GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (DECEMBER)

[chessie]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

A belated but still sincere welcome to the folks I missed in September, and all the new folks in October. Eric--I grew up in NoVA, and still commute in for work.

Hoping the autumn leaves bring color to all of your lives! Gassho, Ann

[egbrooks]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

The leaves here are certainly beautiful right now. If I get the opportunity, I'm going to take the family up to Skyline Drive. You can certainly get a panoramic view of the turning foliage from up there!

May all be well,
Eric

[anodyne777]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Hello to everyone!

I came in here a couple of weeks ago, having a rough go of some things, complained a lot, and wanted advice :wink:
I skipped an introduction for introduction's sake then, but now I'd like to take the opportunity: My name is Owen, and I'm from St. Louis, Missouri. I've lived here most of my life, I'm fond of making music, fix computers for a living, 27 years old and married with no kids. I came to Buddhism approx. 7-ish years ago, after reading the Dalai Lama's "the Art of Happiness", and I'm forever grateful that through the book's non-religious approach, it drew me in on a very fundamental level, opened me up to some ideas that I think I might have once just dismissed as "more religious nonsense". From there I've read a number of books, listened to a lot of dharma talks, and had some sporadic involvement with some local sanghas, but my biggest challenge has been sitting... regularly. Once the teacher at a local zendo said to me (after I told him about all the books I'd read), something like "you keep studying baking recipes, but when will you actually bake the cake?"

So I finally after a lot more time had passed, I did it, started sitting every day, and did this for about six months, but for some reason, just quit last spring. Having a lot of access to computers everywhere I go and being inclined to use them, a place like this seemed natural as a means to get back into a more regular practice after sort of "letting go" of it earlier - and I think that's what I was trying to do to some extent, let go of it, I guess some quiet part of me though I had gone far enough and I was ready to just live in the world and be enlightened :lol: I'm happy to be here and I hope I haven't frightened, annoyed, or especially discouraged anyone with my earlier complaining, just know that's what I do sometimes and it's an irrational tendency I struggle with.

Best regards / gassho,
Owen

[BrianW]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Hello all,

I love Treeleaf! I have been watching Jundo’s clips ever since I heard ran across a Buddhist Geeks episode, which Jundo was a guest. (This was about two weeks ago.)

No experience with Zazen...I have experimented with meditation on my own, but no formal instruction. To make a long story short I did join a Chinese martial arts school that offered meditation, but by the time I got around to taking the classes the instructor had changed and meditation was not offered. I also do a bit of Tai Chi, but have really wanted to do some form of meditation for many years.

I have found Treeleaf to be a wonderful resource and have been sitting daily ever since I found the site. I find the concept of 'Just Sitting' Shikantaza to be very pure and beautiful. I hope to make it an integral part of my life.

In terms of my avatar…. We have a cottage on a small island in on a lake and it is my favorite place to be….even in the winter. The big stick in my hand is because I am walking on the lake when it is frozen and testing the ice so that I don’t fall through! (Perhaps I will try and find a better image, but I am the one in the family who takes all the pictures…and thus I am not in many.)

BrianW

[Borsuk]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Hello Treeleaf Sangha,

It's a pleasure to join you all here. I only discovered the website relatively recently but I've been enjoying it very much and think that a community like this is a very positive thing indeed

About me: I'm 24 years old and I'm from Stafford in central England. I've been sitting for a little over a year now, mainly counting and following the breath, but I've recently been giving Shikantaza a go. A month ago I moved to Japan to work as an English teacher, deepen my Zazen practice, and 'see the world'. Work doesn't allow me as much time as I might like to meet Zen teachers and participate in Sesshins and the like, but I enjoy teaching and appreciate the opportunity to spend time with Japanese people of all ages.

Though words are limited, I'm looking forward to some fruitful discussions with you :wink:

Gassho,
David G.

[Shohei]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Howdy and welcome to those that i missed!
Gassho, Dirk

[Robin]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Hello everyone,

my name is Robin and I live in Germany. I'm married and father of three children. After reading
some books about Zen, I began daily sitting since two years. As an atheist, I thought about
my christian roots for many years to close this felt gap between the modern scientific worldview
and the inner feeling of a human beeing confronted with this astonishing world, finally
recognizing, that it's impossible to me to believe in this god, and that this maybe is even
a good thing.
Now I just sit with it, try to be open, to learn and it feels right.

[Dosho]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Welcome to Treeleaf Brian, David, and Robin!

[Seona]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Hello ...

I was directed here by a kind soul who happened to read my sad tale of having no Zen community to call my own. Needless to say, I hopped over immediately to check things out. Apparently, the Universe heard me when I was thinking ... Well, why can't there be such a thing as an online zendo?

Who says wishes don't come true?!

Seona

[Shindo]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Welcome guys - hope you get as much from being here as I do .
Kindest regards
Jools

[Craig]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

hey,
my name is craig and i'm new to treeleaf. found out about it through buddhist geeks podcast. i have been studying buddhism for years both formally and informally. i have a degree in religious studies and am fascinated with the gap between myth and historical religious figures, especially buddha and jesus. i grew up christian and actually went to seminary for a year. i see buddhism as the next step on my spiritual pathless path rather than a conversion.
i began seriously considering a meditation practice after reading Wake Up To Your Life by Ken Mcleod. i live in atlanta, so there were a bunch of sanghas around. visited many off and on and finally began attending the local soto zen center regularly last summer. that is, until they brought the 'stick' out. i had a very strong reaction to it and haven't been back since. i also had trouble jumping into sitting for 40 minutes at a time at the center. i wanted to just build up. (it was also hot as hell in the zendo!) so, that's what i am doing at home, building up. i hope that treeleaf can be a connection to a sangha and teacher. in the future, i may go back to the atlanta zen center, but who knows. glad to find this place!
peace
craig

ps-i stay at home with my two boys who are 3 and 10 months. my first career was counseling and now i am getting a degree in accounting , of all things. my wife is a principal.

[Dosho]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Welcome to Treeleaf Craig!

I'm especially glad to welcome another stay at home dad to the fold since there are a few around here. I have a son who is also 3, so feel free to drop me a line if you like. I always like to compare notes with other stay at home parents and having a common interest in zen is pretty cool.

Gassho,
Scott

[Shohei]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (OCTOBER)

Hi and Welcome to yas Robin, Seona and Craig
Gassho, Dirk

[sarushin]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (NOVEMBER)

Hello All,

My name is Alan and I live in Oklahoma City. I haven't been practicing very long yet I've unknowingly been in touch with Buddhism for a long time. I grew up in an average Bible Belt home then, as a teen began rebelling and joined the punk rock scene (as it was in OKC in the 80's). I then began a slow decline that included homelessness and various forms of self-abuse and general bullheadedness. After leaving my last job five years ago I decided I needed to pull myself together and began with my health. I'm now a triathlete and vegan. For years I had been fighting anything spiritual and was a confirmed atheist; then finally I found Brad Warner's book (yeah, another one) and it was the first thing I read about Buddhism I actually understood. It was like everything fit and felt right (a real a-ha moment). I have only been sitting regularly (every evening for 30 mins) for about two months and I already have questions. Since there is no Sangha here I'm extremely grateful to have found y'all and Jundo's great talks. I'm very anxious to begin this study of myself.

Thanks again,

Alan

[Dosho]

Re: GREETINGS BY NEW FOLKS (NOVEMBER)

Welcome to Treeleaf Alan!