Genjo Marinello symbolically reads and fans the Tripitaka, the collection of the Buddha’s teachings, for New Year’s Day ceremony. Carolyn Josen leads the chanting.
Photos by: Kimberly Ivy. Chobo-Ji Zen Temple Collection, SDI Press – cover design and book layout by Matthew Whitney.

My first book, “Reflections on Awakening and Maturity for Spiritual Companions,” has recently been published by SDI (Spiritual Directors International) press. It is available from the publisher or Amazon.

Genjo Marinello tapped his experience for “Reflections on Awakening and Maturity for Spiritual Companions,” his first book.

I wrote this book to chronicle a bit of what I’ve learned from knowing and working with my most prominent spiritual companions during 65 orbits around the sun. Though I introduce many of them, and share some anecdotes about my journeys with them, mostly I share how these encounters became stepping stones in the unfolding journey of my life.

 Each deep human encounter becomes a catalyst for our growth. This book reveals some of the lessons I’ve gleaned along the Way. Some insights arose from the briefest of encounters. Some insights arose from deep investigation of ancient masters long dead. Many of the lessons arose from hitting the rocks of immaturity hidden in myself, and in the spiritual teachers with whom I have associated deeply.

Randel Daigetsu Tanaba pours sweet tea over the icon of baby Buddha, representing the ambrosial nectar rain that fell on the Buddha’s birthday.

As you may be aware, I am abbot of the Seattle Zen Temple and Residential Practice Center – Chobo-Ji. I began my Zen training in 1975, moved to Seattle as a VISTA volunteer in 1976, was ordained in 1980, became Chobo-Ji’s second abbot in 1999, and became a dharma heir in my lineage of Rinzai Zen in 2008.

In the past I have served as the volunteer Buddhist pastor at the Twin Rivers Correction center, and have served as adjunct faculty at Antioch University. Today, among other things, I sit on the interfaith leadership council of Washington’s Faith Action Network.

Marinello on a hike at Saltwater State Park in Des Moines.

What you might not know is that I am also a Quaker, psychotherapist and certificated spiritual director. In the book I draw on this background to explore the difference between awakening and maturity.

Most of the ancient wisdom I try to elucidate about spiritual development can be readily found in both Zen and Christian perspectives. A key question is: can there be awakening without maturity?

The stone walkways behind Chobo-Ji.

As I see it, awakening alone is only a foothold on the endless path of maturation. If we aren’t always beginning just where we are, we have been sidetracked into arrogance, ignorance or spiritual bypassing.

The path towards individuation, awakening and maturity is impossible without companions. For better and worse our maturation depends on our relationship to significant family members, teachers, and mentors.

Part of Chobo-Ji’s beautiful gardens.

If we are lucky, we will find spiritual guides who mirror our shortcomings, are honest about their own, and point the way toward tapping wisdom and expressing compassion. A big part of any spiritual companion relationship is assessing where we are in our own unfolding spiritual journey, where we have been, and where we may need to deepen or explore.

Spiritual companions are the best resource possible when it comes to dealing with the fear and the dark nights that we all face from time to time. Spiritual companions provide a bridge from our fear to beyond fear. They offer a mirror to our deep-rooted nature.

No one can grow and learn for us. However, our teachers may suggest what to explore, and may point to what we can’t know but can learn to feel. I hope you will consider exploring this book. For those of you who do read it, I would very much appreciate your thoughts and comments.