We’ve always been told that spirituality is about “fitting in” —being soft-spoken, calm, and traditional.

But what if your soul  is louder? What if you’re a misfit?

In”Hard core Zen,” Brad Warner makes a point  that most spiritual books are afraid to make.

One of the most powerful moments in the book is when he describes his own journey of isolation: being rejected by the conservatives for not having the appearance the manners and the looks they expected from him, but then—as his true personality began to form—being rejected by the punk scene too.This is one of the greatest spiritual tests.
 A big part of the book is about the Spiritual Side of “Not Belonging”.
Most people think  being “Punk” or “Zen” is about joining a club. Warner argues it’s actually about Self-Sovereignty.

Even “rebellious” groups like the punk scene can become dogmatic short sighted and judgmental like cults.