Introductions

[Dainin]

Welcome Louis!

I am a fellow Nutmegger, having grown up in Newington and attended grad school at UConn (go Huskies!).

Having also grown up Catholic, Robert Kennedy's work has interested me. I have wanted to meet him since I read a few of his books.

I am sure you'll fit in around here just fine!

[Urug]

Welcome Louis

Gassho...

Urug

[Bansho]

Hi Louis,

Welcome. I used to live in Waltham, MA, which is not too far from Cambridge and also had strong ties to Providence, RI when I was living in Middletown and Bristol, RI. (I used to play with the 'Providence Mandolin Orchestra'). Small world, eh?

Gassho
Kenneth

[Eika]

Hello . . . I am a married 39 year old with three small children ages 3, 3, and 4 (yes, the 3s are twins). I have been meditating since 1994 with a couple of years in there where I fell away. I started attending a local Tibetan Buddhist center in 1994, but my personal practice was always more like Zen practice. I quit attending that group after about a year because I found it to be too ritual-oriented and full of practices that I couldn't connect with because of the vast cultural gulf between Tibetans and Americans (deities, tantra, etc.).
I have always been drawn toward the directness of Zen and have recently been looking for a teacher to assist my practice. I have never had a teacher, so I have spent 12 years reading and meditating on my own. In some ways I think all of that solitary work has been great for me, but I also know that there are important ways of knowing that lie outside of the written word.
The idea of a virtual zendo is intriguing because the nearest Zen center with a regular teacher is over two hours away. With my job and family that is a difficult trip to make regularly. I have been impressed with Jundo's teachings and find myself returning daily for them. I was truly grateful when I stumbled across the Treeleaf.org site. I look forward to getting to know you all.

Respect to all,
Bill

[Bansho]

Hey Bill,

nice to have you around, welcome.

Gassho
Kenneth

[Dainin]

Hi Bill,

Welcome! Great having you here!

Keith

[Smoggyrob]

Hi everyone:

My name's Rob. I was born and raised in and around Los Angeles, except for two years in Mississippi and Caracas. I crashed my first computer when I was two (in 1967), and shortly thereafter began walking to school, uphill, both ways. We moved a lot when I was a kid, and it wasn't until about 1977 that I spent two Christmases in the same place. I started reading about Buddhism in the early 80's, but I'm a lazy bastard and am still struggling to establish a daily zazen practice. I read a lot. I had something I call a kensho experience around 1990 (while reading!), but that never did much for me. My wife and I met at Disneyland, and have been married for almost 13 years. We use our vacations to scout out beaches to retire to someday. I work as a regulator in a vehicle emissions testing program and used to be a technician in the same field. I started sitting weekly with Brad Warner a couple of years ago after reading Hardcore Zen.

I joined this group because I really admire what Jundo is doing with this "online zen" thing. I hope to learn from all of you, and not piss any of you off too much.

Salud!

Rob
"If we learn from our mistakes, then I'm a VERY educated man."

[Jundo]

Welcome Rob and all the new folks!

Gassho, Jundo

[Dainin]

Hey Rob,

Welcome! Go ahead and piss us off, we can take it! :wink:

Keith

[BruceS]

Welcome to all the new guys from another fairly new guy!

[Keishin]

introductions

Hellos to Blind Ox (Daniel Lee) SmoggyRob, Don'tKnow (Bill) and Louis--

Gosh, Jundo do you think you might start hosting yearly tax write off seminars we could attend for annual 'Treeleaf' get togethers and have the opportunity to actually meet each other? We could make it a pot-luck to cut down on expenses!

But come to think of it--it is the cyberness of this sangha which makes it truly truly special!

gassho
keishin

[Gregor]

I think this is the original introductions thread