The Buddhism Community

（四）From the east in ancient civilization of information《来自东方文明古国的信息》

2012-05-24T07:20:40Z

（四）From the east in ancient civilization of information《来自东方文明古国的信息》

把心放下，所有的众生都是平等的--双语版

All Beings are Equal

If your heart cannot get rid of bondages, you will never release from purgatory.

All things in the world are illusory, so don’t cling to them and spend every day naturally.

Mortal body is illusory, making from five skandhas, with karmic birth and karmic death. We cultivate true selves under the help of false selves, so we shouldn’t cling to this false self, too.

Parents, couples, children and relatives are also karmic gathering and karmic apart，which is the four relationships between them, repaying gratitude, revenge, dunning for debts and repaying debts，one kind or some of the four mixed, so it shouldn’t cling to affection.

Each sentient being is equal and doesn’t need to attach to other one.

Each sentient being is equal and is supposed to respect each other.

Each sentient being is equal and is future Buddha.

Each sentient being is equal and is suppose to have indomitable spirit.

Each sentient being is equal and is suppose to be treated equally.

Each sentient being is equal and is suppose to be rescued compassionately.

Disturbed by a telephone call.

Frightened by a rebuke.

Worried by a budget.

Cling to mortal body a life time.

Poor Buddha-like beings

Poor sentient beings

Master is compassionate

Shedding tears on the earth.

When will you find true self?

When will you sweep the dust and restore to original brightness?

When will you return to origin?

Mighty Yangtze River are becoming more and more muddy

Vast Kunlun has collected so many fragmentary spirits

Well

Follow the mandate of heaven

The retribution is called up by karma.

Don’t complain and hate, Buddha had imparted that clearly.

The compassionate heart is vast, but you have felt is so little.

Today I left some words, later I will guide.

Please contract Chicheng with MSN in English

chicheng1980@hotmail.com

omachael@gmail.com

华语可与 Onora781014@hotmail 联系

〇sifu2010.01.19开示

心若放不下，永远都解脱不了！

世间一切皆是虚幻，不可执著，随缘度日即可。

肉身亦是虚幻，五蕴和合而成，缘生缘灭，我们是借假修真，对此假我，亦不可执著。

父母、夫妻、子女等六亲，亦是因缘聚散，报恩、报怨、讨债、还债，或四者交织，而成眷属。亦不可执著贪爱。

每一个生灵都是平等的，不需依附他人。

每一个生灵都是平等的，应互尊互敬。

每一个生灵都是平等的，都是未来佛。

每一个生灵都是平等的，都应该顶天立地。

每一个生灵都是平等的，都应该平等相待。

每一个生灵都是平等的，都应该慈悲救度。

一个电话乱了方寸

一声斥责胆战心惊

一笔开支伤透脑筋

一个色身执著一生

可怜的佛子呀

可怜的众生

〇sifu慈悲

泪洒红尘

尔等何时明心见性？

尔等何时找回本真？

尔等何时去尘复明？

尔等何时回归本尊？

看浩浩长江愈来愈浑？

看莽莽昆仑几多残灵？

也罢

顺天而行

因缘果报众业感召

大限一到任尔哭号

勿怨勿恨佛已昭告

慈悲心大尔感渺渺

今留片言再做善导。

a question..

2012-05-23T05:50:01Z

Why do you meditate?

buddhists @ 2012-05-23T07:00:00

2012-05-23T05:00:10Z

squee! bhikkhu bodhi's new, complete translation of the anguttara nikaya will be available in november (ISBN 1614290407). happy happy.

buddhists @ 2012-05-04T15:47:00

2012-05-04T22:48:20Z

Dharma talk by Rev Danny Fisher

Sweeping Zen Interview with Bernie Glassman

2012-05-03T00:48:23Z

This is a New Interview with Bernie on Zen history, priesthood, scandal and compassion.

Bernie Glassman is an American Zen teacher and the first dharma successor of the late Taizan Maezumi Roshi. Describing his activities as socially engaged Buddhism, he is founder of the Zen Peacemakers and is also a published author. He is the past President of the White Plum Asanga and is currently working on a book with Jeff Bridges (the well-known actor and star of The Big Lebowski) due out this November titled The Dude and the Zen Master...

LINK: Sweeping Zen Interview with Bernie Glassman

The lineage I am studying is somewhat related to this as my teacher received transmission from Bernie Glassman...since her teacher Maezumi Roshi had passed on, it seems a great read to me, what are your thoughts?

Wheel of time.

2012-04-23T21:01:45Z

The legendary German filmmaker Werner Herzog traveled to India in 2002 to make a documentary on Kalachakra, the elaborate ordaining ritual for Tibetan Buddhist monks. Every two or three years, nearly a half million pilgrims travel to witness it. This is a beautifully shot film, that offers a fascinating look at the devotion and practice of Tibetan pilgrims-

buddhists @ 2012-04-23T07:54:00

2012-04-23T05:54:20Z

Hello buddhists!

Does anyone have any recommendations for good buddhist blogs out there? I haven't had alot of luck finding really insightful writing in a while. All suggestions would be very much appreciated :).

the wealth factor

2012-04-22T23:34:57Z

I have been rereading Bhante G's book about concentration meditation, Beyond Mindfulness. He talks about the methods, terrain and benefits of jhana practice. The ideal environment for concentration seems to be silent retreat or very similar conditions. Which brings up one of my pet peeves* with American convert practice, the assumption that we all have the free time and money to do retreats.
I have had money to do retreats and I have had time to do retreats but never both at the same time, time more often the limiting factor. Actually, from what I have heard and read, I don't live in a very promising environment for a successful liberation practice.
So what does one do? Forget about it and hope for better conditions in one's next incarnation? And what would be a good description of these better conditions? Being male might be marginally helpful. Being middle-class or above is very helpful. Pre or post parenthood is very helpful for both time and income. Having a spouse/partner who is also Buddhist. Having a good-paying job with generous, liberal vacation benefits. Having (or had) a job with a generous and secure pension plan. Or having a generous income that you don't have to spend your precious time earning (rich). Doesn't it sound like I have just described a rather small slice of the (U.S) population?
I know that some people will read this and protest that they have a good practice and do retreats without any of these benefits. And I'm sure some people do, but I would argue that most people who practice and who can go on multi-day retreats are well described by the previous paragraph.

*Are Buddhists allowed to have pet peeves? :-)

Prayer help

2012-04-18T22:26:25Z

My father died last week and I would very much like to meditate on his passing and say a prayer for an easy transition and also that he can achieve peace in his next life. Does anyone have any suggestions for chants or prayers?

You would think I say that I worship Darth Vader

2012-04-18T06:31:21Z

I got into a theology discussion with my family the other day and I can honestly say that it didn't quite end well. I think the family is planning on some kind of Intervention...

We were talking about religion (Christian vs. others) and I chimed in that I am non-denominational. I talked about Buddhism and some others and how I believe a little bit of all religions and you would have thought that I was the Devil incarnate. They ambushed me and basically told me that I was going to hell.... I had to laugh. I believe in peace. I believe in God, a God, the God. The point where the argument began was the term of "God". All religions believe in a higher power, a supreme being and who is to say which god is THE God or that they are not the SAME God but from a different view. I honestly have to say that I am glad that I have been studying Buddhism and the inner peace that it brings to my heart or I could have been really nasty. Never once did I feel like attacking anyone's belief that day, I just agreed with them and continued on explaining my view and how it matched theirs, but from a different angle... It was comical, yet sad.

buddhists @ 2012-04-15T10:00:00

2012-04-15T17:00:55Z

"Thus, Buddhism is better understood as a skill or an art to perfect rather than as information or knowledge to be learned or amassed."
P. 50 Red Pine's translation & commentary The Heart Sutra

Posted via LiveJournal app for iPhone.

Sitting Pain

2012-04-15T11:43:50Z

How much pain is one supposed to put up with when meditating?

I recently bought a gomden, and I'm finding that after only a few minutes my lower and middle back are in agony, and the pain lingers for some time after I get up as well.

buddhists @ 2012-04-10T01:48:00

2012-04-12T00:12:42Z

If you need a new twist on your death and impermanence meditations, here's something:
http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2012-14-07/largest-short-term-threat-humanity-fuel-pools-fukushima

The world might end this year in a nuclear apocalypse, so there's no point in getting angry about little things.

If man-made disasters aren't your thing, there's always super volcanos:
http://www.livescience.com/200-super-volcano-challenge-civilization-geologists-warn.html

The Dalai Lama has won the 2012 Templeton Prize

2012-04-12T00:12:33Z

The Templeton Prize honors a living person who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension, whether through insight, discovery, or practical works.

Wednesday, 11-Apr-2012 19:36:45 EDT

WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. – The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader whose long-standing engagement with multiple dimensions of science and with people far beyond his own religious traditions has made him an incomparable global voice for universal ethics, nonviolence, and harmony among world religions, has won the 2012 Templeton Prize.

For decades, Tenzin Gyatso, 76, the 14th Dalai Lama - a lineage believed by followers to be the reincarnation of an ancient Buddhist leader who epitomized compassion - has vigorously focused on the connections between the investigative traditions of science and Buddhism as a way to better understand and advance what both disciplines might offer the world.

Specifically, he encourages serious scientific investigative reviews of the power of compassion and its broad potential to address the world's fundamental problems - a theme at the core of his teachings and a cornerstone of his immense popularity.

Within that search, the "big questions" he raises - such as "Can compassion be trained or taught?" - reflect the deep interest of the founder of the Templeton Prize, the late Sir John Templeton, in seeking to bring scientific methods to the study of spiritual claims and thus foster the spiritual progress that the Prize has recognized for the past 40 years.

More can be found here.

Excerpt from post on my home page.

2012-04-11T23:10:50Z

Mediation; There is a mediation weekend (Sesshin) coming up this Fri, Sat and Sun and I hope to attend quite a bit of it, weather permitting. My driving is pretty ~~sucky~~ bad in the rain with my not so great vision, so we will see how that goes.

Social interaction; Healthy but low except for teaching yoga classes, that is typical though. Zen Center, lovely people, acquaintances, (still getting to know them) this weekend but it is a silent meditation, so it takes awhile to get to know people ;) And often people are busy working on their 'stuff' and that is what I try to do there too.

Confronting suffering,

2012-04-11T19:14:27Z

Hello,

On a recent retreat I recognised a source of suffering in myself. - A fear of being rejected/ disapproved of, or creating barriers between myself and others by revealing that I am transsexual/bisexual. Currently being bi or trans doesn't really come into my life and I feel very comfortable in myself so I don't really need to talk about these issues, but I am aware of these tensions from two issues-

1. Desire to become a monastic - fear of being rejected on the basis of gender
2. Aware that my being open about these issues could help alleviate similar suffering/isolation for those in a similar situation. Also that it could check bi/trans phobia in those around me.

I am determined that I don't want to live a life in fear, I have been thinking it would be best to confront the situation head on and come out to my sangha, but I feel quite anxious at the prospect - while my sangha is a very loving place I know my fears aren't entirely unfounded. I am wondering if anyone has some words of wisdom? How have you transformed your own social anxiety/ fears of rejection.

Suchness

2012-04-11T17:58:42Z

Greetings to all of you Dharma-folks!

I think I finally come to grasp what Tathata means.

And I certainly am very happy to share this wonderful insight with all those interested in this kind of stuff:

Tathata/Suchness is nothing else than the reality which we all experience.

Nothing more, nothing less.

And yeah, no need to thank me for this profound Dharma-talk...

buddhist practice profile

2012-04-04T23:35:08Z

Name/Location-
Katie/Northern California

What tradition/traditions/ teachers do you look to?
Theravada, vipassana, Gil Fronsdal, Jack Kornfield, Trungpa,

What does your daily practice look like?
Thirty minutes sitting, some reading/study.

Do you practice with a sangha? How has that been helpful for you?
I belong to a sitting/study group. It has helped connect me with the wider community.

How long have you been practising?
Almost ten years.

How did you discover meditation/Buddhism?
I learned about the Buddha from my father when I was a small child and reading when I was in grade school, but my Catholic upbringing forbade further exploration. In college I read more but there were no sources of sitting instruction. Fast forward to recent years- I started sitting on my own after reading a book about basic technique.

And maybe share a lesson or insight you have found valuable?
More than I could write in a few sentences.

Nice to meet you

2012-04-02T20:14:44Z

Name/Location- elayna, So. Calif, US
What tradition/traditions/ teachers do you look to? Soto Zen, so that is Mahayana, Dogen Zenji lineage.
What does your daily practice look like? It is still mostly yoga as I am also a yoga instructor, I just recently became more serious about the Zen. I just started Jukai training this year before that I had attended this Center's Sanghas and events off and on about three years ago. I need to set up a regular daily Zen meditation practice. I am working on how to fit that in the best.
Do you practice with a sangha? How has that been helpful for you? Yes, Three day Sesshins once a month, (i am attending part time) and every Wed night we have Council. This week at Council is Fusatsu on Precept #4 for the fourth month - Non-lying. I personally need Dharma, Sangha and Buddha, the Three Treasures that is encouraged at the Center I attend.
How did you discover meditation/Buddhism? I was curious about the differences between Hinduism that we lean to with the yoga, yet I have always had a keen interest and good feeling about Buddhism so I did some research and it feels a bit more right then Hinduism, for me. Although I love some aspects of Hinduism.
And maybe share a lesson or insight you have found valuable? I can practice Yoga and Zen, they can overlap, this is possible. I can take the precepts of Zen into every part of my life.
<<In Gassho>>
~elayna

Nice to meet you!

2012-04-02T19:13:17Z

Hello Everyone,

I thought it might be nice if we all introduced ourselves and our practice so we can get a sense of who makes up this community!

Here are some suggested questions you might like to answer-

Name/Location-

What tradition/traditions/ teachers do you look to?

What does your daily practice look like?

Do you practice with a sangha? How has that been helpful for you?

How long have you been practising?

How did you discover meditation/Buddhism?

And maybe share a lesson or insight you have found valuable?

Feel free to delete ones you don't like or add your own :) You can find my answers in the comments!

14 Mindfullness trainings

2012-03-27T15:19:41Z

The 14 Mindfulness Trainings – Revised

Presented by Thay for the Great Ordination Ceremony, Plum Village, February 2012

The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings are the very essence of the Order of Interbeing. They are the torch lighting our path, the boat carrying us, the teacher guiding us. They allow us to touch the nature of interbeing in everything that is, and to see that our happiness is not separate from the happiness of others. Interbeing is not a theory; it is a reality that can be directly experienced by each of us at any moment. The Fourteen Mindfulness Trainings help us cultivate concentration and insight which free us from fear and the illusion of a separate self.

The First Mindfulness Training: Openness

Aware of the suffering created by fanaticism and intolerance, we are determined not to be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. We are committed to seeing the Buddhist teachings as a guiding means that help us learn to look deeply and develop understanding and compassion. They are not doctrines to fight, kill, or die for. We understand that fanaticism in its many forms is the result of perceiving things in a dualistic or discriminative manner. We will train ourselves to look at everything with openness and the insight of interbeing in order to transform dogmatism and violence in ourselves and the world.

The Second Mindfulness Training: Non-Attachment to Views

Aware of the suffering created by attachment to views and wrong perceptions, we are determined to avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. We are committed to learning and practicing nonattachment from views and being open to other’s insights and experiences in order to benefit from the collective wisdom. Insight is revealed through the practice of compassionate listening, deep looking, and letting go of notions rather than through the accumulation of intellectual knowledge. We are aware that the knowledge we presently possess is not changeless, absolute truth. Truth is found in life, and we will observe life within and around us in every moment, ready to learn throughout our lives.

The Third Mindfulness Training: Freedom of Thought

Aware of the suffering brought about when we impose our view on others, we are determined not to force others, even our children, by any means whatsoever – such as authority, threat, money, propaganda, or indoctrination – to adopt our views. We are committed to respecting the rights of others to be different, to choose what to believe and how to decide. We will, however, learn to help others let go of and transform narrowness through loving speech and compassionate dialogue.

The Fourth Mindfulness Training; Awareness of Suffering

Aware that looking deeply at our own suffering can help us cultivate understanding and compassion, we are determined to come home to ourselves, to recognize, accept, embrace and listen to our own suffering with the energy of mindfulness. We will do our best not to run away from our own suffering or cover it up through consumption but practice conscious breathing and walking to look deeply into the roots of our suffering. We know we can only find the path leading to the transformation of suffering when we understand the roots of suffering. Once we have understood our own suffering, we will be able to understand the suffering of others. We are committed to finding ways, including personal contact and using the telephone, electronic, audiovisual, and other means to be with those who suffer, so we can help them transform their suffering into compassion, peace and joy.

The Fifth Mindfulness Training: Compassionate, Healthy Living

Aware that happiness is rooted in peace, solidity, freedom and compassion, we are determined not to accumulate wealth while millions are hungry and dying nor to take as the aim of our life fame, profit, wealth, or sensual pleasure, which can bring much suffering and despair. We will practice looking deeply into how we nourish our body and mind with edible foods, sense impressions, volition and consciousness. We are committed not to gamble or to use alcohol, drugs or any other products that bring toxins into our own and the collective body and consciousness such as certain websites, electronic games, TV programs, films, magazines, books and conversations. We will consume in a way that preserves compassion, peace, joy, wellbeing in our bodies and consciousness and in the collective body and consciousness of our families, our society, and the earth.

The Sixth Mindfulness Training: Taking Care of Anger

Aware that anger blocks communication and creates suffering; we are committed to taking care of our energy of anger when it arises, to recognizing and transforming the seeds of anger that lie deep in our consciousness. When anger manifests, we are determined not to do or say anything, but to practice mindful breathing or mindful walking to acknowledge, embrace, and look deeply into our anger. We know that the roots of anger are not outside of ourselves but can be found in our wrong perceptions and lack of understanding of the suffering in ourselves and the other person. By contemplating impermanence, we will be able to look with the eyes of compassion at ourselves and those we think are the cause of our anger, and to recognize the preciousness of our relationships. We will practice Right Diligence in order to nourish our capacity of understanding, love, joy and inclusiveness, gradually transforming our anger, violence, fear and helping others do the same.

The Seventh Mindfulness Training: Dwelling Happily in the Present Moment

Aware that life is available only in the present moment, we are committed to training ourselves to live deeply each moment of daily life. We will try not to lose ourselves in dispersion or be carried away by regrets about the past, worries about the future, or cravings, anger, or jealousy in the present. We will practice mindful breathing to be aware of what is happening in the here and now. We are determined to learn the art of mindful living by touching the wondrous, refreshing, and healing elements that are inside and around us, in all situations. In this way, we will be able to cultivate seeds of joy, peace, love, and understanding in ourselves, thus facilitating the work of transformation and healing in our consciousness. We are aware that happiness depends primarily on our mental attitude and not on external conditions, and that we can live happily in the present moment simply by remembering that we already have more than enough conditions to be happy.

The Eighth Mindfulness Training: True Community & Communication

Aware that lack of communication always brings separation and suffering, we are committed to training ourselves in the practice of compassionate listening and loving speech. Knowing that true community is rooted in inclusiveness and in the concrete practice of harmony of views, thinking and speech, we will practice to share our understanding and experiences with members in our community in order to arrive at collective insight. We are determined to learn to listen deeply without judging or reacting, and refrain from uttering words that can create discord or cause the community to break. Whenever difficulties arise, we will remain in our Sangha and practice looking deeply into ourselves and others to recognize all the causes and conditions, including our own habit energies, that have brought about the difficulties. We will take responsibility for all the ways we may have contributed to the conflict and keep communication open. We will not behave as a victim but be active in finding ways to reconcile and resolve all conflicts however small.

The Ninth Mindfulness Training: Truthful and Loving Speech

Aware that words can create happiness or suffering, we are committed to learning to speak truthfully, lovingly and constructively. We will only use words that inspire joy, confidence and hope as well as promote reconciliation and peace in ourselves and among people. We will speak and listen in a way that can help ourselves and others to transform suffering and see the way out of difficult situations. We are determined not to say untruthful things for the sake of personal interest or to impress people, nor to utter words that might cause division or hatred. We will protect the joy and harmony of our Sangha by refraining from speaking about the faults of another person in their absence and always ask ourselves whether our perceptions are correct. We will speak only with the intention to understand and help transform the situation. We will not spread rumors nor criticize or condemn things of which we are not sure. We will do our best to speak out about situations of injustice, even when doing so may make difficulties for us or threaten our safety.

The Tenth Mindfulness Training: Protecting and Nourishing the Sangha

Aware that the essence and aim of a Sangha is the practice of understanding and compassion, we are determined not to use the Buddhist community for personal power or profit or transform our community into a political instrument. However, as members of a spiritual community, we should take a clear stand against oppression and injustice. We should strive to change the situation, without taking sides in a conflict. We are committed to looking with the eyes of interbeing and learning to see ourselves and others as cells in one Sangha body. As a true cell in the Sangha body, generating mindfulness, concentration and insight to nourish ourselves and the whole community, each of us is at the same time a cell in the Buddha body. We will actively build brotherhood and sisterhood, flow as a river, and practice to develop the three real powers – love, understanding and cutting through afflictions – to realize collective awakening.

The Eleventh Mindfulness Training: Right Livelihood

Aware that great violence and injustice have been done to our environment and society, we are committed not to live with a vocation that is harmful to humans or nature. We will do our best to select a livelihood that contributes to the wellbeing of all species on earth and helps realize our ideal of understanding and compassion. Aware of economic, political and social realities around the world, as well as our interrelationship with ecosystem, we are determined to behave responsibly as consumers and citizens. We will not invest in or purchase from companies that contribute to the depletion of natural resources, harm the earth; and deprive others of the chance to live.

The Twelfth Mindfulness Training: Reverence for Life

Aware that much suffering is caused by war and conflict, we are determined to cultivate nonviolence, compassion and the insight of interbeing in our daily lives and promote peace, education, mindful meditation, and reconciliation within families, communities, ethnic and religious groups, nations, and in the world. We are committed not to kill and not to let others kill. We will not support any act of killing in the world, in our thinking or in our way of life. We will diligently practice deep looking with our Sangha to discover better ways to protect life, prevent war, and build peace.

The Thirteenth Mindfulness Training: Generosity

Aware of the suffering caused by exploitation, social injustice, stealing and oppression, we are committed to cultivating generosity in our way of thinking, speaking, and acting. We will learn better ways to work for the well-being of people, animals, plants and minerals and practice generosity by sharing our time, energy, and material resources with those who are in need. We are determined not to steal and not to possess anything that should belong to others. We will respect the property of others, but will try to prevent others from profiting from human suffering or the suffering of other beings.

The Fourteenth Mindfulness Training: Right Conduct

[For lay members]: Aware that sexual desire is not love and that sexual relations motivated by craving cannot dissipate the feeling of loneliness but will create more suffering, frustration and isolation, we are determined not to engage in sexual relations without mutual understanding, love, and a deep long-term commitment made known to our family and friends. Seeing that the body and mind are one, we are committed to learning appropriate ways to take care of our sexual energy and to cultivating loving kindness, compassion, joy, and inclusiveness for our own happiness and the happiness of others. We must be aware of future suffering that may be caused by sexual relations. We know that to preserve the happiness of ourselves and others, we must respect the rights and commitments of ourselves and others. We will do everything in our power to protect children from sexual abuse and to protect couples and families from being broken by sexual misconduct. We will treat our bodies with compassion and respect. We are determined to look deeply into the Four Nutriments and learn ways to preserve and channel our vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of our bodhisattva ideal. We will be fully aware of the responsibility of bringing new lives into the world, and will meditate upon their future environment.

[For monastic members]: Aware that he deep aspiration of a monk or a nun can only be realized when he or she wholly leaves behind the bonds of sensual love, we are committed to practicing chastity and to helping others protect themselves. We are aware that loneliness and suffering cannot be alleviated through a sexual relationship, but through practicing loving kindness, compassion, joy and inclusiveness. We know that a sexual relationship will destroy monastic life, will prevent us from realizing our ideal of serving living beings, and will harm others. We will learn appropriate ways to take care of sexual energy. We are determined not to suppress, to mistreat our body or to look upon our body as only an instrument, but to learn to handle our body with compassion and respect. We are determined to look deeply into the Four Nutriments in order to preserve and channel our vital energies (sexual, breath, spirit) for the realization of our bodhisattva ideal.

Having trouble

2012-03-24T13:27:20Z

I've been trying to meditate (almost) daily for two weeks and I've made no progress. How long does it take before meditation stops feeling like pulling teeth?

I'm basically doing zazen or the Shambhala method. Sometimes some chanting and using a singing bowl. Those latter two are okay but I know they don't clear my mind; it's just harder to notice when my mind wanders because there's something going on, so it feels less like my mind is busy. The sitting meditation, however, is hell, just as much as it was the first time. I thought practice was supposed to help. Instead I'm getting incredibly frustrated with it. Any thoughts on what I might be doing wrong?

(I know getting frustrated with it is "wrong", but if I had the ability to avoid that reaction, I wouldn't need help with this in the first place.)

Thanks, everybody.

Sesshin; Meditation Weekend

2012-03-19T00:04:21Z

We had Sesshin this weekend, the usual monthly two and half day meditation weekend at the Zen Center. I felt so bad that I could only make it the first day, missed day two and attended part of the closing half day, Sunday. However any part of it that I can attend is wonderful. It is a small Zen Center so there were 10 of us at the Sesshin.

It is a nice opportunity to re-connect with others in the Zendo once a month. I love our Zendo, it is a yurt...
The rain was poruing down and it was as if I could hear each drop hitting the ceiling and walls. I was the drop.

In peace,
~elayna

buddhists @ 2012-03-05T11:01:00

2012-03-05T16:01:13Z

Can you recommend a book on dealing with anger and resentment in regards to very toxic (and unavoidable) family members?

Buddhsim vs.Nihilism

2012-02-01T20:50:48Z

Hi fellow Buddhists!

As you might have already learned, the Dharma has often been accused of being nihilistic.

It is even mentioned in the Lankavatara Sutra, that philosophers which don't understand the teaching of the Buddha would accuse those who follow the Way of the Buddhas of being nihilists.

How would you answer to such an accusation?

How would you prove that emptiness is not empty?

And if emptiness is not empty, then why call it emptiness?