WHAT IS ZEN? - Thru Chap 1 - 'What's The Point?'

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  • Jakuden
    Member
    • Jun 2015
    • 6141

    #31
    Originally posted by Meishin
    What is Zen? We have an appointment to euthanize our 17-year-old family dog who suffers from a multitude of ailments. It helps to realize there is no “we,” no “family dog,” and no “euthanasia.” At the same time, we will cry like babies. That is Zen.

    Gassho
    Meishin
    Sat Today LAH
    [emoji22] So sorry Meishin, my heart is with you and your family. What a long happy life your sweet doggie has had. Metta ❤️
    Gassho
    Jakuden
    SatToday/LAH


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    Comment

    • Mp

      #32
      Originally posted by Meishin
      What is Zen? We have an appointment to euthanize our 17-year-old family dog who suffers from a multitude of ailments. It helps to realize there is no “we,” no “family dog,” and no “euthanasia.” At the same time, we will cry like babies. That is Zen.

      Gassho
      Meishin
      Sat Today LAH
      We will be with you in each of those moments Meishin, with tears and gentle hearts.

      Deep bows
      Shingen

      Sat/LAH

      Comment

      • Shokai
        Treeleaf Priest
        • Mar 2009
        • 6394

        #33
        Meishin;
        Your 17 year old is not your family dog. You are his Buddha.
        It's OK to cry, Rejoice in his liberation. Metta for you and your family

        nine bows, in gassho, shokai

        stlah
        合掌,生開
        gassho, Shokai

        仁道 生開 / Jindo Shokai

        "Open to life in a benevolent way"

        https://sarushinzendo.wordpress.com/

        Comment

        • Mr_Kha
          Member
          • Jun 2018
          • 41

          #34
          What I like first of this book is the statement that it is done in dialogues and their own words. A lot of Zen books, even for beginners, are just too far away, written by experts who have done Zen for decades. The typical expert stuff written by experts for lays, which is unreadable for lays. They throw the beginner into deep water, although the beginner is just thinking of the basic theory of swimming. I was afraid to get a personal view, but the first chapter already reveals an open mind. The authors do not impose their own world view on the reader, they give always some points on their view of Zen, but also that there are others.

          Comment

          • Meishin
            Member
            • May 2014
            • 818

            #35
            Thank you

            Gassho
            Meishin
            Sat today lah

            Comment

            • Beldame
              Member
              • Jan 2018
              • 38

              #36
              Originally posted by Meishin
              What is Zen? We have an appointment to euthanize our 17-year-old family dog who suffers from a multitude of ailments. It helps to realize there is no “we,” no “family dog,” and no “euthanasia.” At the same time, we will cry like babies. That is Zen.

              Gassho
              Meishin
              Sat Today LAH
              Very sorry for your loss -- and grateful for the love you have shown your family dog. I can't say what is or is not Zen, but sending metta to you and your family.

              Gassho--
              Deborah

              SatToday

              Comment

              • Eishuu

                #37
                Originally posted by Kokuu
                Eishuu, do you know the passage from Bendowa that refers to "The fire god comes seeking fire"?



                Gassho
                Kokuu
                -sattoday-
                Thank you

                Gassho
                Eishuu
                ST/LAH

                Comment

                • Jinyo
                  Member
                  • Jan 2012
                  • 1957

                  #38
                  Originally posted by Meishin
                  What is Zen? We have an appointment to euthanize our 17-year-old family dog who suffers from a multitude of ailments. It helps to realize there is no “we,” no “family dog,” and no “euthanasia.” At the same time, we will cry like babies. That is Zen.

                  Gassho
                  Meishin
                  Sat Today LAH


                  Very hard to say goodbye to a loved family companion - metta to you and your family



                  Jinyo

                  ST

                  Comment

                  • Kyonin
                    Treeleaf Priest / Engineer
                    • Oct 2010
                    • 6749

                    #39
                    Hi guys,

                    I was able to buy the book today. Will report back after reading. This also zen!

                    Gassho,

                    Kyonin
                    Sat/LAH
                    Hondō Kyōnin
                    奔道 協忍

                    Comment

                    • Hoseki
                      Member
                      • Jun 2015
                      • 677

                      #40
                      Originally posted by Meishin
                      What is Zen? We have an appointment to euthanize our 17-year-old family dog who suffers from a multitude of ailments. It helps to realize there is no “we,” no “family dog,” and no “euthanasia.” At the same time, we will cry like babies. That is Zen.

                      Gassho
                      Meishin
                      Sat Today LAH
                      I'm sorry for you loss. If it helps that dog has lived his/her life surrounded by the family they love and who love them in return. To pass away peacefully surrounded by the ones we love. I can't think of a better way to go.

                      Gassho
                      Hoseki
                      sattoday

                      Comment

                      • Onkai
                        Treeleaf Unsui
                        • Aug 2015
                        • 3025

                        #41
                        Originally posted by Meishin
                        What is Zen? We have an appointment to euthanize our 17-year-old family dog who suffers from a multitude of ailments. It helps to realize there is no “we,” no “family dog,” and no “euthanasia.” At the same time, we will cry like babies. That is Zen.

                        Gassho
                        Meishin
                        Sat Today LAH
                        Metta to you, your family and your dog.

                        Gassho,
                        Onkai
                        Sat
                        美道 Bidou Beautiful Way
                        恩海 Onkai Merciful/Kind Ocean

                        I have a lot to learn; take anything I say that sounds like teaching with a grain of salt.

                        Comment

                        • Jishin
                          Member
                          • Oct 2012
                          • 4821

                          #42
                          Zen is the ability to accept competing narratives.

                          Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

                          Comment

                          • Jishin
                            Member
                            • Oct 2012
                            • 4821

                            #43
                            Truly sorry about your loss Meishin.

                            Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

                            Comment

                            • Shinshi
                              Treeleaf Unsui
                              • Jul 2010
                              • 3662

                              #44
                              Most importantly, much Metta to you Meishin. Really sorry to hear about your dog. That is a hard place to be but I am sure you did the right thing by your companion.

                              So, what is Zen, and the point of Zen practice, to you as we begin this book?

                              Zen is the hummingbird dancing on the wind. It is moment your child says they love you. It is the grievous wound that will not heal. It is holding your loved one close. It is watching your loved one die.

                              There aren't enough words to paint the full picture of Zen.

                              Trying to describe Zen is like trying to cage the wild beast that must run free.

                              I don't know. I guess to me Zen is the never ending practice of fully engaging in one's life. And the point is to just keep returning to that practice.

                              What do you consider to be the meaning in saying "no gaining mind" and "goallessness" in Shikantaza Practice?

                              For me, right now, I take this to mean that when your thoughts drift to a goal you drift away from the real. As you engage with the goal you begin to constrict your view and your experience. You start to dance with the goal and lose track of everything else. But when you sit with "no gaining mind" you are open to any opportunity that might arise.

                              Like Eishuu I was struck by "The fire god comes seeking fire". (Thank you Kokuu for posting the story). I feel like that resonates for me.

                              Gassho, Shinshi

                              SaT-LaH
                              空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
                              There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha way.
                              -Dogen
                              E84I - JAJ

                              Comment

                              • Alexander
                                Member
                                • Apr 2018
                                • 43

                                #45
                                So, what is Zen, and the point of Zen practice, to you as we begin this book?

                                I feel that Zen is simply this very unwavering moment. Any other concept we attach to it deludes its meaning. Everything just is.

                                I feel the idea of goallessness in Shikantaza is about yielding to this very moment with nothing to gain. Seeking without looking for anything. Observing the rabbit hole without ever going down it.

                                Gassho,
                                Alexander
                                ST/LAH

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