New to Treeleaf

[Ten]

Just a quick note to say hello to everyone here at the Treeleaf Zendo forum. I'm 23 and have been interested in Buddhism for about 5 years now. Although I've read quite a few well known Buddhist books, I really struggle with meditating despite my best intentions, imagine my joy when I found this website and saw I could sit along with Jundo. I've sat along for the last 2 days for the half an hour, something I didn't think I could do before.

I hope to learn from you all and best wishes.

[Dainin]

Hi Ten,

Welcome to Treeleaf! It's a great place with great people. I hope you enjoy your time here.

Gassho,
Keith

[Eika]

Welcome Ten!

One day at a time . . .

Bill

[Shohei]

Hellol & welcome Ten!

Gassho
Dirk

[Mensch]

Welcome Ten!

The only thing I hate more than zazen is my state of mind when I don't do it for too long. Sometimes it's just awsome though (like the day after the recent Treeleaf retreat).

I think it was Shunryu Suzuki who summed it up well: "Just do it!"

Regards,

Mensch

[Bansho]

Hi Ten,

Welcome. I wish I had gotten started at 23, it could've kept me from doing lots of silly things...

Gassho
Kenneth

[Lynn]

Hi Ten! Welcome and jump right in!

Gassho~

*Lynn

[dharmabump]

Welcome Ten! What part of the world are you from?

[Kelly M.]

Welcome, Treeleaf has a way of surpassing expectations.

Cheers,
Kelly

[Ten]

Thank you for all your kind and warm welcomes! I feel right at home already.

Just a bit more information, I'm in the UK and am currently studying a distance learning course with the Awakened Heart Sangha (AHS), infact I started this 3/4 years ago when I started to become really interested in Buddhism, but I couldn't apply myself, like meditation. I only recently contacted them and asked if I could still do the course, which I can, so far it's going better than last time.

It's strange, even though I think I haven't learnt anything in those years, I've picked up so much life experience in that time and it all inter-relates with Buddhist practice, even though I wasn't physically practicing Buddhism.

[Jundo]

Just a bit more information, I'm in the UK and am currently studying a distance learning course with the Awakened Heart Sangha (AHS), infact I started this 3/4 years ago when I started to become really interested in Buddhism, but I couldn't apply myself, like meditation. I only recently contacted them and asked if I could still do the course, which I can, so far it's going better than last time.

Hi Ten,

Is that http://www.ahs.org.uk? I want to make sure we are talking about the same place

Not to put a damper on your welcome here, but you may find quite a difference in approach here between the Tibetan Mahamudra/Doghzen teachings at AHS and the "Just Sitting" Shikantaza that I teach here. It is not a matter of which is better (I am biased, because I teach what I teach), or which is better for you (that is for you to determine in your life), but that the two approaches may not mix.

I often describe it as going to an Ai-ki-do teacher to practice your Karate kicks and punches: Same underlying philosophy (with important differences), same general goals (with important differences) also very different approachers to technique. Please know that in what you encounter here.

That being said, all are welcome to practice Ai-ki-do here! :-)

Gassho, Jundo

[Fuken]

Welcome aboard!

[Steve]

Welcome!

[will]

Hey Ten. Welcome to the leaf.


Gassho Will

[paige]

Pleased to meet you, Ten.

Hello and welcome.