Joe, There are Buddhist centres where I live, from various traditions, and there are meditation retreats available, also from various traditions and techniques, including zen.
There have been a few retreats taught by Guo Jun Fashi in the past few years. Also, there is a lay person who has attended retreat with master Shengyen in NY before who also gives retreat once in a while. There is also group regular practices. I tried a bit of this and that in various traditions. In terms of meditation, I came across vipassana meditation influenced by teaching of Jiddu Krishnamurti years ago. I have remained with this since, while still attending sessions with various traditions whenever I feel like. My interest in zen was initially due to koans. I read them, feel happy, not even understanding what the koans are saying. Then I attended sessions with Guo Jun fashi, and I think he is a good teacher, but don't have enough leave to attend any retreats with him. Only zen books I have read so far were Hoofprints of Ox and Brad Warner's book called something like "Sit and Shut Up". I like both. I started Humprey's Zen Buddhism last year, but didn't manage to finish the book. I can't remember how long I have joined this forum, but I don't think I've been here very long. From Bill's descriptions of shikantaza, seems like it is a similar practice to mine. That's all I have to share, nothing 'zenish' :) siska -----Original Message----- From: "Joe" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 15:31:52 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Zen] hallo there YOU..the cheeky one Siska, I'm sorry!, to be obscure, and to use "dialect", a version of slang or the sound of speech that is characteristic of an area, or attitude. "PULL-ease" is just a slow way of saying "Please", using a lot of emphasis, as a way of begging a person to carry something out, or to allow something. It can sometimes be a little sarcastic, if we are asking a person to STOP something or to desist in some behavior; or, it can be genuinely sincere as a way of begging for something positively. Thus, I sincerely asked and invited you strongly to begin a thread. And, I suppose you will, when something may come up. I don't know if you have a Zen practice yourself, or have practiced with a teacher and a sangha, or if there are books that have influenced you. If you would start a thread to mention any of those things, that would be very definitely interesting from my point of view. Is there any general culture of Zen practice in your area, by the way? --Joe > siska_cen@... wrote: > > Joe, > > I thought there'd be response like this :) > > I generally lurk and enjoy reading posts. Intend to stick to it. Also, I > don't have any question at this moment so cannot start a thread. > > English is not my first language. What is the meaning of the term "pull-EASE"? > > Siska, > > Not enough "Zen" for you?, than please, pull-EASE, start something here. I'd > be very interested in what you have in mind. > > Begin a thread? > > You can re-visit the old posts on the Group website. Nothing old is really > volatile... except hard drives that are not backed-up. > > Caution!
