I suspect there will always be people who communicate better in writing, than in a room with a bunch of people yakking away. I love learning about other traditions here, and as someone mentioned, there is a semi-permanent record of the conversations, so it’s easy to go back to the beginning.
Keith
Search found 532 matches
- Wed Jul 21, 2021 10:22 pm
- Forum: Lounge
- Topic: Are forums still a thing?
- Replies: 19
- Views: 1237
- Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:19 pm
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Searching for a Tradition
- Replies: 29
- Views: 3013
Re: Searching for a Tradition
Because of this I would like to hear how was for you guys to find your way on Dharma, if u can say a word or two about it. And, when you found your tradition, how can you be sure the teacher has reached a level of achievement? This is important, right? I hope that you are totally freed from sufferi...
- Fri Jul 16, 2021 4:01 am
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Searching for a Tradition
- Replies: 29
- Views: 3013
Re: Searching for a Tradition
I would extend this to choosing a Sangha. Hang around a community long enough, and it will become apparent very quickly whether teacher is worth working with.Genjo Conan wrote: ↑Wed Jul 14, 2021 11:49 pm I feel pretty strongly that, when we're starting down the path, we shouldn't choose a sect, we should choose a teacher.
- Fri May 28, 2021 3:01 am
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: NYC Temple Relationships
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1246
Re: NYC Temple Relationships
Hi all, I was thinking of checking out some Zen centers in NYC (eventually, when open again), and came across the First Zen Institute of America and the Zen Studies Society, both old (in the context of Zen in the US) Rinzai centers. FZI is lay led, but other than that, can someone shed some light o...
- Sun May 23, 2021 9:36 pm
- Forum: Nichiren
- Topic: The Eternal Buddha exists in the here and now.
- Replies: 27
- Views: 1490
Re: The Eternal Buddha exists in the here and now.
Most critical point of the Lotus Sutra as it is the ultimate basis of equanimity. The lotus is the buddhism of life. The Lotus Sutra is the king of sutras, true and correct in both word and principle. Its words are the ultimate reality, and this reality is the Mystic Law (myōhō). It is called the M...
- Wed May 19, 2021 1:58 am
- Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
- Topic: IS enlightenment SUDDEN OR GRADUAL ?
- Replies: 54
- Views: 3426
Re: IS enlightenment SUDDEN OR GRADUAL ?
This would be a good justification for this topic being in Tibetan Buddhism. It is completely different from the later development of Zen practice leading to insight/kensho, which is an intense occurrence, and informs subsequent practice. This may not be the equivalent of "final knowledge"...
- Sat May 15, 2021 3:39 am
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: So are Sutras really from the Buddha, or just fiction
- Replies: 203
- Views: 11489
Re: So are Sutras really from the Buddha, or just fiction
So your suggesting that the vedas didn't exist as books before Siddartha? Bottom line, did Siddartha know what writing or books were? And if he did,why no books from him,or suggestions for a written record from his fellows? This is giving Zen folks a bad look! :tongue: It’s pretty common knowledge ...
- Sat May 15, 2021 12:22 am
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: So are Sutras really from the Buddha, or just fiction
- Replies: 203
- Views: 11489
Re: So are Sutras really from the Buddha, or just fiction
So no books in India before Siddartha? No Vedas? The Vedas are oral texts. So your suggesting that the vedas didn't exist as books before Siddartha? Bottom line, did Siddartha know what writing or books were? And if he did,why no books from him,or suggestions for a written record from his fellows? ...
- Tue May 11, 2021 6:36 pm
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: Zen beliefs.
- Replies: 63
- Views: 7544
Re: Zen beliefs.
Hello. I love Zen practice. The clear and simple focus on meditation/focus as the essential practice of any spiritual path. And the fact that meditation is the natural essence of a person. Everyday Zen! All life experience is an opportunity to zen. My gripe is this. All the "beliefs" that...
- Tue May 11, 2021 6:01 pm
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: Zen beliefs.
- Replies: 63
- Views: 7544
Re: Zen beliefs.
Hello. I love Zen practice. The clear and simple focus on meditation/focus as the essential practice of any spiritual path. And the fact that meditation is the natural essence of a person. Everyday Zen! All life experience is an opportunity to zen. My gripe is this. All the "beliefs" that...
- Thu May 06, 2021 2:17 am
- Forum: Chan
- Topic: How difference between Chan and Zen.
- Replies: 71
- Views: 32778
Re: How difference between Chan and Zen.
One point that I might add is that Zen in the West is different to Zen in East Asia. At a typical Western Zen centre, the main practice is meditation, with maybe a bit of chanting thrown in. In East Asia (my experience is from Korea mostly), meditation is only part of Zen. At a typical Korean Seon ...
- Wed May 05, 2021 2:51 pm
- Forum: Chan
- Topic: How difference between Chan and Zen.
- Replies: 71
- Views: 32778
Re: How difference between Chan and Zen.
One point that I might add is that Zen in the West is different to Zen in East Asia. At a typical Western Zen centre, the main practice is meditation, with maybe a bit of chanting thrown in. In East Asia (my experience is from Korea mostly), meditation is only part of Zen. At a typical Korean Seon ...
- Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:09 pm
- Forum: Tibetan Buddhism
- Topic: Follow a school over a teacher?
- Replies: 29
- Views: 2326
Re: Follow a school over a teacher?
Thank you all for the replies, I am seeing that the most important thing is to follow a teacher we have a connection with. While I understand this, I honestly still have some doubts when exploring on the website. I have seen many texts and experts on here who can debate how some schools view is not...
- Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:04 pm
- Forum: Dharma in Everyday Life
- Topic: One Path Or Two?
- Replies: 43
- Views: 2773
Re: One Path Or Two?
I would imagine a lot of it has to do with upbringing. If one is born into a Buddhist household, I imagine the path is pretty much laid out for them. My son only knows my path. It will be interesting to see how it develops as he gets older. I would guess there is also karma. For whatever reason, my ...
- Tue Apr 27, 2021 1:32 am
- Forum: Mahāyāna Buddhism
- Topic: Can all people in our world come to enlightenment?
- Replies: 107
- Views: 7336
Re: Can all people in our world come to enlightenment?
I think you're right about the Theravadins. When I was involved with martial arts, there was a saying that practicing for 1 or 2 hours a day made you a hobbyist. Whereas when you practice for 6-8 hours a day, this is what's involved for professional martial artists. (The martial artists in the room...
- Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:34 pm
- Forum: Chan
- Topic: How difference between Chan and Zen.
- Replies: 71
- Views: 32778
Re: How difference between Chan and Zen.
What if one doesn’t have doubt? It has to be generated. Great Doubt: Practicing Zen in the World by Boshan Yuanlai Talks by Jeff Shore on Boshan's text: Part 1 (PDF) , Part 2-3 (PDF) The Chan Whip Anthology by Yunqi Zhuhong I want to push it a little bit. Why don’t you have doubt?😉 Doubt is the amp...
- Sun Apr 11, 2021 1:05 am
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: I'm looking for documentaries about hermits
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3692
Re: I'm looking for documentaries about hermits
These folks just hide they know no difficulty of life a common folk like us have to deal with. :lol: Just kidding... While I loved “Amongst White Clouds”, I got exactly this feeling. Not kidding at all. _/|\_ Keith I love how people tend to think that somehow first world problemas are harder than n...
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 4:05 pm
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: Announcement: genkaku Adam Fisher
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1097
Re: Announcement: genkaku Adam Fisher
Hi, Those of us who were on E-sangha might remember genkaku, a Zen practitioner and writer. genkaku recently passed away. You can find more details here: https://genkaku-again.blogspot.com/2021/02/remembering-my-father.html His family also created a GoFundMe to support funeral costs. This notice ha...
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 1:46 am
- Forum: Zen
- Topic: I'm looking for documentaries about hermits
- Replies: 37
- Views: 3692
Re: I'm looking for documentaries about hermits
LastLegend wrote: ↑Fri Apr 09, 2021 4:06 pm These folks just hide they know no difficulty of life a common folk like us have to deal with. Just kidding...
While I loved “Amongst White Clouds”, I got exactly this feeling. Not kidding at all.
_/|\_
Keith
- Sat Apr 10, 2021 1:30 am
- Forum: Nichiren
- Topic: lockdowns on Nichiren site .
- Replies: 26
- Views: 2319
Re: lockdowns on Nichiren site .
It happens a lot in the Zen forum, as well. Moderation is hard, and very time consuming. Vajrayana is the default here. It is what it is. Thread locking is the easiest, so it's the most prevalent. I agree completely that is would be better to remove posts and/or ban specific individuals, but that t...