Praise for Practicing Safe Zen

“A must-read manual, born of the author’s long personal experience with misconduct, for how to protect yourself and your sangha from abuse of power, beginning with how to approach and engage safely and wisely with the teachings. Nelson identifies the problem of sexual misconduct in Buddhist communities as rooted in more than one factor, including human psychology, institutional structure and the balance of power. This book belongs on the front shelf of every Zen Center.” —Willa Blythe Baker, author, The Wakeful Body

"Practicing Safe Zen fills me with gratitude, because here at last, in clear and compelling language, is precisely the book we need for addressing teachers’ abuses of power, sex, and money, and for building resilient sanghas that exemplify both compassion and accountability. Julie Seido Nelson's vitally important book should be read by every Zen teacher, board member, and student." —Rev. Steve Kanji Ruhl, author, Appalachian Zen

Practicing Safe Zen dives deep into what every sangha member and especially every person of authority in a sangha must keep in mind. Watch out! Be aware of the perils of cultishness, the pitfalls of spiritual bypassing, the poison of thinking you have arrived, the hazard of minimization and much more! This is an important read for anyone immersed in Zen community and practice." —Genjo Marinello, author, Reflections in Awakening and Maturity 

“In this important work, Julie Nelson points out the underlying problems, how Zen Centers go astray, how practitioners suffer and how to have a healthier practice place." —Grace Schireson, author, Zen Women 

"Curious about Zen? Serious about Zen? Either way, read Julie Nelson’s edifying and empowering book. It’s a vital companion for anyone interested in a Zen path." —Scott Edelstein, author, Sex and the Spiritual Teacher

“This is a reflective and challenging read, questioning authority, tradition and lineages. Is Zen beyond conditions or must one take into account the conditions in which Zen is practiced? This is a thoroughly engaging exploration based on deep knowledge of the tradition as well as contemporary research." —Martine Batchelor, author, Principles of Zen

"Practicing Safe Zen imparts a lesson we all will have to learn if we want to truly mature in our spiritual practice. It asks us to face the emotionally difficult reality of our own idealizations and subsequent disillusionment... Nelson takes us through the history of one Zen community torn apart by scandal and teacher misconduct. Yet she also tells the story of how that community has tried to put itself back together, with shared communal responsibility taking the place of hierarchy, authority and submission. Hers is a Zen that has the potential to outlive—and outgrow—our fantasies of perfectly enlightened, Yoda-like Masters". —Barry Magid, author, Ending the Pursuit of Happiness

Monkfish Book Publishing Company Available June 10, 2025