[Arts] Writing Prompts

[MalleableGirlParts]

Hi,

Is there any interest in maybe doing more writing prompts? I'd be very interested to see what creative prose people come up with. And this is also me putting myself in the front of the class so to speak. Maybe push myself to actually write.

Gasshō Jenn
Sat Lah

[Anthony]

Hi Jenn, I would be interested in something like this! I used to write a lot and have been in a slump for a while. I think doing writing prompts can help!

Gassho, Anthony
satlah

[MalleableGirlParts]

Hi Jenn, I would be interested in something like this! I used to write a lot and have been in a slump for a while. I think doing writing prompts can help!

Gassho, Anthony
satlah

Hi Anthony!

That would be great! I like to think that I find writing to come easily to me, but I just don't pursue it consciously.

I'm not sure if I should find a prompt and whether it should be topic appropriate. ???? Thoughts?

Gasshō Jenn
Sat Lah

[Matt Johnson]

When I have a bit more time i'd be interested... Maybe in Sept!

_/\_

sat/ah

Matt

[Onki]

Hey Jenn!

I love this idea! I’m getting back into writing more for a few reasons. I have always been into writing even as a child. As I have gotten older, I now find the urge to write more often using stronger words and really trying to get the reader to feel my words. I have begun using writing as a healthy coping mechanism/strategy when my BPD is triggered and I need to get the intense emotions out of my body without resorting to self harm/mutilation. The pen becomes my knife while the paper is my skin so to speak.

When I write I am honest, raw, and uncensored, maybe to a fault. Some of my writings are beautiful, speaking of deep love, commitment, and joy. However, when I feel my BPD taking control my writings can be very graphic, disturbing, and full of self hatred. In these particular writings I will post a trigger warning for topics such as suicide and self harm.

Using writing as a tool not only for mental illness but for self expression is an amazing thing.

I’m totally in for writing prompts!

Gasshō,

On

sat today/lah

[Onki]

Hey Gang!

What kinds of prompts are we thinking about? About Zen Buddhism? About our experience in Zen?

We could do a ton of different topics like gender identity and Zen Buddhism, or a typical day in the life of Zen Lay folks/Priests? Maybe specific ailments that are part of our own personal experience such as chronic illness, mental illness, etc?

What do you all think?

Gasshō,

On

sat today/lah

[MalleableGirlParts]

Hi!

I'm new here so I'm not sure what's appropriate. I don't have much experience with Zen practice so I'm not sure how much I'd have to share, but I'll try whatever.

Maybe why you chose this path or how things are different from your expectations? Maybe an aspect that you struggle with or something you find clicks for you? Or how your practice has influenced other parts of your life?

Or maybe something not quite related?

I don't know. Suggestions? I'm sure I'll be thinking into it too much. Maybe something simple like your description of a pebble?

Gasshō Jenn
Sat Lah

[Onki]

Hey!

I think a great starting writing prompt would be this:

What has brought you to the Practice of the Dharma/Zen Buddhism? Why did you choose this Path (or in what ways did this Path choose you? ) ? How has this Path influenced your life?

Something like this?

Gasshō,

On

sat today/lah

[Jundo]

What kinds of prompts are we thinking about? About Zen Buddhism? About our experience in Zen?

We could do a ton of different topics like gender identity and Zen Buddhism, or a typical day in the life of Zen Lay folks/Priests? Maybe specific ailments that are part of our own personal experience such as chronic illness, mental illness, etc?

Themes related to Zen practice, Zen and Buddhism, Zen and life, practice with struggles, that kind of thing ... would be good since that is the theme of our place.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[MalleableGirlParts]

Hi,

Can we do "What brought you to Zen Buddhism?"

Would that be ok?

Gasshō
Jenn
Sat Lah

[Jundo]

Hi,

Can we do "What brought you to Zen Buddhism?"

Would that be ok?

Gasshō
Jenn
Sat Lah

Sure! We have had a few threads on that over the years, but not so recently.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

[MalleableGirlParts]

Sure! We have had a few treads on that over the years, but not so recently.

Gassho, Jundo

stlah

Great! Maybe there's new insights, perspectives or additional thoughts.

Now I have to consider...eek

Gasshō
Jenn
Sat Lah

[Tai Shi]

I first read Zen Mind Beginner Mind in 1977 after completing a psychology course at a local college. I had graduated from Grinnell College with my Bachelor's degree in English in 1974 and promptly had my first bipolar episode. I had traveled to Sonoma County California to attend graduate school and in October of that year I experienced an intense anxiety attack which lead to psychosis. I dropped out of graduate school and I paid whatever needed to be paid in order to travel by bus to my mother’s house in Des Moines, Iowa and eventually received care for atypical depressive psychosis and many drugs that were not available are being used now. In addition, most therapies are behavioral treatments like cognitive behavioral therapy. After years and years of therapy that did not help me with depression or anxiety or anything, by luck I came to a fine hospital where I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and properly cared for. I responded well to my medication and treatment. Even in the 12 years I have been treated at this hospital treatments have changed. One of the medications I take is given once a day with food. Each evening I take medication for bipolar disorder and that diagnosis has not changed. I have had new medication only twice in my 12 years at the private hospital and I am now considered within normal parameters. I began to look at Buddhism in 2012 and in 2014 I joined Treeleaf Zendo where I attended a segment of my new friends at Treeleaf Zendo Coffee Shop preceded by Tea house and there Seikshi lead us in discussions on Soto Zen Buddhism. On January 10, 2016 after much study with Jundo I completed my early education in Buddhism with Jukai or undertaking the precepts. This was my beginning of being an ethically oriented person. Finally at age 64, I started the path of meditation and I began my journey to sitting just to be able to sit. Slowly I am realizing that there is nothing more to attain in my meditation or study except I still study but not to be recognized as much as to do. I am not sure how I have come to this point, but my therapist says I am not going to change back and I am Ubasoku at Treeleaf Zendo. This is good enough for me. I am called Tai Shi or calm poetry in Japanese and my daughter who speaks Japanese language and is Professor of Japanese at University of Denver tells me that this new Japanese language name or Dharma name is something for me to learn about. I still own my first edition Zen Mind, Beginner Mind and I have changed a lot since my psychotic episode in 1974. I no longer drink nor do I take illegal substances and I have no intention have not had any since July 20th, 1987, and on July 22, 1987 I decided not to drink alcohol again and not to take illegal drugs again one day at a time. This July 22 I celebrated 37 years of freedom from substance abuse and this January 10, 225 I will have been a Lay member of Treeleaf Zendo until January 10, 2025. I have decided not to become a priest because I am old and because my wife asked me not to be a priest. We are comfortable in our relationship and in our marriage. We have been married for 42 years now and we are seniors. Our time of endeavors are limited to the time of our lives for my wife 32 years and me 25 full and part-time teaching English writing in college and university classes. I am writing and reading on my own terms. In my early teaching days I earned three graduate teaching and writing degrees. I am happy to watch our daughter work with the same Gusto i once had. Now I am a Soto Zen Buddhist who writes and reads books and composes poetry.

[Tai Shi]

I Listen Through my Hearing Aids

It was with surprise
Great pleasure, beauty
Love, love of my Audiologist,
Only for the moment of her
Gift to me.

Sound, unequaled ever,
Perhaps ever, for have
I not been deaf half
My life, my greetings

To you, to those I would
Share but this, this
Gift of hearing, I can hear,
I am old,

Though it comes to me
In the ages of my life,
Though gift of two
Dynamic, digital hearing

Aids, come to me, I am
Seventy-three, I see with
My ears, hear with
My eyes, this gift

To listen to Bach
To Violin Concertos
To listen with notes
Sing violins

Sing to each other
What I lost back
In my forties, back
To understand

To love thin Aire
Aire on these strings
Concerto on Concerto
What became

Symphony, my pennies
Dropped into my canals
Of my ears, the cellos,
Flutes, dynamic

In range, oh beauty
I'm yours, I live
In life imortal singing
Note upon Note.

Gassho
lah/sat