Permission to be Powerful

Permission to be Powerful

Why I Let Zen Masters Beat Me With Sticks

Modern Monk: Lessons in Stillness, Strength, and Simplicity

Tony V.'s avatar
Tony V.
Feb 13, 2025
∙ Paid

Dear Permission to be Powerful Reader,

Woosh, woosh…

The stick cracks against my shoulders—twice. It’s quick, but the jolt lingers.

The monk moves on to the next person.

I visit Chapin Mill, a Buddhist monastery in Batavia, New York, every few months.

For two days, I live like a real monk. Being a member of this secret society is like attending Buddhist Har…

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