# Food Is The Foundation Of Our Mindfulness: Zen Monk Masaki Matsubara

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/japan-eats-1057505/food-is-the-foundation-of-our-mindfulness-zen-monk-masaki-matsubara
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/japan-eats-1057505/food-is-the-foundation-of-our-mindfulness-zen-monk-masaki-matsubara.md
Podcast: [Japan Eats!](https://stenobird.com/podcast/japan-eats-1057505)
Published: 2026-02-20T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.art19.com/episodes/16a435c2-9d52-4f03-a897-b37f3624fbda.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0
Audio file: https://rss.art19.com/episodes/16a435c2-9d52-4f03-a897-b37f3624fbda.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0
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Duration seconds: 2994

## Resource

Our guest is Reverend&nbsp;Dr. Masaki Matsubara, who is an eighteenth-generation Zen priest in the Japanese Rinzai tradition. His career is unique and impressive.&nbsp;Following his Zen monastic training in Heirinji Monastery in Japan, he moved to the US in 1999 to study at Cornell University, where he eventually earned a PhD in Asian religions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Since then, he has taught Buddhist studies at prominent institutions, including U.C. Berkeley, Stanford University, Cornell University, Brown University and the University of Tokyo.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also, Rev. Matsubara is&nbsp;the head abbot of Butsumoji Zen Temple in Chiba, Japan &nbsp; Reverend&nbsp;Matsubara joined us in Episode #377 in September 2025 and discussed important ideas underlying Japanese society, such as the true meaning of Zen and the difference between Zen and mindfulness. &nbsp; Now, he is back to talk about food in Zen practice.&nbsp;&nbsp;Generally speaking, in business organizations, the lower level of the hierarchy tends to be in charge of food matters.&nbsp;&nbsp;CEO’s would not choose and order lunch items for their employees, for instance.&nbsp; &nbsp; However, in Zen practice, preparing and serving meals is a very important part of training and the cook is called Tenzo.&nbsp;&nbsp;The idea of prioritizing meal preparation, as much as meditation and studying Buddhism, came from the classic book&nbsp; Tenzo Kyokun,&nbsp; written by&nbsp;the&nbsp;Japanese Zen Buddhist master Dogen in 1237.&nbsp;&nbsp;The book is old and sounds aloof from our daily lives, but there are many valuable lessons for living mindfully in our modern lifestyle.&nbsp; &nbsp; In this episode, we will discuss why food is essential in Zen practice, the precious lessons in the book&nbsp; Tenzo Kyokun , how you can practice a mind…

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