Is online Zen practice any less "real" or authentic?

[Kaishin]

A talk by the San Francisco Zen Center, entitled "The Real Thing: Enlightenment and the Internet"

Very interesting talk, even though we know the answer already

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SanFranciscoZenCenterPublicLectures/~3/p0o767bZjsQ/2015-06-06-cc-zesho-susan-o'connell.mp3

(p.s. my apologies if this was posted before)

-satToday

[Mp]

Thank you Matt, I too have heard this one, well, I watched it ... so here is a version if you want to watch. =)

http://livestream.com/SFZC/events/4047726

Gassho
Shingen

#sattoday

[Jundo]

Here is my take based on nearly 10 years of this experiment. Older members have heard it before ...

The world is virtual, this sangha is real

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?8103-The-world-is-virtual-this-sangha-is-real

Gassho, J

SatToday

[RichardH]

I took Refuge in 1989 and have practiced with different brick and mortar communities in two traditions over the years. In these communities contact with the teacher and other sangha members was once or twice a week, except for during a period of yearly retreat. In this sangha my contact is daily, sometimes throughout the day. Morning sitting is with sangha mates, sewing practice is with sangha mates. This is the most engaged community, most intimate always-with-you community I have known. Furthermore there is online-offline flow through. In my region there are sangha members offline who I can practice with. We can engage the local community together. Regional brick and mortar retreats can be organized along with live-media online retreats and regular sittings. The potential for good, for so many, has never been better.

Gassho

Daizan

sat today

[Cumminjd]

Thank you for this I will listen to it as soon as I can. Although to me our sangha is more real than most of reality. So there is that

Gassho
James
SatToday


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Getchi]

I respect the SFZC, and will listen to the link ASAP.

My first reaction is what can be less then reality?
Like Daizen above, I have been a very long time "buddhist" and invloved with more then one IRL sangha. I am impressed with the dedication shown by our Teachers and leaders, the humility and companionship of fellow sangha members.

I came here wanting to obtain a proper Zen buddhist "education", and have learned more in these last months here then I think i would have in other places.

Truly grateful for the potential in this Age.

Gassho,
Geoff.
SatToday.

[Jakuden]

As a kid doing amateur radio, I would thrill at occasionally hearing a bit of Morse code from Europe or somewhere else across the ocean. Now I can carry this wonderful sangha and all of you wonderful people in my pocket on a thing called a smartphone. And find a connection that I can't make here in my own rural town, where Buddhists are rare as hens' teeth! It doesn't get more real than that.
Gassho,
Sierra
SatToday

[Anshu Bryson]

Zesho (Susan O'Connell) seems to come to the same conclusion as us it would appear. I would hope that we, who have some experiential knowledge of the matter, knew that is was 'The Real Thing' all along... Daizan's note above says it all, really...

Gassho,
Anshu

-sat today-

[Mp]

Zesho (Susan O'Connell) seems to come to the same conclusion as us it would appear. I would hope that we, who have some experiential knowledge of the matter, knew that is was 'The Real Thing' all along... Daizan's note above says it all, really...

Gassho,
Anshu

-sat today-

I agree with you there Anshu ... she too seemed to have an open heart and mind on it. =)

Gassho
Shingen

#sattoday

[Geika]

Very grateful to Treeleaf...

Gassho
Sat today

[Myosha]

I . . . have practiced with different brick and mortar communities in two traditions over the years. In these communities contact with the teacher and other sangha members was once or twice a week, except for during a period of yearly retreat. In this sangha my contact is daily, sometimes throughout the day. Morning sitting is with sangha mates, sewing practice is with sangha mates. This is the most engaged community, most intimate always-with-you community I have known. Furthermore there is online-offline flow through. In my region there are sangha members offline who I can practice with. We can engage the local community together. Regional brick and mortar retreats can be organized along with live-media online retreats and regular sittings. The potential for good, for so many, has never been better.

Gassho

Daizan

HEAR! HEAR!


Gassho
Myosha sat today

[Tb]

Hi.

Parafrasing Dogen "When you look at Painted ricecakes, one satisfies the hunger as good as another", Or parafrasing another guy "It's all good practice, it only depends on what you do with it".

Thank you for your practice.

Mtfbwy
Fugen

#Sat2day

[Victor Chu]

This topic somehow reminded me of a quote by Chuang Tzu:

“Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was myself. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.”

Gassho
Victor

[Yugen]

Is online Zen practice any less "real" or authentic?

Chuang Tzu doesn't drop around here much - it's nice to see him, and you.

Thank you

Deep bows
Yugen


sat2day

[Jishin]

This topic somehow reminded me of a quote by Chuang Tzu:

“Once upon a time, I dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was myself. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.”

Beautiful. Thanks.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_