Bro. Brad Warner's comments on Online Zazen ... and my response ...

[Ryushi]

It sounds like Brad's reaction is based on an early attempt at online practice. Practice has evolved to accommodate the idiosyncrasies of connections via online video. Treeleaf is obviously a trailblazer here, but I'm seeing online options offered more and more. It's wonderful.

Maybe it's not for everyone. Maybe it's not for Brad. But his reaction seems incredibly close minded and un-Zenlike. (The "empty your cup" story immediately came to mind.)

Maybe Brad just misses the fart oder. He could get some practical joke spray?

Gassho. Sat today.

[Meishin]

"Religion loses its vitality when people simply follow fixed doctrines and maintain religious institutions. Only when we seek the truth of our selves and create our own spiritual life can we give birth to the potential that can point the way for our time."

-- Kosho Uchiyama in "The Zen Teachings of Homeless Kodo"

Gassho
Meishin
STlah

[Mp]

"Religion loses its vitality when people simply follow fixed doctrines and maintain religious institutions. Only when we seek the truth of our selves and create our own spiritual life can we give birth to the potential that can point the way for our time."

-- Kosho Uchiyama in "The Zen Teachings of Homeless Kodo"

Gassho
Meishin
STlah

Wise words indeed, thank you Meishin. =)

Gassho
Shingen

Sat/LAH

[Shinshi]

"Religion loses its vitality when people simply follow fixed doctrines and maintain religious institutions. Only when we seek the truth of our selves and create our own spiritual life can we give birth to the potential that can point the way for our time."

-- Kosho Uchiyama in "The Zen Teachings of Homeless Kodo"

Gassho
Meishin
STlah

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Shokai]

Soon, we will all be sitting inside shared hologram spaces anyway

Ha, I've been virtual my entire life

potty time.jpg
Potty time will never be the same again!!

gassho, Shokai
stlah

[lorax]

Different folks have different views, even in the same family. At some point, we have to settle on what route we chose to take us from the base of the mountain.

SAT TODAY LAH

[Meian]

If it weren't for TreeLeaf and all this "online stuff" -- I would not have a sangha or a calm, welcoming community to participate with that allows me to be as I am.

I would be isolated and alone.

But I am not -- thanks to TreeLeaf's existence in cyberspace, and this forum -- that I visit often, even if I don't speak often. That's just my way. Even Zazenkai -- I watch, I don't speak. I know you are all there, and that is enough.

Thank you, TreeLeaf, for being here. And, if I am feeling brave and able to handle it, I may comment to Mr. Warner why online sanghas are so vital and real in this world.

gassho
kim
st/lh

[Washin]

"Religion loses its vitality when people simply follow fixed doctrines and maintain religious institutions. Only when we seek the truth of our selves and create our own spiritual life can we give birth to the potential that can point the way for our time."

-- Kosho Uchiyama in "The Zen Teachings of Homeless Kodo"

Gassho
Meishin
STlah

Thank you Meishin

Gassho
Washin
st

[Heiso]

I think, as many have said already, that Brad was just stating his own personal dislike of online Zazen. That said, it was beautiful response and explanation of what we do here and why.

Gassho,

Neil

STLah.

[tomodachi]

I’m new to TreeLeaf and unfamiliar with Brad Warners work, so please pardon my ignorance. I only watched one of his videos on Utube.
Also, I must admit upfront that I am a dinosaur, an actual living fossil. It was only last week that I surrendered my flip phone and got a Smart one.
What this all means is that I don’t tweet, don’t use Snapchat and rarely use Facebook for that matter. I don’t normally feel comfortable putting my thoughts online, so nearly all my communication is with email or banging rocks together.
But I am not exactly a Luddite. I’ve taught computer training for years and I know that the iPhone is pure genius. I’ve just never gotten into the social end of it, although everyone around me has.
Personally, I’m very appreciative that I discovered TreeLeaf and Jundo’s work and I’ve learned a tremendous amount even in the short time I’ve been here, although I have not actually interacted or figured out how to sit while online. So I can’t say for sure how the experience will develop.
So I can relate to the strangeness or shortcomings of interacting online, although I know enough to understand that if I were “here” enough, I could interact online or anywhere else for that matter and not be distracted by it. For those comfortable with the medium I think it’s a great way to communicate.
Gassho,
Dave
I sat today.

[Getchi]

For me; I can only say; "just this will pass too".

Br.Warner is special, not cause anyone said but because we can feel it, and I believe Jundo is completely correct in his approach too.

(if anyone cares , it hurt saying the above in cyber space space """someone ELSE might be right too""". )



Siddhartha Boddhi said ;

"it's good in the beginning,
it's good in the middle;
It's good in the end."

This is how we know its true.



Gassho,
Geoff.

SatToday
LaH.

[Daitetsu]

Online? Offline?
When we sit zazen, the whole universe sits zazen.

Gassho,

Daitetsu

#sat2day

[Meian]

Online? Offline?
When we sit zazen, the whole universe sits zazen.

Gassho,

Daitetsu

#sat2day

Deep bows.

Gassho
Kim
St lh

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

[Jundo]

Saw this today ...



Gassho, J

STLah

[Byokan]

Gassho
Byōkan
sat + lah