Zen Buddhism has two schools; Rinzi, with the classic Koans ( stupid questions) and Soto, a much gentler guide of inuitive search. Survival practise and formal instruction mirrors the two schools closely. Some instructors like to watch students fail, get miserable and struggle. Well and good, it gives a sense of reallity and potential for disaster. You can do this by going out nekkid into the wilderness, catch West Nile Virus from multiple mosquito bites and crawl back to a life of urban security, vowing never to go near even a golf course after dark. Or, you can study under folks that demonstrate the right way and see that you can master the skills. There is no reason not to practise as others suggest with backups on hand. We all fail. Suffering through a rainy night eating a half frozen MRE doesn't have to be part of the failure. My first Rinzi master asked new students various Koans. When they failed, he slapped them on the face. He asked me " what is sound of one hand clapping." I demonstrated by slapping him. My new Soto Roshi took us for walking meditations through the Tea Garden in San Francisco. He said I dawdled, looked at clouds ,pretty women and was undisciplined- the perfect student . Just get out there <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />