Search found 91 matches

by JimTempleman
Tue Jan 16, 2024 4:25 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Thank you for your Insight Jim. I'm sorry I'm not familiar with Zen ... Thank you for considering what I wrote. I would not worry too much about the differences between terravada Buddhism and Chan/Zen. Everyone is going back to the source, by the best way they can find. Master Sheng Yen (2012) “The...
by JimTempleman
Tue Jan 16, 2024 3:19 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Really enjoyed your post, Jim. Very much appreciated! I am delighted that you enjoyed the post. Yes: “the Four Noble Truths are not just truths; they are the core of the practice.” So many take them as ‘a guide to daily living’, as one might take the Golden Rule. Which is a good practice. But given...
by JimTempleman
Wed Mar 29, 2023 6:31 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Meditation in motion
Replies: 16
Views: 2299

Re: Meditation in motion

Take it or not as it's Mahamudra and not Zen but: ... just like the ocean itself is what is seen as waves. Therefore, this natural flow of mind does not differ in quality, no matter how it appears. This being so, you should sustain presence of mind in stillness when calm, in thinking when thoughts ...
by JimTempleman
Wed Mar 29, 2023 2:30 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Meditation in motion
Replies: 16
Views: 2299

Re: Meditation in motion

Clearly Hakuin viewed the higher ranks to be far “superior to meditation” at the first rank. It is an error to view the five ranks solely as a kind of progression or ladder of realization, from lower to higher. In fact, they are different aspects or ways of seeing connected to awakening, and one ca...
by JimTempleman
Tue Mar 28, 2023 7:52 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Meditation in motion
Replies: 16
Views: 2299

Re: Meditation in motion

I’m no expert on Hakuin. But I do remember him writing about Tozan’s Five Ranks, which are: Tozan’s Five Ranks: (See Thomas Cleary (1997) “Kensho: The Heart of Zen”) 1. The Relative Absolute 2. The Absolute Relative 3. Coming from Within the Absolute 4. Arriving in Both 5. Attainment in Both Deciphe...
by JimTempleman
Tue Mar 28, 2023 2:49 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: Meditation in motion
Replies: 16
Views: 2299

Re: Meditation in motion

When you say “Meditation in Motion” to me it makes me think of one of the more spiritual martial arts like Aikido (the way of harmony with Ki) or Tai Chi. Ki is the Japanese word for Chi, and it is a form of internal energy/life force, flows through you and throughout the universe (or the dharmakaya...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 6:27 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Subjective matters are always at least 10x more difficult to gauge. (& I've done a lot of 'usability' testing). I cannot fault you're responses to me. It's clear that you're giving me what you believe I need to hear. I thank you for that. I wish you the best in your studies. These things are no...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 5:16 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

As you can see, it has it's roots in Zen, but I cannot classify it further. He was not a Zen practitioner. In fact, he disparaged Zen and discouraged his students from practicing it. He was interested in founding his own new religion. And he did so, though with marginal success, and continually dec...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 4:19 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Turns out that most respondents don't want to touch its content with a hundred foot pole. If someone wrote a post on neural net theory, which was predicated on insufficient learning, would you "touch its contents," or would you tell that person to go to school and get it right? Generally ...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:32 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

You mentioned earlier the Śūrangama Sūtra ; there is a step-by-step method therein based on sound. Do you know the one I mean? Yes. My take on matters is that I chose Thought as the guest, rather than Sound. I did this because the early version of Dogen's Fukanzazengi recommends: Whenever a thought...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:16 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

In response to this: So yeah, you are most certainly claiming to teach people something, and I would not say it is a weak sense other than trying to paper it over. I said this: If anything I'd like to teach people to read & respond to what is actually written. Then In response to this: 2. Trying...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 1:46 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Don't be afraid to ask questions and continue your study. I'm always happy to chat with you. Thank you. I truly appreciate your support. For example, you use the word cessation, and I think that your appreciation of the deep meaning of this word will mature over time. ---Cessation is perhaps not th...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 1:03 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

I believe this is the method that you are describing. "One should not think of the previous mental realm. if one thinks of the previous thought, the present thought and the latter thought, one's thoughts will be continuous without cease. This is called fettered." ---Platform Sutra Yes. Th...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:53 pm
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

The advantage of Ki Testing is the ease with which direct feedback can be given. If you are unfamiliar with either Ki Testing or Shin Shin Toitsu-do I would be happy to describe it in a posting on this forum. I am not unfamiliar with it. From a martial standpoint, it is very basic. If you are inter...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 4:43 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Do you see any value in applying Tohei's Ki Testing approach for developing & verifying mind-body unification as a basis for developing the ability to relax into a mental state that one has experienced. I believe that this has been useful for me in sustaining & maintaining a level of samadh...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 4:16 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Toyoda Sensei was my main Aikido teacher. He was also one of my Zen teachers, and carried Omori Sogen's lineage (as a layperson). He was not my primary Zen teacher, though, and though I also carry Omori Roshi's lineage, it is not through Toyoda Sensei. ... Thank you Meido Roshi! The question I woul...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:34 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Actually, when we engage in a teacher/student relationship, the teacher will help us to clear away our misconceptions and all of our ideas regarding practice (and everything). ... Thank you. You make a lot of good points! Sorry, but no more responses in this thread unless it addresses the content o...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:23 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Please, for all our sakes, do not write that post, unless you have at least one postgrad degree in statistics or a related field, because from your comments I suspect you really don’t know how artificial neural networks work either. If you read my Introductions post to the Dharma Wheel Forum, your ...
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:13 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

Can we lock this the OP had a dharma experience he’s shared it people have advised him based on their experience. Now it’s going nowhere fruitful. What about this: If anyone has questions about the content in the original post, please add a reply. Otherwise please move on to other topics.
by JimTempleman
Wed Sep 08, 2021 12:06 am
Forum: Meditation
Topic: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means
Replies: 133
Views: 85717

Re: The Noble Truths as Skillful Means

“Neural networks?” Man, this is a Buddhist site, ... It's just the embodiment of mind. If you're familiar with Indra's Net, then you already know about Neural network models. Besides Malcolm questioned my understanding of codependent arising, so I answered by citing Indra's Net. Don't you think tha...

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