Study Buddism?

[edward]

Re: Study Buddism?

English is not my native language, so it's not very good. Words I can look-up, but this is difficult with expressions and sayings (or does anybody know a website where this is possible?)

I would like to ask what :

"off the wall guys" means, in:

"some off the wall guys ( quite litteraly) say: study? Of course. And come back to the cushion."

and what:

"complaining about cupboard space" means, in:

"...and it seems that people are still complaining about cupboard space!"

Thank you,

Edward

[Hoyu]

Re: Study Buddism?

Edward wrote:
But it is expected from a student to study many of the scholastic works, and there are many. I often wondered if reading these voluminous works will really help you to get a better understanding. There is a lot of tradition in there and the style of writing is very different than in Zen. Lot's of the three kinds of... the five ways to... the three points... the forty-six...

From what you described it does seem like a lot of mandatory study.
In my experience with Zen(not only here but at other Zendo as well) I have always felt that further study was more of an optional recommendation than a mandate. Jundo's book list is even titled "Suggested Book List for Treeleaf Sangha" not mandatory book list.. Though I'm sure that there is plenty for priests in training.

Gassho,
John

[Jundo]

Re: Study Buddism?

My background is the kagyu-school of Tibetan Buddhism, where there is a lot of emphasis on sitting practice, like in Zen. But it is expected from a student to study many of the scholastic works, and there are many. I often wondered if reading these voluminous works will really help you to get a better understanding. There is a lot of tradition in there and the style of writing is very different than in Zen. Lot's of the three kinds of... the five ways to... the three points... the forty-six... Of course they are all good reminders. But does it really help to release my suffering?

Please consider the Middle Way ... too much book study is binding of the mind, yet no study can render Zen practice into chaos. It becomes then much like trying to make a beautiful tea cup by throwing clay blindly at a wall and hoping that something good forms by chance.

Even to understand what is the meaning of the words "Middle Way" as a philosophy takes study!

The Buddha did not -just- teach to sit under a tree and nothing more ... but he got up from the tree and proceeded to teach for years and years on the meaning of tree sitting. Zazen is the one and only action that is needed. Zazen blindly sat is not Zazen (A Koan).

Study is not "optional" ... but, rather, must be undertaken with moderation and a certain way of seeing. Reading must occur with the bones and marrow, not just with the eyes and thoughts. Zen reading is much like listening to music, feeling it deep within ... and is much more than merely music as taking in vibrations with the ears and writing notations on paper.

It is very much like reading and studying how to "sail a boat, tie knots and work the rudder" ... and getting out on the open sea. If one just limits "sailing" to reading books ... that is not sailing. If one spends one's entire time on a boat consulting the manual ... that is not sailing. Sailing sailing sailing is sailing. However, if one simply pushes the boat into the raging and wild sea with no knowledge and direction ... good chance one's voyage will end up on the rocks or crashed onto the beach.

On this voyage to no-where, with nothing to attain ... one still must know the difference between a rudder and an anchor, north and south (and the meaning of "no north or south" too).

Gassho, Jundo

PS - "Suggested Book List for Treeleaf Sangha"

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=889

Those are the books we suggest are good ones. The meaning is not that they should be neglected.

[Hoyu]

Re: Study Buddism?

Those are the books we suggest are good ones. The meaning is not that they should be neglected.

Got it ops:

It is very much like reading and studying how to "sail a boat, tie knots and work the rudder" ... and getting out on the open sea. If one just limits "sailing" to reading books ... that is not sailing. If one spends one's entire time on a boat consulting the manual ... that is not sailing. Sailing sailing sailing is sailing. However, if one simply pushes the boat into the raging and wild sea with no knowledge and direction ... good chance one's voyage will end up on the rocks or crashed onto the beach.

This analogy really drives your point home!

In Karate class if the kids get good grades they get an award of academic achievement. On it reads something that i feel relates to this topic.

It says:

A warrior without knowledge and intelligence is only half a man. A scholar without physical mastery and good conditioning is only half a man.

Karate has always recognized that we are both mind and body. As such, it has always sought to elevate not only our physical but also our intellectual and mental sides, to create a more complete person.

Gassho,
John

[Heisoku]

Re: Study Buddism?

Hi Edward

The cupboard space refers to Seiryu's posted video Instruction Manual for Life...I was weaving threads...have a look it..it's a nicely put story about how books can affect our perspectives and how we need to put books into perspective.

All in a well-meaning way.