why do you come to the forums?

[shikantazen]

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]

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

[Nameless]

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

[Jundo]

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

[RichardH]

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

[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

[Jishin]

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

Gassho, John

[Mp]

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

[Seiryu]

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

[Seimyo]

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

Gassho
Seimyo

[Joyo]

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

[Myoku]

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

[shikantazen]

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

Gassho
Seimyo

Cant agree more

Gassho,
Sam

[Nengyo]

I'm just here to learn how to levitate and control peoples minds... we do learn that eventually, right?

[Ricky Ramos]

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