why do you come to the forums?

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  • shikantazen
    Member
    • Feb 2013
    • 361

    why do you come to the forums?

    does coming here and posting here give you a feeling of doing something, going somewhere? it seems it does to me. can I stop coming to the forums? and see nothing is lacking from my life. can I stop reading zen books? and see that I don't really need to know anything more. can I stop sitting for a week or two? without worrying that I won't get it anymore.

    what am i doing here? hoping to get "it" by trying to not want it?

    Gassho,
    Sam
  • Seiryu
    Member
    • Sep 2010
    • 620

    #2
    It seems like you already know the "answer" to all those questions.

    Who is the one asking the questions? Who is the one that "knows" that "I don't need to know anything more"?

    Who wants "it" by not trying to want "it"?

    is the one that wants the "it" any different from the "it"?

    In Taigen Dan Leighton's book "Zen questions" he describes Zazen as an inquiry.
    this practice of sitting involves facing the questions, learning about questioning, deepening our question, and allowing questions to arise.
    I thank you for your questions. For me it shows that one's practice is alive. Is organic. Is flowing. Beautiful thing.

    In Gassho
    Humbly,
    清竜 Seiryu

    Comment

    • Nameless
      Member
      • Apr 2013
      • 461

      #3
      Nicely said Seiryu! I was drawn here by a need to learn, practice and share with a community. Why am I here now? Because I'm here. Why do I practice? Because I practice (using the word "I" loosely of course). Be well Sam!

      Gassho, John

      Comment

      • Jundo
        Treeleaf Founder and Priest
        • Apr 2006
        • 39960

        #4
        One wanders into the monastery for a time to rub elbows with "Friends in the Way", to learn and share with Teachers and Companions, receive some guidance and pointers to a Good Direction ... then, whether staying or going on, One puts all into Practice.

        Even when inside the monastery, sitting Zazen or working in the garden, Practice is ultimately a one person non-effort wrestling with the "me myself and i". Even if sitting Zazen two feet from companions on either side, Zazen is just sitting Zazen beyond inside or out, left right or center.

        Come or go, come or go ... Where are You?

        Reading or not reading ... What can be Heard?

        Getting or not getting ... What is there to Get?

        Gassho, J
        Last edited by Jundo; 11-01-2013, 12:02 PM.
        ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

        Comment

        • RichardH
          Member
          • Nov 2011
          • 2800

          #5
          There are two online Buddhist places I go to these days, because it supports practice.. Treeleaf, which is a real community, and another forum because there are some good teachers and old “faces” there. The reason for going online is very simple.. geography. I connect with local sangha when possible, but not nearly as much as I used to, because I no longer have a footloose “Buddhist lifestyle” and am running on the treadmill of middle age responsibilities (care-giving,and trying to sustain a business amid escalating expenses and diminishing capacity). So there is going across town to practice when able, and going for a coffee for conversation when the opportunity arises, but there is also this amazing medium where I can “have a coffee" with practitioners around the world. It is also a place to express in words things that only fellow Buddhist geeks would be passionate about... can't do that with the brother-in-law, ...or business associates. And here at Treeleaf there is also sharing the inexpressible too... globally.
          Very cool and appreciated.

          Gassho
          Daizan
          Last edited by RichardH; 11-01-2013, 05:23 AM.

          Comment

          • Kyonin
            Treeleaf Priest / Engineer
            • Oct 2010
            • 6745

            #6
            I don't come to forums.

            I come to my home. To my temple. Where my sangha and global family are.

            But at the same time, I don't need to go anywhere because I am here.

            Right now.

            Gassho,

            Kyonin
            Hondō Kyōnin
            奔道 協忍

            Comment

            • Jishin
              Member
              • Oct 2012
              • 4821

              #7
              I come to forums because I can't stop myself. I am always here.

              Gassho, John

              Comment

              • Mp

                #8
                Originally posted by Kyonin
                I don't come to forums.

                I come to my home. To my temple. Where my sangha and global family are.

                But at the same time, I don't need to go anywhere because I am here.

                Right now.

                Gassho,

                Kyonin
                I agree ... Treeleaf is not a forum to me, it is my sangha ... my family.

                Gassho
                Shingen

                Comment

                • Seiryu
                  Member
                  • Sep 2010
                  • 620

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Kyonin
                  I don't come to forums.

                  I come to my home. To my temple. Where my sangha and global family are.

                  But at the same time, I don't need to go anywhere because I am here.

                  Right now.

                  Gassho,

                  Kyonin
                  Beautifully said.

                  In Gassho
                  Humbly,
                  清竜 Seiryu

                  Comment

                  • Seimyo
                    Member
                    • Jan 2012
                    • 861

                    #10
                    Well said Kyonin. I believe this particular space has transcended a basic forum.

                    Gassho
                    Seimyo

                    明 Seimyō (Christhatischris)

                    Comment

                    • Joyo

                      #11
                      Originally posted by Kyonin
                      I don't come to forums.

                      I come to my home. To my temple. Where my sangha and global family are.

                      But at the same time, I don't need to go anywhere because I am here.

                      Right now.

                      Gassho,

                      Kyonin
                      Kyonin, I feel the same way. It is such an honour to practice with everyone. Treeleaf, the members here, this is my family, which is something I've never experienced before. Not like this anyway, so thank you everyone, for being part of this sangha.

                      Gassho,
                      Treena

                      Comment

                      • Myoku
                        Member
                        • Jul 2010
                        • 1490

                        #12
                        Hello everyone,
                        I come here because its where my sangha is.
                        Gassho
                        Myoku

                        Comment

                        • shikantazen
                          Member
                          • Feb 2013
                          • 361

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Seimyo
                          Well said Kyonin. I believe this particular space has transcended a basic forum.

                          Gassho
                          Seimyo
                          Cant agree more

                          Gassho,
                          Sam

                          Comment

                          • Nengyo
                            Member
                            • May 2012
                            • 668

                            #14
                            I'm just here to learn how to levitate and control peoples minds... we do learn that eventually, right?
                            If I'm already enlightened why the hell is this so hard?

                            Comment

                            • Ricky Ramos
                              Member
                              • Oct 2013
                              • 46

                              #15
                              I wanted, and needed a community, a Sangha, to practice and who would understand the meaning practicing Zen has for me. I find this as a second family. Gassho

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