Although deeply rooted in the Buddha’s wisdom, based on Cuong Lu’s Zen training, a No Word monk does not only meditate in the zendo (meditation hall) or while sitting cross-legged on a cushion. No Word Zen takes all forms and no form at the same time. A No Word monastic lives in society while practicing the way of invisibility, embodying the insight of the tradition without wearing it on his sleeve. A No Word monk always helps those who are struggling with pain, grief, stress, or burnout. It isn’t the robes, it’s the compassion that makes someone a No Word monk, a “true person of no rank.”

— Cuong Lu