Born in the USA....

A nice overview piece that looks at the growth of an American Zen, ranging from Manhattan's Village Zendo to such, implicit, koans as does hardcore rap have a place in the dharma, with stops in Springsteenville along the way.

While the 1960s saw Zen emerge in the United States as a countercultural religion under the guidance of Japanese teachers, today American Zen practitioners are a growing influence in religious life. Although no hard numbers exist, many Zen centers report seeing their membership increase substantially in the last decade, and new centers are popping up across the country. Much different from the male-dominated, hierarchical and highly monastic zendos in Japan, these centers have blended elements like lay participation, female leadership and social activism to create an American form of an ancient practice.

Will the lotus take root upon the rock?