Hi Amy,
The first phase of Buddha's teaching is called Small Vehicle, then the
Big Vehicle and then the Supreme Vehicle. He taught for 49 years with
lots of recorded sutras. It is difficult to discuss or study them all
within a reasonable amount of time.
This forum is a Zen forum. Zen was the teaching of the last period of
Buddha. It was carried by Bodhidharma into China, called "Chan" in
Chinese and later into Japan, pronounce Zen. If it is this period of
teaching interested you, then I would recommend that you study the
source of the patriarchs throughout the Chan lineage.
First Patriarch - Bodhidharma - "Blood Line Discussion" (Literal
translation from Chinese. Not sure of English)
Third Patriarch - "Hsin Hsin Ming"
Six Patriarch - Hui Neng - "Platform Sutra"
as well as the two sutra's from Buddha which were popular in the Chan
school.
The Heart Sutra
The Diamond Sutra
These are highly recommended for all serious Chan Buddhists.
Bon Voyage,
JM
On 1/11/2012 5:41 AM, Amy Lemmon wrote:
Chris - thanks for the book ideas, I am going to look into them. I
feel like as a family we just need more information. We tend to like
to gather a lot.
As for your question about our family ... my husband has been studying
Buddhism for several years but on a very informal and sporadic level.
I have had interest but have been very wrapped up in being a parent to
my six children and maybe was a little nervous about it so it has been
pushed aside BUT recently for many reasons, I have a strong pull to
learn more. Like I noted we have six children (ages 16 to 2). I would
NEVER pressure my children to believe the same as I BUT I do believe
in providing lots of information so that they can make an informed
decision about the direction of their lives. And of course as a parent
I am going to more emphasis on the thing that are morally inline with
my beliefs.
I recently came across the the book Buddha at Bedtime by Dharmachari
Nagaraja and it inspired me that I really wanted to explore Buddhism.
I believe greatly in The Four Noble Truths, The Eightfold Path and The
Five Precepts ... so it makes sense to learn more.
So that is a little more information ... so as a family we are on a
journey of some sorts but each on our own paths and levels but I was
looking for information that would be good for all of us.
Thanks so much.
With peace, love and kindness,
Amy Lemmon
[email protected]
Blog: Six Flower Mom <http://www.sixflowermom.com/>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Chris Austin-Lane <[email protected]>
*To:* [email protected]
*Sent:* Wednesday, January 11, 2012 12:51 AM
*Subject:* Re: [Zen] Re: Reading and Resources
I disagree - in my experience, its pretty clear to me when I'm with my
family and when I'm lost in mental abstraction. Certainly its clear
to my family.
Zen training can help sustain the presence, but it's not an esoteric
paying attention; it's just ordinary paying attention; simple to say,
but takes a lot of practice to do.
PS My acquaintance Karen Maezen Miller, has written two books which I
find to be full of the sort of wisdom one gains from paying attention
to ones family, and a lot of the humor and profundity of seeing it
clearly. "Momma Zen, walking the Crooked path of motherhood," written
when she had a young child, and "Hand Wash Cold" written when she had
a medium child and a middle aged marriage. She has another book
coming out next year.
But I'm curious about your family - is your whole family taking this
trip into Buddhism/Zen together, or are you wishing to share it with
them?
If the former, that seems like your family itself would be able to
come up with good ideas on what to do. If the latter, then I'll leave
you with the general warning on sharing Zen: don't answer any
question until it is asked three times.
I sit in front of my kids, and they know what it is, and have heard
the Heart Sutra a time or two, but I find it benefits them a lot more
for me to master my own reactions and be a bit more aware and kind,
than for me to talk about Zen to them. blah blah blah.
Your milage may vary, of course,
--Chris
Thanks,
--Chris
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
+1-301-270-6524
On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 8:53 PM, <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Hey Bill!,
will u please clarify what "being totally with them" means? the
mind is such that your statement could create a myriad of what
"just THIS"ness is. for a beginner or so-believed-mature seeker,
your statement is cryptic at least and false at most...
Thank you,
TaoSheiFei
On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 8:43 PM, Bill! <[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Amy,
No reading is necessary. When you are with your family just be
totally with them. That's all you need to do...Bill!
--- In [email protected]
<mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>, Amy Lemmon
<amylemmon@...> wrote:
>
> I am wondering if anyone has any great suggestions for
reading and resources for a family (multi-age) learning about
Zen Buddhism? Thanks kindly!
>
>
> With peace, love and kindness,
> Amy Lemmon
> amylemmon@...
> Blog: Six Flower Mom
>
