On "comfort food Buddhism"

[disastermouse]

I wanted to like this blog post because I don't much care for TNH - but when I got to his derision about the Children's Advice about drinking tea, I was reminded of the story (Pali Cannon?) where the Buddha said 'But when I sit, I know I am sitting, when I stand I know I am standing, and when I walk I know I am walking.'

Mindfulness isn't all of the practice, but it can be an important part of it.

[Foursquare]

We have also had threads about the rough and wrathful "Samurai" style of Zen Practice, with yelling and slapping and various forms of breaking down the "self" through a headlong attack on the Ego. Much like physical and verbal abuse by a drill sergeant at a marine "boot camp", the point is to collapse pride, selfishness and other facets of ego to allow space for what will then come.

This is definitely not our style either at Treeleaf, where we take the Wise and Compassionate Middle Way ... for a trickle of water and easy wind can pierce a stone wall or a mountain as well as dynamite, while the latter often simply makes a broken mess of things, and pieces hard to put back together. The cruel and aggressive style (not limited to hard Rinzai training, by the way, but found very commonly in the "boot camp" atmosphere of Japanese Soto Training monasteries ... and even in some Western Soto and Rinzai communities) can also open the way to simple "hazing", physical, sexual and psychological abuse, sadism disguised as "spiritual training", "power trips" and the like in the wrong hands. That is another reason we do not go such way ... and the examples of abuse are many. This has been discussed in a few threads such as here.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?6479-Question-about-Eiheiji-Temple&p=25261&viewfull=1#post25261

However, although we (Taigu too, most certainly!) do not practice the hard, violent "boot camp" style ... and although we feel it can teach the wrong violent and breaking lessons ... and although I think it is rife for abuse in the wrong hands (here is a warning to all of us, of a Zen Buddhist community that went VERY wrong) ....

http://icsahome.com/infoserv_respond/by_icsapub.asp?ID=29888

... I still feel that it may be RIGHT for the psychological needs of some folks who might benefit from a "tough love" approach (assuming that it is compassionate "tough love" and not sadism in disguise). Some may need their medicine with "Mary Poppins" sugar, and some perhaps with gasoline or TNT. To each their own medicine in the prescription and dosage they need. I will stay with the trickling water that pierces and fills great mountains.

Gassho, J

I agree wholeheartedly with this. I know from personal experience and observation that some people, including children, respond to violently rigorous training, including such "training" in their upbringing, very differently: whereas one person will be stirred into trying harder and better by such methods, another can be thoroughly demoralised by them and paralysed and gives up, losing the will to act, and so remains in a state of inaction. Similarly, the subject of violently rigorous training can become resentful and perverse, and will not move or act out of resentment and perversity; if this happens, he or she shouldn't be there and in many instances they will have lost any motivation to continue with this form of training, spiritual or not. It is horses for courses. Spiritual training is not a one-way only affair.

[Ozgurel]

I followed Thich Nhat Hanh's teachings and practices on mindfulness and walking meditation. I even have a group on mindfulness on Facebook. How did these all change my life? Now when I drink a cup of tea, I realize in the sense level that I am doing so, but for a short time. If I am not alone, I need to respond, help or do something else for the people I am with. So mindfulness has to be dynamic and complex, not only limited to sense data we are receiving. The point is not just tasting the tea, it is about wholesome speech, wholesome conduct. Not being attached to the tea cup or anything. It takes a lot of practice. I think that TNH's mentioned public talks and some popular books are bound to be somewhat limited compared to the kind of teachings that are for the ones who have chosen buddhism and who have the access to the Plumvillage Sangha to practice on a more regular basis. They are somewhat like a beginner's level approach.

[Marla567]

I just finished reading a very good book:

Claude Anshin Thomas: At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace

The author saved his life with the Buddhist practices that TNH teaches after a post traumatic stress disorder because of the vietnam war.
After I read this book, I cannot agree, that there is anything superficial about the way TNH teaches. To everyone who believes this I can recommend this book very much.

Gassho
Bianca

[Myoku]

Hello everyone,
Well, I think we can give the teachings of TNH whatever label we like, but if we not want to separate and value and judge, why not just appreciating this as a wonderful way to spread the dharma. I only had been sitting with a TNH group once and though this certainly not treeleaf style, it is impressive how live, vivid and - thats it - full of love these teachings and these group was. TNH for most of the time is not the medicine for me, but sometimes it is and I believe for many people its exactly the right thing. Hopefully this not comes as if I would judge it minor to our way, the opposite: different way, same heart. And I would like to quote this part from Jundo "still waters run deep".
Gassho
Myoku

[Nenka]

I just finished reading a very good book:

Claude Anshin Thomas: At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace

The author saved his life with the Buddhist practices that TNH teaches after a post traumatic stress disorder because of the vietnam war.
After I read this book, I cannot agree, that there is anything superficial about the way TNH teaches. To everyone who believes this I can recommend this book very much.

Gassho
Bianca

Thanks for this, I'm going to look it up.

Since this thread came about, I've been looking up biographical info about TNH online. He's done a lot of work for peace, aided Vietnamese refugees during the 70s, and of course teaches. Does anyone know of any good books about him? Or if he's written an autobiography? He's written so many books it's hard to tell.

Gassho

Jen

[Jundo]

Thanks for this, I'm going to look it up.

Since this thread came about, I've been looking up biographical info about TNH online. He's done a lot of work for peace, aided Vietnamese refugees during the 70s, and of course teaches. Does anyone know of any good books about him? Or if he's written an autobiography? He's written so many books it's hard to tell.

Gassho

Jen

Hi Jen,

I know this collection of writings with some biographical sections ...

http://www.parallax.org/cgi-bin/shopper.cgi?preadd=action&key=BOOKLFPC

I am surprised that there do not seem to be more biographies, in English at least.

Gassho, J

[Nenka]

Thanks, Jundo.

Gassho

Jen