Lama Surya Das, born a Jewish New Yorker, has spent 30 years studying Tibetan and Zen Buddhism. In this interview with Michael Toms of New Dimensions, he discusses the religion that is now being practiced by more than five million Americans. The ideal is to bring down the house that ego built and to get in touch with the natural Buddha within — our spiritual nature.
Surya Das talks about the eight steps to enlightenment and the three major aspects of Tibetan teachings — wisdom training, ethics training, and meditative training. The author of Awakening the Buddha Within celebrates what he sees as the lineaments of an American brand of Buddhism that is demystified, non-sectarian, psychological, gender equal, and egalitarian.