An Introduction

[Tony-KY]

Thanks to everyone for the warm welcome!

I've just read the "First Encounters of the Zen" thread, and it was wonderful introduction to all of you.

I look forward to speaking with you all in the future.

Gassho,

Boone.

[John]

Hi again Boone. You got me interested in Second Life. I went in there last Sunday and have been looking around it on and off ever since. It's a scary place! I found the Skeptical Buddhist's Sangha and had a walk around the Sky Sangha - beautiful place - I might join one of the meetings on Sunday (if I don't get lost),

Gassho,
John

[Gregor]

Hey Boone,


glad to meet you. I was interested to hear about your various experiances with meditations techniques like Vipassana, mindfulness, and Shikantaza.

I've practiced a few styles myself and must admit that Skikantaza just works best for me, I think its something that is powerful and beautiful in its simplicity. Personally, once I tried it there was no going back.


So happy to have you with us.

take care,

Greg

[Tony-KY]

John-

Second life is bizarre when you first visit it. But after a while you meet people with common interest and find places to meet them.

My user ID is Boone Enoche in Second Life also (my real name is Tony). So, do a search for me and send me an IM. The Skeptical Buddhist Sangha has two meetings on Sundays. The first one is at 12:00 PM Second Life Time (which is US Pacific Time). I think that would be 8:00 PM in the UK. I'll probably be there this Sunday. The second meeting is at 6:00 PM Second Life Time.

Gassho,

Tony (aka Boone Enoche)

[Tony-KY]

Greg-

I've been practicing only since early September, so I'm pretty much a newbie at sitting.

At first, I was interested in the Theravada traditon. I read Mindfulness in Plain English which introduced me to Vipassana and followed it for a few weeks. Then I meet a Soto monk and teacher online and we discussed sitting and he told me about Shikantaza. Since then that is what I've been doing.

I, too, think Shikantaza fits me better. For me, focusing on the breath and counting breaths is in itself a distraction. I feel more natural not focusing on any object and just sitting. But I'm still getting my sea legs in sitting .

Gassho,

Tony

[Tony-KY]

John-

My user ID is Boone Enoch, not Boone Enoche.

I think I should change my user ID in this forum to "Tony in KY". Since I can't spell the one I have now .

[John]

Boone - Thanks, I'll look out for you. I don't use IM. Maybe I'm getting a bit old for all this! My friends think I'm mad - 'what's wrong with real life?' etc. I'm worried that my typing speed is a bit slow but we'll see,

Gassho,
John

[Jarkko]

Welcome!


Gassho
Jarkko

[paige]

Hi Tony, welcome.

-paige