Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

[Taigu]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

I like Jundo s take on this. After many years of practice, I find it very hard to speak about emptiness. I am amazed and amused at all this empty chatting coming from young sitters. The know-it-all mind also operates in the field of Buddhist philosophy. It reminds me a very arrogant and stinky young French monk understanding it all not so long ago...

Sit and leave emptiness to itself, or its non self.

Please, Be humble.

Bow. Sit.Bow.

gassho


Taigu

[chicanobudista]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

It is sometimes a sad dance, sometimes a happy dance ... but at heart, there is a JOYOUS DANCE OF LIFE.

Nishijima Roshi and many teachers often say that Buddhism is not a negative philosophy (which some folks sometimes think, because we are always going on about how "life is suffering" and "birth and death" and all that) ... nor is it nihilistic, neutral, meaningless or empty ... but is quite JOYOUS, OPTIMISTIC, POSITIVE, GLAD TO BE ALIVE at heart.

"Emptyness" is freeing! A dance.

I hear ya. But. When I hear new folks coming to Buddhism. Reading and learning about Buddhism and Sunyata. Is like seeing a train moving a long the tracks of thought heading to a fallen bridge. Seeing this as it develops while they talk about it, I have had to shut off the emptiness juice.

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

The idea of emptiness can be a lonely thought, but I think that as long as you have a good teacher and a good sangha, you can avoid the depressive and destructive path this thinking can take you down. I often have trouble "non-intelectualizing" (not sure if that's a word) things, because I prided myself on my intellect for a long time. Now, though, I realized that something was missing, and that something was that I was looking at the world with blinders on. I sort of came to the realization that I was trying to fit everything into tidy little catagories, even if they didn't want to fit there. That's when I started reading about Buddhism and I came to understand that the world is perfectly fine the way it really is, and that I needed to stop trying to make it what I wanted it to be.

I guess you could say that I was trying to know everything, but I only really felt like I understood anything when I stopped learning about anything, and started experiencing "nothing". I'm starting to realize that the way I was trying to do things was just creating noise, like Jundo's lesson with the blender. Now I'm trying to shut the blender off, and just be.

Of course, with the blender off, I can't mix my Buddha Juice............

[Jundo]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Now I'm trying to shut the blender off, and just be.

Related to the other post on the other thread about peace and joy ...

viewtopic.php?p=31993#p31993

... part of this practice is to learn to hear the "silence" even when the blender is on, even when it is off. Don't think it is about "always" having the blender off. When you can hear silence and peace only in quiet, still moments ... well, that is a good start.

When you can hear the noisy, grating blender of thoughts/emotions as both grating/noisy and silent/peaceful simultaneously ... you are doing well.

And when you can be silent/peaceful even when you don't feel silent/peaceful at all, and just in those moments you feel only grating/noisy ... even better! :shock:

If we had the blender "off" all the time, we would never get life's milkshake made!

I will talk something about this in the sit-a-long on Wednesday about "Bonnos"

Gassho, Jundo

[scott]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

What a wonderful thread (I've been working/traveling so I haven't been able to check in recently).

Dance ... yes indeed. How could I add more?

[Tb]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Hi.

This reminds me of the example of music.
Would there be "sweet music" without "silence/nothing" between the notes?

Mtfbwy
Fugen

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

When you can hear the noisy, grating blender of thoughts/emotions as both grating/noisy and silent/peaceful simultaneously ... you are doing well.

And when you can be silent/peaceful even when you don't feel silent/peaceful at all, and just in those moments you feel only grating/noisy ... even better!

Getting Zen headache........need Buddha Juice.......... :shock:

I get what you're saying, I think. It sounds like you're saying its like finding the diamond in the rough, so to speak. Everything has an aspect of perfection, even when it isn't perfect.

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

It just sort of hit me that what I just said wasn't all together accurate. I think that it's like finding the diamond in the rough and realizing that the rough and the diamond are really one and the same, if that makes sense. You can't have one with out the other, and you can't have "One" without both. :idea:

[Jundo]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

It just sort of hit me that what I just said wasn't all together accurate. I think that it's like finding the diamond in the rough and realizing that the rough and the diamond are really one and the same, if that makes sense. You can't have one with out the other, and you can't have "One" without both. :idea:

That truly is better than your first comment ... but sit more, think about it less.

It is more a feeling about stuff than an idea about.

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Thank you, Jundo, I will do as you suggest.

And on that note, it's time to market my own product……..


Zazen-ol.

Do you get a headache trying to understand how one is everything and nothing at the same time? Does the thought that emptiness is full, fullness is empty, void is never devoid and that we are the world cause a familiar tightening sensation behind the eyes? Do you sometimes feel dizzy trying to understand how imperfection is perfect, and that you have to stop searching in order to find?

Try Zazen-ol. The active ingredient in Zazen-ol is shikantaza, and regular use has shown improvement among users with Frequent Zen Headache Syndrome (FZHS). Recommended initial loading dose is 1 minute for every 10 pounds of body weight, once per day. Individuals will be able to adjust the dose based on their tolerance. Prolonged use of Zazen-ol is recommended, and frequently leads to periods of peaceful contemplation, and improved feelings of "Oneness".

Please do not take Zazen-ol with Buddha Juice, as common side effects include uncontrollable gas, and a reduction of invitations to sit with others in the zendo.

Operators are neither sitting nor standing by, they are lying on their sides because the union says they are contractually guaranteed a 1 hour “rest and relaxation” period……..

[Seishin the Elder]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

"Will you walk a little faster?"said the whiting to the snail
"There''s a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
They are waiting on the shingles - will you come and join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you won't you join the dance?

"You can really have no notion how delightful it will be
When they take usup and throw us with the lobsters, out to sea!"
But the snail replied - "Too far, too far!" and gave a look askance -
Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance.
Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join the dance
Would not, could not, would not, could nor, could not join the dance.

"What matter it how far we go?" his scaly friend replied
"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side.
The further off from England the nearer is to France -
The turn not pale, beloved snail but come and join the dance."
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?

The Lobster-Quadrille by Lewis Carroll

Makes me wonder if Lewis Carroll might not have been and early English Zen Master??????

Gassho,

Kyrill/Seishin

[disastermouse]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

When you can hear the noisy, grating blender of thoughts/emotions as both grating/noisy and silent/peaceful simultaneously ... you are doing well.

And when you can be silent/peaceful even when you don't feel silent/peaceful at all, and just in those moments you feel only grating/noisy ... even better!

Getting Zen headache........need Buddha Juice.......... :shock:

I get what you're saying, I think. It sounds like you're saying its like finding the diamond in the rough, so to speak. Everything has an aspect of perfection, even when it isn't perfect.

No, everything IS perfection and 'imperfection' is merely one of its perfect aspects. Seriously.

Chet

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Chet,

Thanks for being so interactive with me over the past few days, I've really enjoyed reading your take on the things I've said. This is why I am so glad I was lucky enough to find Treeleaf. I think by talking with others who've had more experience with the Way, it will help me along on the path. Thanks again.

[Jundo]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

No, everything IS perfection and 'imperfection' is merely one of its perfect aspects. Seriously.

Chet

I think this "perfect" moment for the very "imperfect" advice to, please, just sit Zazen ... dropping all thoughts of "perfection" and "imperfection".

Taste that. What's then?

Do the stones suffer an inferiority complex compared to the trees?

Gassho, Jundo

[Martin]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

A great thread, thank you Alan and all.

The references to the dance brought Eliot's Burnt Norton to mind:

"At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance".

Gassho

Martin