The Backyard Buddhist
“Darren (So Mushin) Simpson, a novice in the lineage of Matsuoka Roshi, returns to Zen after decades in Christian ministry. With roots at the Atlanta Soto Zen Center, he now trains under Elliston Roshi, embracing the Dharma name So Mushin.”
| Platform |  | Pricing | Freemium | Publishes | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 180 | Founded | 10 months ago | Last Issue | 7 days ago |
| Active | |||||
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thebackyardbuddhist.substack.comLatest Issues
On the Turning Away
by The Backyard Buddhist
Twenty-five years.
It seems almost impossible to say that.
Twenty-five years ago, on an ordinary September morning, people went to work.
They made coffee.
They caught trains.
They kissed husbands and wives goo...
Straight Through the Front Door
Straight Through the Front Door
Zen and the Direct Way to Awakening
By The Backyard Buddhist
There is an old four-line description of Zen that gets tossed around quite a bit:
A special transmission outside the scriptures.
Not dep...
The Mind That Was Never Born
A Dharma Talk from The Backyard Buddhist
There is a particular occupational hazard that comes with practicing Zen.
We can make it complicated.
Very complicated.
We can read sutras.
Read commentaries on the sutras.
Read commentaries on...
The Red-Bearded Barbarian & the Grave Precepts
by The Backyard Buddhist
When most of us think about bodhidharma, we probably picture that wonderfully grumpy-looking fellow staring out from some old Chinese or Japanese painting. Big eyes, bushy eyebrows, an enormous beard, and an expre...
Sparing the Dharma Assets
There’s a phrase in the Zen precepts that sounds, at first hearing, a little like something the treasurer might bring up at a board meeting. Do not spare the Dharma assets. Assets? That sounds suspiciously like we’re about to discuss checki...
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| Subscribers | Engagement | 79 | Monthly Web Visits | ||
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| Accepts Sponsors | Estimated Cost per Ad | ||||
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Authors
The writers behind this newsletter.
The Backyard Buddhist offers accessible reflections on Zen practice, Buddhist philosophy, compassion, and everyday awakening—bringing ancient wisdom into modern life with clarity, kindness, and humor.
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