Paths of Practice with Paula Lazarz

Paths of Practice with Paula Lazarz

Author: Vincent Moore October 22, 2025 Duration: 52:25

Rev. Shudo Paula Lazarz is a 6th degree Black Sash in Shaolin Kung Fu and an ordained priest in the Soto Zen lineage of Shunryu Suzuki. Her over two decades of study in the martial arts and Buddhist practice has been an exploration of the idea of the historical Shaolin Temple, culminating in Warrior’s Path Buddhist Academy. Paula is a co-owner of Energy Fitness, Inc., Head Instructor at HealthKick Kung Fu and a Practice Leader at Ancient Dragon Zen Gate.

For more information about Paula and the above organizations, please see the following links:

Ancient Dragon Zen Gate

https://www.ancientdragon.org

Warrior's Path Buddhist Academy 

https://warriorspathacademy.org

HealthKick Kung Fu 

https://healthkickkungfu.com

We discussed how practicing martial arts in tandem with Chan/Zen peels back the onion layers of our humanity and reveals our true nature, feeling a sense of homecoming while visiting Shaolin Temple as well as Green Dragon Temple/Green Gulch Farm, lay ordination and female representation in sangha leadership, and the importance of remembering that difficulty is part of the training.


Vincent Moore hosts Paths of Practice: Conversations on Journeys into Buddhism, a space where personal stories take center stage. Each episode is built around a simple, profound question: what does it actually look like to live with Buddhist teachings? You’ll hear from people whose lives have been shaped by this path, from long-time monastics and dedicated lay practitioners to those who have just felt a curious pull toward mindfulness and compassion. The conversations avoid dry theory, focusing instead on the messy, human, and often surprising realities of integrating practice into daily life-through family, work, doubt, and discovery. This podcast operates on the belief that there are as many ways to walk this road as there are people walking it, gently exploring that diversity one honest conversation at a time. It’s less about providing answers and more about sharing the map-making process itself, offering companionship and insight for anyone interested in the varied terrain of spiritual life.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Paths of Practice: Conversations on Journeys into Buddhism
Podcast Episodes
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