Are You Kidding, Bill??? You made such a brilliant response to my
original question of 'What are the Precepts'? The key is the zazen.
To sit and clear your mind of all outside influences.
I followed a practice of solitude for years. Of study and zazen. A
solitary practice may be just what Daniel needs on his path of
Enlightenment. I do agree that a Sangha can help, but that is
Daniel's right to choose. Yes, solitary practice can be full of
pitfalls, but a disciplined mind can overcome them. And faithful
sessions of zazen will build that discipline.
My local Sangha became too Political, and I retreated to solitary
practice again.
If this is YOUR group, and Daniel can no longer share with us
because His practice does not follow Your Pathway, then I no longer
wish to participate. I will retreat to my pillow and breathe, and
contemplate the rising and falling of existence.
Sincerely,
Chris
--- In [email protected], "Bill Smart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> No! No! No! That's not okay! If you don't stop trying to
practice
> alone RIGHT NOW, you can't be in the group anymore and you can't
> share anything with us.
>
> Please reconsider!
>
> ...Bill!
>
> --- In [email protected], daniel sherwood <desherwood7@>
> wrote:
> >
> > I'm going to try it alone for right now, But I'll share my
> expreiences with the group. Would that be Ok?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Bill Smart <BillSmart@>
> > To: [email protected]
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 4:51:26 AM
> > Subject: [Zen] Re: beginning again
> >
> > I practice by myself also, but that is by circumstance and
> certainly
> > not by choice.
> >
> > PRACTICING alone is fraught with snares and pitfalls, most of
which
> > are virtually undetectable without guidance, or at least group
> > interaction.
> >
> > TRYING TO PRACTICE alone is, in my not-so-humble opinion,
> practically
> > impossible.
> >
> > Unless you have had a good begining and some solid experience
with
> > zazen, I would discourage you from TRYING to practice alone. The
> > best thing would be to find a sangha or sitting group in your
area
> > that has a qualified teacher. If there are none in your area I'd
> > encourage you to plan a trip to somewhere that does, and spend a
> week
> > or so with a good teacher to get you started. After that you
should
> > keep in close contact with the teacher to help you work through
any
> > difficulties or distractions you encounter.
> >
> > I don't know how good an e-sangha would be for a beginner. It
might
> > be okay. I have never participated in one so I just don't know.
I
> > did check out the website of the Lotus Meditation Center in
Seward,
> > NB, and in spite of my predispostion to skepticism based on
their
> > previous postings, was very pleased at the content. I hope your
> > e-experience there will be beneficial to you; but do consider
> finding
> > a local sangha, or even going to Seward, to get a good start to
> your
> > journey. A good start is very important because you're going to
be
> > traveling for a
> > long, long time - forever, in fact.
> >
> > Bon voyage...Bill!
> >
> > --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED] ps.com, daniel sherwood
> <desherwood7@ ...>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Thanks for the advice. I'm trying to practice Zen myself.
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----
> > > From: Bill Smart <BillSmart@ ..>
> > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ps.com
> > > Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 5:06:17 AM
> > > Subject: [Zen] Re: beginning again
> > >
> > > --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED] ps.com, "cid830" <summitjags@ ...>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > what are the precepts?
> > > >
> > > cid830,
> > >
> > > Knowledge of Buddhist Precepts, Refuges, etc..., are not a pre-
> > requiste
> > > for practicing zen. In fact in most cases they are, as is all
> > > knowledge, a hindrance.
> > >
> > > The only thing necessary to practice zen, if that is your
> interest,
> > is
> > > to sit - meaning do zazen. Pacticing zazen clears your mind of
> all
> > > intellectual and emotional clutter, including concepts such as
> > > precepts, refuges, right:wrong, I:you, beginner:sensei, etc...
> > >
> > > Forget about all the other things you have read or been
taught.
> > Just
> > > sit. That's enough. Anything else is too much...Bill!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ __
> > > Do You Yahoo!?
> > > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> > > http://mail. yahoo.com
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
_____________________________________________________________________
_
> ______________
> > Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
> > http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
> >
>
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