Re: [Zen] hi im new here
welcome rich merle hi my name is Rich and benn studying and practing buddhism for over 9 yrs, and im very devoted too it, i ve been having heath problems for a long time and the practice and study have keep me going , keeping me steady and on an even keel. i look forward totalking with everybody' thanks.. take care Rich
Re: [Zen] Hi!!!
what is this mike merle Hi http://www.jetzt-helfen-wir-uns-selbst.com/pgxybvh/f641xx3.png mike brown 2/7/2013 4:57:19 PM
Re: [Zen] hi
Edgar, I share your mind. With Suzuki, you don't have to take precautions. But beware of Bill: prepare to 'take a beating' literally. Regards, Anthony --- On Thu, 23/10/08, Edgar Owen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: From: Edgar Owen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [Zen] hi To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, 23 October, 2008, 7:15 PM Bob, D. T. Suzuki's books are to my mind the best exposition of the underlying philosophy of Zen. As to living Zen, you may well find more of that here in this group. Best, Edgar On Oct 19, 2008, at 3:26 PM, wrote: Hi everyone My name is Bob Therriault and I am new to this group and Zen. I am also new to meditation. I am 62 and retired from the VA Hospital here in Albany, NY.. There is no Zen Center here so I will be depending on this group to guide me in my practice. I have ordered books by D T Suzuki which I intend on reading. Do you suggest I practice meditation alone or with a group. There is a group with the UU church. Your Friendly Philosopher, Bob T http://www.anecdota lstories. blogspot. com http://www.stairway toparadise. blogspot. com http://www.jazzmood s.blogspot. com http://www.holism4u s.blogspot. com http://www.ethicswi thoutwalls. blogspot. com http://www.jennyand i.blogspot. com Get your preferred Email name! Now you can @ymail.com and @rocketmail.com http://mail.promotions.yahoo.com/newdomains/sg/
Re: [Zen] hi
Bob, D. T. Suzuki's books are to my mind the best exposition of the underlying philosophy of Zen. As to living Zen, you may well find more of that here in this group. Best, Edgar On Oct 19, 2008, at 3:26 PM, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Hi everyone My name is Bob Therriault and I am new to this group and Zen. I am also new to meditation. I am 62 and retired from the VA Hospital here in Albany, NY. There is no Zen Center here so I will be depending on this group to guide me in my practice. I have ordered books by D T Suzuki which I intend on reading. Do you suggest I practice meditation alone or with a group. There is a group with the UU church. Your Friendly Philosopher, Bob T http://www.anecdotalstories.blogspot.com http://www.stairwaytoparadise.blogspot.com http://www.jazzmoods.blogspot.com http://www.holism4us.blogspot.com http://www.ethicswithoutwalls.blogspot.com http://www.jennyandi.blogspot.com
RE: [Zen] hi
Bob, Welcome to Zen Forum! Books about zen are not high on my list, although I have read a lot of them over the years. D.T. Suzuki presents a very scholarly view of Buddhism, not so much Zen Buddhism, but his books are considered classics in the field. I always recommend sitting with groups as opposed to sitting alone, especially in the beginning of your practice. Is the group you mentioned a zen group, or just a meditation group? There are lots of different types of meditation so don't just assume they are teaching and practicing zen meditation (Japanese word is 'zazen'). Zazen itself is very easy to learn. There's really not much to it. There are a lot of websites that give instructions and there have been postings on this forum that have detailed instructions. Bon Voyage! ...Bill! From: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 2:27 AM To: zen_forum Subject: [Zen] hi Hi everyone My name is Bob Therriault and I am new to this group and Zen. I am also new to meditation. I am 62 and retired from the VA Hospital here in Albany, NY. There is no Zen Center here so I will be depending on this group to guide me in my practice. I have ordered books by D T Suzuki which I intend on reading. Do you suggest I practice meditation alone or with a group. There is a group with the UU church. Your Friendly Philosopher, Bob T Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [Zen] Hi - An Introduction
--- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Smart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Nikhil, > > > > If, as you correctly pointed out it has been said: 'this very mind is > Buddha' and therefore I am complete just as I am, what could you possibly > have on your website or print in your newsletter that would be worth $30? > .Bill! > Brilliant question Bill!. I am looking forward Nikhil answer. Mayka Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~--> Yahoo! Groups gets a make over. See the new email design. http://us.click.yahoo.com/hOt0.A/lOaOAA/yQLSAA/S27xlB/TM ~-> Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today! Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
RE: [Zen] Hi - An Introduction
Nikhil, If, as you correctly pointed out it has been said: 'this very mind is Buddha' and therefore I am complete just as I am, what could you possibly have on your website or print in your newsletter that would be worth $30? .Bill! From: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nikhil Gangoli Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 2:00 AM To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Zen] Hi - An Introduction Hi, This is Nikhil Gangoli from Pune India. Frankly I have joined this group partly to promote my wesbite http://www.eastern-philosophy-and-meditation.com/ Taoism and Zen Buddhism are some of the subjects dealt with in the website. I have been fascinated by Zen as it has such a paradoxical approach to enlightenment. If you compare it with Theravada Buddhism for example. Theravada Buddhism stresses self effort and ridding the mind of defilements. It is an austere and strenuous path. Whereas in Zen the founder of Zen in China said that, "This very mind is the Buddha. It is a more relaxed and accepting philosophy and much more to my taste as I am frequently very self-critical and the last thing I need is for someone to tell me that I need to change myself. If you really take the statement that the very mind is the Buddha to heart you will change in your attitude to yourself. You will witness the mind with respect and reverence and without trying to change it. Paradoxically it is just this attitude that opens up the possibility of change as your impulses have room to play themselves out and then you are free of them. I have experienced this in my life. Anyway visit this page on a Buddhism. It is one of my better articles http://www.eastern-philosophy-and-meditation.com/buddhism-IV.html You will also receive a free ecourse valued at $ 30 if you join my newsletter. regards Nikhil __ NOD32 2078 (20070223) Information __ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com
Re: [Zen] Hi New to the Group
--- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Smart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Chris, If you've only practiced for 3 years and already don't know exactly > what you're doing, you're making very good progress. Haha. Thanks. It takes many people 5 > or 10 years before they finally reach the critical point where they give up > trying to know. Some never reach that point and live their entire lives > cursed with knowing everything there is to know about zen. Well. I can't say that I've given up trying to know. Not at all. I am beginning to see though that thinking doesn't result in knowing. At least not on the level that I desire. > > As for the question on posture: Breathing freely is what's important. > Posture is only important in as much as it does not impede breathing and is > comfortable. Just find a posture that feels right and allows your breaths > to flow in and out effortlessly. As always I recommend you find a teacher. > In lieu of that, ZEN MIND, BEGINNERS MIND is as good a book as any and > better than most. Use it as a starting point and experiment from there to > find a posture that most benefits you. That sounds like good advice. Completely contradictorty to some teachers, but it makes sense. Charlottle Joko Becks books have helped me alot as well. You're right though. I definitely need a teacher. thanks, Chris > > Good luck - and congratulations again for not knowing. > > .Bill! > > > > Chris wrote: > > Hello. I may have been a member here before, but I can't remember. I > just started practicing Zazen again. I practiced everyday for about 3 > years and then off and on for the last two. I'm still not sure exactly > what I'm doing. I realize that posture is very important and I had a > question about that. In Zen Mind, Beginners Mind it says that you > should push the head up and the abdomen down as if one were supporting > the sky, but when I do this it feels all wrong. I guess what my > question is in Zazen is it right to hold onself in a certain posture? > Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today! Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
RE: [Zen] Hi New to the Group
Hi Chris, Zen is an experience. As Bill said there is nothing to "know". However, if you were wondering about the basic posture or the method itself, we have the following general guidelines for practitioners in our school. For beginnger and session less than 45 minutes, any posture will do. Two years ago, I taught a lady to just breathe with belly by sitting on a chair, because she has two artificial knees. She benefitted from doing just that in one month. For sessions longer than that, correct posture enables one to have good balance and support. Tug in the lower back, with head centered and align with the spine, etc. helps a longer session. Read here as a reference. Our school is somewhat rigid and structured. We do recommend good postures as well as one hour sessions as a minimum. Have Fun, Donald Bill Smart <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Chris, If youve only practiced for 3 years and already dont know exactly what youre doing, youre making very good progress. It takes many people 5 or 10 years before they finally reach the critical point where they give up trying to know. Some never reach that point and live their entire lives cursed with knowing everything there is to know about zen. As for the question on posture: Breathing freely is whats important. Posture is only important in as much as it does not impede breathing and is comfortable. Just find a posture that feels right and allows your breaths to flow in and out effortlessly. As always I recommend you find a teacher. In lieu of that, ZEN MIND, BEGINNERS MIND is as good a book as any and better than most. Use it as a starting point and experiment from there to find a posture that most benefits you. Good luck - and congratulations again for not knowing. Bill! Chris wrote: Hello. I may have been a member here before, but I can't remember. I just started practicing Zazen again. I practiced everyday for about 3 years and then off and on for the last two. I'm still not sure exactly what I'm doing. I realize that posture is very important and I had a question about that. In Zen Mind, Beginners Mind it says that you should push the head up and the abdomen down as if one were supporting the sky, but when I do this it feels all wrong. I guess what my question is in Zazen is it right to hold onself in a certain posture? - Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.
RE: [Zen] Hi New to the Group
Chris, If you've only practiced for 3 years and already don't know exactly what you're doing, you're making very good progress. It takes many people 5 or 10 years before they finally reach the critical point where they give up trying to know. Some never reach that point and live their entire lives cursed with knowing everything there is to know about zen. As for the question on posture: Breathing freely is what's important. Posture is only important in as much as it does not impede breathing and is comfortable. Just find a posture that feels right and allows your breaths to flow in and out effortlessly. As always I recommend you find a teacher. In lieu of that, ZEN MIND, BEGINNERS MIND is as good a book as any and better than most. Use it as a starting point and experiment from there to find a posture that most benefits you. Good luck - and congratulations again for not knowing. .Bill! Chris wrote: Hello. I may have been a member here before, but I can't remember. I just started practicing Zazen again. I practiced everyday for about 3 years and then off and on for the last two. I'm still not sure exactly what I'm doing. I realize that posture is very important and I had a question about that. In Zen Mind, Beginners Mind it says that you should push the head up and the abdomen down as if one were supporting the sky, but when I do this it feels all wrong. I guess what my question is in Zazen is it right to hold onself in a certain posture?