yogic path. The monastic path functions through the structure of a monastery, whereas the yogic path is more about a relationship with a teacher, and tends to exist outside any particular form. In most recent years, I’ve come to embrace more the karma yogic path (the path of selfless service) and dharma training, which is embodied in a new version of the monastic tradition, which we’re calling the virtual monastery. It lacks the rigidity of traditional monastic environments, but we think embodies the values and ideals of the Aquarian Age. Catherine Pawasarat: When I started studying with Doug Sensei 18 years ago, we focused on individuals awakening in this lifetime, for the benefit of all beings. Since we launched our retreat center, Clear Sky, in the BC Rockies 10 years ago, we’ve focused a lot more on awakening in community and the contemporary relevance of that. This is most easily seen in our quadruple bottom line: a generative approach to spirituality, ecology, society and finance. We’re constantly refining our teachings and methods to ensure that the awakening process remains vibrant and relevant. Banyen:What first led you to Dharma teachings?

3. In this Banyen interview, Doug Sensei and Catherine spoke with us about their innovative teaching work, the blending of Eastern and Western traditions, and the integration of the shadow aspects of our psyches for transformation. Banyen:Doug Duncan Sensei and Catherine Pawasarat, how did you first arrive at the Dharma teachings? Doug Duncan: In my 20s, I traveled around Europe and Asia for a year, which I found life-changing. Returning to Canada, all my friends were doing the same things as when I left. I was searching for something more, something that integrated the culture shock when I realized my home world, its values and priorities, weren’t those of the whole world. Dharma was the vehicle to begin the process of integrating that. Catherine Pawasarat: In my early 20s I moved to Japan, and without much of a inner compass I suffered a lot. I saw medical doctors in the US and they concluded I was extremely healthy, which made me interested in what the rational, “Western” mind doesn’t usually perceive. I started receiving acupuncture and studying tarot and astrology, which provided insight and relief. Later I became an ayahuascera and helped establish a community in Japan. I loved that path, and as an American woman the Latin American cultural framework presented some challenges for me. I met Doug Sensei nearly 20 years ago and I haven’t found anything more powerful and joyful than these teachings. Banyen: How has your approach to teaching paths of Awakening changed and evolved over the decades? Doug Duncan: Mine started out including both Western and Eastern methods, heavily focused on meditation and the yogic path. The monastic path functions through the structure of a monastery, whereas the yogic path is more about a relationship with a teacher, and tends to exist outside any particular form. In most recent years, I’ve come to embrace more the karma yogic path (the path of selfless service) and dharma training, which is embodied in a new version of the monastic tradition, which we’re calling the virtual monastery. It lacks the rigidity of traditional monastic environments, but we think embodies the values and ideals of the Aquarian Age.

4. Catherine Pawasarat: When I started studying with Doug Sensei 18 years ago, we focused on individuals awakening in this lifetime, for the benefit of all beings. Since we launched our retreat center, Clear Sky, in the BC Rockies 10 years ago, we’ve focused a lot more on awakening in community and the contemporary relevance of that. This is most easily seen in our quadruple bottom line: a generative approach to spirituality, ecology, society and finance. We’re constantly refining our teachings and methods to ensure that the awakening process remains vibrant and relevant.