[Challenging Times] -(9)- Feeling Our Way to Embodied Wisdom - Ganman Cathy Toldi

[Jundo]

Dear All,

This is one of the best essays I know on why Zen practice does not mean that all worry, fear, upset in life will vanish ... and why that's not the end of the world if we approach those emotions wisely. Don't miss this one.

Also, Cathy Toldi will be a Guest Teacher at Treeleaf for a gathering by ZOOM, this coming SUNDAY, June 18th (LINK TO BE HERE).

Question: After reading this essay, what insights or new approaches did you gain about handling hard emotions as part of life and Zen Practice? Any other tips or approaches of your own that you might add?

For those who do not yet have a copy, I have made a PDF version available here for those waiting for their ordered book, or those unable to afford or obtain the book:https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...those-who-need

Feel free to jump into the readings and discussion even if you have not read other chapters.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[Onkai]

I could really relate to this essay. Working with strong emotions, and in particular, emotions about current events can be challenging. It's tempting to just push them away, but it's important not to. Community can help transform those emotions.

To me, the thing is to make space within myself for those big emotions. It often means being still and letting myself breathe. Sometimes I have to reach out to others who often give good feedback. Sometimes I feel the emotions yet ask myself what one thing can I do in this situation. Sometimes rest or sleep changes the emotions around the facts of the situation.

I look forward to Cathy Toldi's talk.

Gassho, Onkai
Sat lah

[Tairin]

The times when I am able to sit peacefully are special but I’ve learned how fascinating it is to sit on days where maybe emotions or stresses run high. For better or worse, I sit each day before bed so there is a lot of opportunity for the day’s events to arise while i sit on the cushion. I am currently in the midst of a dispute which I am hoping to keep cordial but risks becoming litigious. It can be tough to keep emotions and stresses in check. While quietly sitting on the cushion, I am able to watch thoughts rise and fall almost like waves crashing on the shore.

My son, who is also involved, is feeling the stress but I reminded him that this moment will soon be gone and this will become just a memory. Not sure if it helped him but in general that’s how I approach these situations.

I am looking forward to the talk


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Chikyou]

Wow, I love this book so much, all of these essays, and this one in particular, reach me in a deep and relevant way.

Gassho,
SatLah
Kelly

[Tokan]

Hey all

Early on in the essay Cathy mentions how people may come to Buddhism with aspirations to become like "the mellow meditators" or "wise ancestors". Even though there may be some truth to these images, they are just that, from a photo or an ancestral story we have no way of knowing the internal landscape that person experiences. I am always in two minds about the messages that some meditation apps or magazines put out - all these "radiant beings" wanting to share their wisdom and inspiration. It is not that this is a bad thing in itself, just that it can lead to practitioners having certain expectations of their practice, and that can make things worse rather than better. Just a perspective. Of course, we also have to be aware of spiritual bypassing and guard against it. In my mind, finding a sensible zen teacher, one able to balance the esoteric and the mundane, such that one is not more important than the other, and such that we may find a path to ease of being, that is the key. Can you recommend anyone??? Jundo Cohen??? Ah, thanks, I might look him up then...

Gassho, Tokan

satlah

[Houzan]

[Challenging Times] -(9)- Feeling Our Way to Embodied Wisdom - Ganman Cathy Toldi

Really enjoyed this chapter. I liked her two advice on 1) really be with the emotions and have an interest in them. To see that an emotion = bodily sensations + thoughts corresponds with what Joko Beck also wrote I believe. And 2) to still work with the root causes if necessary - avoid spiritual bypassing.

Gassho, Michael
Satlah