Practice or no practice.

[Bion]

I just realized that signature is attaching to my posts. ????

The idea behind “Gassho, sat and lah” is for them to be mindfully added to our replies, as a public statement that yes, we do not come to chat unless we first dedicate ourself to sitting ( so, sat today ) and secondly that we’ve done something, whether big or small, that was selfless, good, beneficial ( our lah ). Gassho is our Hi and Bye That kind of the spirit of these things.
The thing that really gets to me is the forum software jot recognizing my phone emojis ..
Gassho
sat lah

[ZenJay]

Hi!

I think my issue with sharing is really about me not hijacking the forum or posting irrelevant things. I don't mind sharing about myself with people. I quite enjoy it, but I can definitely tend to ramble on.

I don't ever mind questions!! And I love books too! If I could somehow have a life where I rent a corner of the Strand bookstore in NYC and live there, I totally would. Lol

I have a lot of them, on lots of subjects and also lots of fiction. In fact, the very first books I ever bought (my dad bought for me actually), I still have here on my bookshelf. I was probably...seven maybe? A book on Judo and a book on Jeet June Do.

Anyway, I'm reading "The Art of Living" by Thich Nhat Hanh and "Country Cooking of Ireland" on the Hoopla app. I also have "Silence and Noise: Growing up Zen in America" and "The Most Important Point" physically from the library. I go back and forth into "Three Pillars of Zen" and "Mindfulness: a Practical Guide to Awakening". Oh, and "The Story Collector" by Evie Woods. That's my fiction book right now.

Nothing like being present for one thing at a time..hehe. Also, I have Anatomy and Physiology and Nursing Concepts for school.

I know, I'm all over, but I try to gain interesting perspectives from different sources. I find inspiration for one aspect of life in places you'd never expect. Tennis and cooking don't seem to have much in common, but you'd be surprised. Or weight training and meditation. Then of course there's a Zen approach to better experience any thing we do.

I'll stop. I'm keyed up tonight. I got rear ended earlier on my way home from school. But nobody's hurt and I definitely noticed I was quickly able to let go of my anger. Better than I would have in the past so that's good.

Gasshō (I almost wrote yahoo there)

Jenn
Sat lah

Hi Jenn,

Oh no! I am so glad you all are ok! I don’t blame you for being angry, as I’m sure anyone would be upset with that, but fantastic you were able to let it go! I have a hard time with that sometimes, although I too have noticed a change since beginning daily practice. Things just don’t get to me like they did…

I hear you, I’m pretty sure I would live in a bookstore if I could! I’d love to own my own bookstore, but mom and pop bookshops are becoming a thing of the past thanks to the giant corporate book companies. Ah well, such is life.
I find myself reading a lot of non-fiction as I get older, especially on Zen and Paranormal topics, but I do love me a good Fantasy epic or sci-fi tale.

I love that you look into “different” topics and find the connections… after all, it’s all one thing isn’t it? I’m currently reading “Opening the Hand of Thought” by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi. I’m really enjoying it and have gotten some wonderful lessons from that book! I also picked up Jundo’s books and want to start those soon. I am really looking forward to “The mind of Clover” to go along with my study of the precepts.

I’m also amazed at how much you can read at once! Nothing wrong with having a diverse exploration through reading! Do you find it difficult to navigate, or are you able to keep it all compartmentalized? Just curious as my memory is not what it once was and I know I would start to blend books together if I have too many going.

Gassho,
Jay

Sat/lah today

[michaelw]

(“Opening the Hand of Thought” by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi)

Gassho
MichaelW

satlah

[Jundo]

I also picked up Jundo’s books and want to start those soon.

Thank you. I do recommend Zen Master's Dance for people new to Soto Zen and Master Dogen (LINK), but if you also got "Building the Future Buddha" (LINK), that is not really a traditional Zen book ... unless you are into robots, space travel, saving civilization through Precepts and Tech, and such topics.

Gassho, Jundo
stlah

[MalleableGirlParts]

Hi Jenn,

Oh no! I am so glad you all are ok! I don’t blame you for being angry, as I’m sure anyone would be upset with that, but fantastic you were able to let it go! I have a hard time with that sometimes, although I too have noticed a change since beginning daily practice. Things just don’t get to me like they did…

I hear you, I’m pretty sure I would live in a bookstore if I could! I’d love to own my own bookstore, but mom and pop bookshops are becoming a thing of the past thanks to the giant corporate book companies. Ah well, such is life.
I find myself reading a lot of non-fiction as I get older, especially on Zen and Paranormal topics, but I do love me a good Fantasy epic or sci-fi tale.

I love that you look into “different” topics and find the connections… after all, it’s all one thing isn’t it? I’m currently reading “Opening the Hand of Thought” by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi. I’m really enjoying it and have gotten some wonderful lessons from that book! I also picked up Jundo’s books and want to start those soon. I am really looking forward to “The mind of Clover” to go along with my study of the precepts.

I’m also amazed at how much you can read at once! Nothing wrong with having a diverse exploration through reading! Do you find it difficult to navigate, or are you able to keep it all compartmentalized? Just curious as my memory is not what it once was and I know I would start to blend books together if I have too many going.

Gassho,
Jay

Sat/lah today

Hi!

Yes, being able to let go of things easier is certainly a wonderful thing. I'd still like to get to a point that any extreme reaction doesn't happen in the first place. I can still get carried away on my emotions and that is frustrating. I'll keep at it.

It's funny, maybe not, but non fiction was really the first things I ever read. A friend in grade school pushed me into Stephen King and although I started with literally his worst book (according to him too, not just me), I became a very big fan. I've read most of his books, though not as much anymore. From him I branched off into many directions.

I love fantasy also. I believe I love many things that transport me somewhere, somewhen or into other possibilities. Whether it's magical realism, high fantasy, period pieces or even music, food culture and architecture. Maybe this is something for a therapist, but I like escapes and to feel that I'm more than I am. I suppose I'm always searching for something.

How do I read multiple books at once? I suppose that I'm really not being fair to any of them, truthfully. It happens at times when I'm stressed and unsettled. I start grabbing at more and more things. That's another therapist admission. I should be enjoying one book at a time. Perhaps one or two others that are small lessons to digest here and there. Either way, I don't think they blend together, but it is a little tough to "get into" stories that I've put down for a bit.

Ok, so I should get myself one of Jundo's books. I feel a little like a traitor. Lol. I look at different books because I often find a slightly different explanation can sometimes be just the way I need to hear something to understand it. I'm constantly surprised at those little unexpected bolt of lightning moments. Ahhh! I see it now...

Months ago I was listening to a book on tape about green Tara. I was driving home from work at night and the explanation that the author gave about the connectedness of everything and why she felt praying to Tara was significant just really zapped me. I had this brief moment of clarity and understanding and I felt....almost like I was floating outside of myself. Not literally, and not an out of body experience, but I just felt connected to everything and really UNDERSTOOD. Granted, the feeling didn't last, but I glimpsed it and at least understand intellectually that it's THERE to be had. You know? It's not permanent, but it's like seeing through the window. I see it standing there. I just need to unlock the door and walk through.

I'm really going on....sorry.

Thanks for your response!