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Post by silver on Nov 3, 2014 2:41:31 GMT -5
Hey thanks Bill, I appreciate your efforts on my behalf, very kind of you.
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Post by stardustpilgrim on Nov 4, 2014 19:07:20 GMT -5
Hey silver, when I read this thread Charlotte Joko Beck came to mind. She came through an authentic Zen tradition but has adapted Zen somewhat for the western mind. She has two excellent books, Everyday Zen, Love & Work, 1989 and Nothing Special, Living Zen, 1993. I would say start with Everyday Zen. She is just a pleasure to read, but tough on ego also. She quotes Eido Roshi: "This zendo is not a peaceful haven, but a furnace for the combustion of our egotistic delusions". What tools do we need to use? Only one. We've all heard of it, yet we use it very seldom. It's called attention.
Attention is the cutting, burning sword, and our practice is to use that sword as much as we can. None of us is very willing to use it; but when we do--even for a few minutes--some cutting and burning takes place. All practice aims to increase our ability to be attentive, not just in zazen but in every moment of our life. As we sit we grasp that our conceptual thought process is a fantasy; and the more we grasp this the more our ability to pay attention to reality increases. pg 32, Everyday Zen
Joko Beck appointed nine students to teach. I checked, one of these is Diane Eshin Rizzetto. She teaches at Bay Zen Center, Oakland Calif.
(I think Joko Beck has some stuff on youtube, but I haven't looked at any). ......Oh.....she died a couple of years ago.......
sdp
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Post by silver on Nov 4, 2014 19:35:50 GMT -5
Hey silver, when I read this thread Charlotte Joko Beck came to mind. She came through an authentic Zen tradition but has adapted Zen somewhat for the western mind. She has two excellent books, Everyday Zen, Love & Work, 1989 and Nothing Special, Living Zen, 1993. I would say start with Everyday Zen. She is just a pleasure to read, but tough on ego also. She quotes Eido Roshi: "This zendo is not a peaceful haven, but a furnace for the combustion of our egotistic delusions". What tools do we need to use? Only one. We've all heard of it, yet we use it very seldom. It's called attention. Attention is the cutting, burning sword, and our practice is to use that sword as much as we can. None of us is very willing to use it; but when we do--even for a few minutes--some cutting and burning takes place. All practice aims to increase our ability to be attentive, not just in zazen but in every moment of our life. As we sit we grasp that our conceptual thought process is a fantasy; and the more we grasp this the more our ability to pay attention to reality increases. pg 32, Everyday Zen Joko Beck appointed nine students to teach. I checked, one of these is Diane Eshin Rizzetto. She teaches at Bay Zen Center, Oakland Calif. (I think Joko Beck has some stuff on youtube, but I haven't looked at any). ......Oh.....she died a couple of years ago....... sdp Her book sounds right up my alley....I could use a little ego-taming. The practice of bringing attention back to one's breath throughout the day is very helpful - more than I realized, initially. I look forward to watching more videos, youtube, etc. because I just recently got at&t's U-Verse...haven't gotten used to having higher speed service. |
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Post by quinn on Nov 4, 2014 20:11:00 GMT -5
Hey silver, when I read this thread Charlotte Joko Beck came to mind. She came through an authentic Zen tradition but has adapted Zen somewhat for the western mind. She has two excellent books, Everyday Zen, Love & Work, 1989 and Nothing Special, Living Zen, 1993. I would say start with Everyday Zen. She is just a pleasure to read, but tough on ego also. She quotes Eido Roshi: "This zendo is not a peaceful haven, but a furnace for the combustion of our egotistic delusions". What tools do we need to use? Only one. We've all heard of it, yet we use it very seldom. It's called attention. Attention is the cutting, burning sword, and our practice is to use that sword as much as we can. None of us is very willing to use it; but when we do--even for a few minutes--some cutting and burning takes place. All practice aims to increase our ability to be attentive, not just in zazen but in every moment of our life. As we sit we grasp that our conceptual thought process is a fantasy; and the more we grasp this the more our ability to pay attention to reality increases. pg 32, Everyday Zen Joko Beck appointed nine students to teach. I checked, one of these is Diane Eshin Rizzetto. She teaches at Bay Zen Center, Oakland Calif. (I think Joko Beck has some stuff on youtube, but I haven't looked at any). ......Oh.....she died a couple of years ago....... sdp Hey, sdp - I keep Everyday Zen in my car to pull out when I stop for lunch or if I'm waiting somewhere. Just pulled it out today and my bookmark was at "Aspiration and Expectation" (pg. 133). The 'aspiration' part was just what we were talking about in the Effortlessness thread. I think I'll post the first few paragraphs. I don't know what's going on in that thread anymore so I'll start a new one. I'll second that it's a good read! |
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Post by japhy on Nov 9, 2014 15:27:33 GMT -5
Hey,
I haven't been around much, but now I found this thread.
I wouldn't call myself a buddhist, but I am attending a meeting of theravadan buddhists once a week (so i am somehow part of a sangha :-D). There are people who really go into the theory of buddhism (reading all those ancient texts), but I just go there to meditate and for the company. So I wouldn't be afraid of not being prepared silver.
It's even kind of funny to go there. From a theoretic point of view I would prefer Zen or even non-duality without any "religious background", but now I go there. You don't need to be 100% in line with the group you attend. Maybe it's even healthy not to be. I just keep out of dogmatic discussions, that's it.
Stop being lazy, check out a place and if you don't like it, try the next :-D.
Japhy
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Post by silver on Nov 9, 2014 15:36:57 GMT -5
Hi japhy, I found a Theravada forum that I joined just now, and I have no idea what that means! I hopped to it from a different (seems more general) Buddhist forum. Thanks for the push.  |
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Post by japhy on Nov 13, 2014 6:14:04 GMT -5
Hi japhy, I found a Theravada forum that I joined just now, and I have no idea what that means! I hopped to it from a different (seems more general) Buddhist forum. Thanks for the push. Haha pushing you into another forum was not quite my intention :-D. What about getting into your car? |
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Post by silver on Nov 13, 2014 12:23:29 GMT -5
Hi japhy, I found a Theravada forum that I joined just now, and I have no idea what that means! I hopped to it from a different (seems more general) Buddhist forum. Thanks for the push. Yes I know....I was already on the prowl for other forums ... don't rush me, man!  When the timing is right.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 14:27:24 GMT -5
Hi japhy, I found a Theravada forum that I joined just now, and I have no idea what that means! I hopped to it from a different (seems more general) Buddhist forum. Thanks for the push. Haha pushing you into another forum was not quite my intention :-D. What about getting into your car? right .. not your intention (but if you happen to come across one that uses really big letters, let silver know)  |
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Post by silver on Nov 13, 2014 14:36:06 GMT -5
Haha pushing you into another forum was not quite my intention :-D. What about getting into your car? right .. not your intention (but if you happen to come across one that uses really big letters, let silver know) ............ I know how to enlarge things -- don't worry.  |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2014 14:40:18 GMT -5
right .. not your intention (but if you happen to come across one that uses really big letters, let silver know) WTF?   Japhy won't a pushing, and Laffy don't moderate in the unmoderated section you're like all agenda, all of the time now  |
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Post by silver on Nov 13, 2014 14:56:50 GMT -5
WTF? Japhy won't a pushing, and Laffy don't moderate in the unmoderated section you're like all agenda, all of the time now silver worry about silver ... farmer worry about farmer, 'nuff said? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2014 8:48:46 GMT -5
Hi japhy, I found a Theravada forum that I joined just now, and I have no idea what that means! I hopped to it from a different (seems more general) Buddhist forum. Thanks for the push. Caution: buttspeak ahead, swim at your own risk Buddha lived in India. The king Ashoka took a liking to him and helped spread Buddha's teachings all over the place by building tons of monasteries and such. So Buddhism, flush with cash and empire-backing-- spread to the immediately surrounding countries as well -- Burma, Thailand/Cambodia, and also Sri Lanka. Then it followed the Silk road too, via Tibet/Nepal and through to China, then crossing the sea to Japan. Buddhism took three different "branches" as it spread. Theravada comes from the oldest branch, Hinayana -- developed closer to the source --India, Sri Lanka, Thailand. The practice of vipassana (Insight Meditation) is from those roots. Thanissaro Bhiku, Sharon Salzberg, Kornfeld, Goldstein, your fave Batchelor all are talking that lingo. Wikipedia says it represents about 38% of buddhists. Mahayana is what developed in Tibet, China, Japan, for example. Slightly different spin -- emphasizes bodhisattva vow, to liberate all sentient beings. Tibetan Buddhism, Chan and Zen all in that branch. wiki says 56% of Buddhists... The third branch is Vahrayana and I don't know much about it -- 6% of Buddhists. Interestingly wiki says philosophically it's into the 'two truths' model "Conventional truth is the truth of consensus reality, common-sense notions of what does and does not exist. Ultimate truth is reality as viewed by an awakened, or enlightened mind." Sounds similar to perspectives bandied about here actually. Tantra appears to be the goto practice. I believe Tantra had it's roots in indigenous religions and was adapted to Buddhism. Buddhism in general seeps into whatever tradition is dominant among the peeps and adapts to it (ie see mindfulness to improve corporate bottom line seminars here right now). Wiki makes this comment about the goals of each branch: "The goal of spiritual practice within the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions is to become a Bodhisattva (i.e. attainment of a state in which one will subsequently become a Buddha—after some further reincarnation), whereas the goal for Theravada practice is specific to become an arahant (i.e. attain enlightenment with no intention of returning, not even as a Buddha)." The "returning" here is referring to reincarnation -- what happens after you die. |
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Post by silver on Nov 14, 2014 11:15:17 GMT -5
WTF? Laffy don't moderate in the unmoderated section you're like all agenda, all of the time now Riiiiight. Like wagging his finger, baiting and ridiculing and shaming others isn't a form of moderating!  (Btw, he's the only man here whom I've ever seen brag about what a big man he is...so one has to conclude it's all about macho power.) As far as I know, everybody is caught up in their own agendas. |
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Post by silver on Nov 14, 2014 11:17:25 GMT -5
Hi japhy, I found a Theravada forum that I joined just now, and I have no idea what that means! I hopped to it from a different (seems more general) Buddhist forum. Thanks for the push. Caution: buttspeak ahead, swim at your own risk Buddha lived in India. The king Ashoka took a liking to him and helped spread Buddha's teachings all over the place by building tons of monasteries and such. So Buddhism, flush with cash and empire-backing-- spread to the immediately surrounding countries as well -- Burma, Thailand/Cambodia, and also Sri Lanka. Then it followed the Silk road too, via Tibet/Nepal and through to China, then crossing the sea to Japan. Buddhism took three different "branches" as it spread. Theravada comes from the oldest branch, Hinayana -- developed closer to the source --India, Sri Lanka, Thailand. The practice of vipassana (Insight Meditation) is from those roots. Thanissaro Bhiku, Sharon Salzberg, Kornfeld, Goldstein, your fave Batchelor all are talking that lingo. Wikipedia says it represents about 38% of buddhists. Mahayana is what developed in Tibet, China, Japan, for example. Slightly different spin -- emphasizes bodhisattva vow, to liberate all sentient beings. Tibetan Buddhism, Chan and Zen all in that branch. wiki says 56% of Buddhists... The third branch is Vahrayana and I don't know much about it -- 6% of Buddhists. Interestingly wiki says philosophically it's into the 'two truths' model "Conventional truth is the truth of consensus reality, common-sense notions of what does and does not exist. Ultimate truth is reality as viewed by an awakened, or enlightened mind." Sounds similar to perspectives bandied about here actually. Tantra appears to be the goto practice. I believe Tantra had it's roots in indigenous religions and was adapted to Buddhism. Buddhism in general seeps into whatever tradition is dominant among the peeps and adapts to it (ie see mindfulness to improve corporate bottom line seminars here right now). Wiki makes this comment about the goals of each branch: "The goal of spiritual practice within the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions is to become a Bodhisattva (i.e. attainment of a state in which one will subsequently become a Buddha—after some further reincarnation), whereas the goal for Theravada practice is specific to become an arahant (i.e. attain enlightenment with no intention of returning, not even as a Buddha)." The "returning" here is referring to reincarnation -- what happens after you die. Hey, thanks Max. This is illuminating for me. (You kept it simple.)  |
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