Introducing mySelf
- JimTempleman
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:48 pm
Introducing mySelf
Hi, it’s me, Jim Templeman, and I’m pleased to join your forum. I’ve been studying & practicing Silent Illumination, without a teacher, since I retired at the end of 2016. I’ve read a considerable amount of Zen & Chan literature, and rely most heavily on the writings of Chan Master Sheng Yen. Prior to this, I had studied Ki-Aikido for seven years and then assisted in teaching Ki based mind-body coordination (Koichi Tohe’s Shinshin-toitsu-do) for around ten years.
I’ve also enjoyed reading the Tao Te Ching since high school. In college, I earned a D.Sc. in computer science, with minors in neurobiology and perceptual psychology at GWU. My dissertation involved a computational model of how complex cells of the visual cortex learn to generalize over temporal variation. It applied James J. Gibson’s theory of perceptual invariance (constancy) to develop the complex cell responses described by Hubel and Wiesel.
After college, I worked on the design & development of novel interaction techniques. Most of the research involved user control over full-body avatars in virtual reality. My specialty was in developing and studying virtual locomotion techniques, including walking in place to move through virtual environments.
I believe that Buddhism offers time proven methods for accessing the mind’s potential. The ancients put a tremendous investment of some of the most astute minds in Asia into studying it. I am hopeful that bringing past and present insights together will shed further light on the matter.
I’ve also enjoyed reading the Tao Te Ching since high school. In college, I earned a D.Sc. in computer science, with minors in neurobiology and perceptual psychology at GWU. My dissertation involved a computational model of how complex cells of the visual cortex learn to generalize over temporal variation. It applied James J. Gibson’s theory of perceptual invariance (constancy) to develop the complex cell responses described by Hubel and Wiesel.
After college, I worked on the design & development of novel interaction techniques. Most of the research involved user control over full-body avatars in virtual reality. My specialty was in developing and studying virtual locomotion techniques, including walking in place to move through virtual environments.
I believe that Buddhism offers time proven methods for accessing the mind’s potential. The ancients put a tremendous investment of some of the most astute minds in Asia into studying it. I am hopeful that bringing past and present insights together will shed further light on the matter.
- Shotenzenjin
- Posts: 614
- Joined: Tue Jun 16, 2020 11:23 pm
Re: Introducing mySelf
Welcome
Generation's shall pass, our determination shall grow, at the foot of Mount Fuji
Like smoke that reaches far beyond the clouds.--nichimoku shonin. Third high priest of Nichiren Shoshu
Hokekko of true Buddhism https://nstny.org
Introduction to Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... VKyEQ_cxK9
Like smoke that reaches far beyond the clouds.--nichimoku shonin. Third high priest of Nichiren Shoshu
Hokekko of true Buddhism https://nstny.org
Introduction to Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... VKyEQ_cxK9
- FiveSkandhas
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:40 pm
Re: Introducing mySelf
Welcome. I would be interested to hear any opinions you might have about the practice of Aikido as it relates to Chan/Zen (if you think there is a relationship). I practiced for several years under a Rinzai Zen teacher in Japan who also was trained in Aikido. It is my personal belief that Rinzai in particular involves a great deal of "physicality" (a view that has recently been put forth in great depth and eloquence by the author and authority Miedo Moore in his books on Rinzai). I wonder how you see Aikido "dovetailing" with Zen/Chan, if at all.
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi
"Just be kind." -Atisha
"Just be kind." -Atisha
- Lotomístico
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 10:15 pm
Re: Introducing mySelf
It sounds as though you've had many interesting experiences and have much to share, welcome!JimTempleman wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:20 pm Hi, it’s me, Jim Templeman, and I’m pleased to join your forum. I’ve been studying & practicing Silent Illumination, without a teacher, since I retired at the end of 2016. I’ve read a considerable amount of Zen & Chan literature, and rely most heavily on the writings of Chan Master Sheng Yen. Prior to this, I had studied Ki-Aikido for seven years and then assisted in teaching Ki based mind-body coordination (Koichi Tohe’s Shinshin-toitsu-do) for around ten years.
I’ve also enjoyed reading the Tao Te Ching since high school. In college, I earned a D.Sc. in computer science, with minors in neurobiology and perceptual psychology at GWU. My dissertation involved a computational model of how complex cells of the visual cortex learn to generalize over temporal variation. It applied James J. Gibson’s theory of perceptual invariance (constancy) to develop the complex cell responses described by Hubel and Wiesel.
After college, I worked on the design & development of novel interaction techniques. Most of the research involved user control over full-body avatars in virtual reality. My specialty was in developing and studying virtual locomotion techniques, including walking in place to move through virtual environments.
I believe that Buddhism offers time proven methods for accessing the mind’s potential. The ancients put a tremendous investment of some of the most astute minds in Asia into studying it. I am hopeful that bringing past and present insights together will shed further light on the matter.
One should become the master of one’s mind rather than let one’s mind master oneself.
- JimTempleman
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:48 pm
Re: Introducing mySelf
Thanks everyone for the welcomes!
"Hidden Zen" w/Meido Moore:
I cannot answer your question directly, I can only speak from my own experience.
Your interest led me to consider how the ‘mind and body coordination’ training I received from Ki-Aikido influenced my approach to Chan/Zen. A number of insights and approaches from Ki-training can be applied to enhance one’s practice of silent sitting. I plan on writing a number of posts on the forum to cover this topic. I will post it under the Zen forum, because the founder of Ki-Aikido practiced Zen and Aikido is a Japanese martial art, even though other Eastern religious played an important role in its development. This might take me a while because I want the different pieces of the 'puzzle' to fit together.
I hope people don’t think that I am promoting Ki-Aikido over Zen. I have moved on from Ki-Aikido to Zen/Chan. However, there are many strengths of the more immediate practice of Ki-Aikido that are rarely mentioned in (Soto) Zen, that might prove beneficial.
Your suggestion led me to check out this interesting YouTube interview:FiveSkandhas wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 11:00 pm Welcome. I would be interested to hear any opinions you might have about the practice of Aikido as it relates to Chan/Zen (if you think there is a relationship). I practiced for several years under a Rinzai Zen teacher in Japan who also was trained in Aikido. It is my personal belief that Rinzai in particular involves a great deal of "physicality" (a view that has recently been put forth in great depth and eloquence by the author and authority Miedo Moore in his books on Rinzai). I wonder how you see Aikido "dovetailing" with Zen/Chan, if at all.
"Hidden Zen" w/Meido Moore:
Code: Select all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jESL6ODnprM
Your interest led me to consider how the ‘mind and body coordination’ training I received from Ki-Aikido influenced my approach to Chan/Zen. A number of insights and approaches from Ki-training can be applied to enhance one’s practice of silent sitting. I plan on writing a number of posts on the forum to cover this topic. I will post it under the Zen forum, because the founder of Ki-Aikido practiced Zen and Aikido is a Japanese martial art, even though other Eastern religious played an important role in its development. This might take me a while because I want the different pieces of the 'puzzle' to fit together.
I hope people don’t think that I am promoting Ki-Aikido over Zen. I have moved on from Ki-Aikido to Zen/Chan. However, there are many strengths of the more immediate practice of Ki-Aikido that are rarely mentioned in (Soto) Zen, that might prove beneficial.
- FiveSkandhas
- Posts: 917
- Joined: Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:40 pm
Re: Introducing mySelf
Thanks for your reply above and best wishes.
"One should cultivate contemplation in one’s foibles. The foibles are like fish, and contemplation is like fishing hooks. If there are no fish, then the fishing hooks have no use. The bigger the fish is, the better the result we will get. As long as the fishing hooks keep at it, all foibles will eventually be contained and controlled at will." -Zhiyi
"Just be kind." -Atisha
"Just be kind." -Atisha
Re: Introducing mySelf
Cool! Could you possibly build me a holodeck? No rush, anytime next week would be fine.JimTempleman wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 5:20 pm After college, I worked on the design & development of novel interaction techniques. Most of the research involved user control over full-body avatars in virtual reality. My specialty was in developing and studying virtual locomotion techniques, including walking in place to move through virtual environments.
(I always wondered how people in the holodeck, which was large but not huge, could walk for miles, climb mountains, go surfing. Treadmills?)
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
- JimTempleman
- Posts: 92
- Joined: Fri Jul 09, 2021 3:48 pm
Re: Introducing mySelf
The conclusion we came to was that:
(1) Almost any form of walking-like locomotion controls were good for touring virtual scenes.
(2) But none of them were any good (including 2D treadmills) for training stressful or high-performance tasks, like fire fighting (inside a ship). This is because people can easily turn their body around while continuing to walk in a straight line - when actually walking, but they could not do it easily and smoothly with step-like gestures.
Re: Introducing mySelf
Welcome, Jim.
Shaun
Shaun