5. ZalthoLIVE: Conditioning Leading to War, Finding a Way with Zen Practice

ZalthoLIVE - Claude AnShin Thomas

This talk was held in January 2022 online for a group of veterans who are working on the aspect of moral injury. Claude AnShin Thomas shares his experience for the first 30 minutes as it relates to his military service and his conditioning leading up to the Vietnam War. He also talks about how he found his way to Buddhist practice among several other topics.

Question and response starts at 30 minutes: Question 1: How did you come to the practice of Buddhism? (min 33) Question 2: Do you do any yoga? (min 43) Question 3: How do you train individuals in breathing meditation who can get potentially triggered by it such as snipers? (min 48) Question 4: I retired in 2018, and it feels like since then my post-traumatic stress has gotten worse. Have you heard experiences like this? Is this common? (min 53)

For more interesting information: https://zaltho.org/

If you want to ask a question: [e-mail]

Want to read up on this topic? Book recommendations:

• Bringing Meditation to Life - 108 Teachings on the Path of Zen Practice
• AT HELL'S GATE - A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace (Shambhala Publications 2003)

https://zaltho.org/en/media/books.html