Wm, First of all I want to say that you don't have to cease being a Christian to practice zen. Zen is not a religion and although primarily associated with the religion of Buddhism it is not a sect or sub-set of Buddhism. Its practice does not have to replace and should not interfere with your practice of Christianity.
As Joe has said the anxiety you describe is not unusual and in fact very common. It may be affecting you a little more than most but it sounds to me it's no more than that. I do think sitting (zazen) will help you let go of your anxiety so encourage you to continue that. Welcome to the Yahoo! Zen Forum...Bill! --- In [email protected], "wmcashierslave" wrote: > > IT's not a problem so big I need a doctor, it's just something that happened > when my mother died. The thing I mentioned was crying w hen my brothers > leave and getting depressed and nausiated becuase of being apart from them. > it doesnt last forever, just a few days maybe less than that. I dont need a > shrink. I need to kick this problem and mood medications wont help. I am not > that far gone, I just need to practice some things to make me feel more at > peace. People jump to conclusions and thinks "see a doctor or "Shrink" no im > not that far gone I just want some peace and to kick a small problem. zen > isnt a religon. Some people use it to feel peace in the world, so far on > these groups people jump to conclusions and think im crazy or something. No > im not..zen is a part of buddism but it's not beinb budist..I know a > christiam woman who uses zen practices to attain peace and she meditates and > it helps. I dont need a doctor or a shrink..thanks for the help but im not > crazy and I dont appricate it either. Im gone..ill do this on my own it's > apparent nobody will help me out and educate me as to mediation basic > practices..they want to jump to conclusions in group and make someone like me > with small problems she wants to overcome, look like she needs a straight > jacket. I know myself not you. > > --- In [email protected], "Joe" wrote: > > > > Wm., > > > > I suppose the phenomena you mention are indeed, are in fact, a problem to > > you if you think or feel that they are. > > > > I don't know yet if Zen practice is a way to help you with them. > > > > There may be other, more immediate, ways. > > > > But I know that any event or force or reason that brings us to Zen practice > > is a fortunate one. I mean, we are lucky to make contact with Zen > > practice. It usually does all people good who take it up and continue. > > But that can come later. > > > > I think it's more immediately called-for that you get some relief from the > > current manifestations somehow. How can you do it? What comes to mind? > > Is there enough time in the free week to see a talk therapist or counselor > > of some kind? > > > > On the other hand, I know that in Zen practice, sometimes certain > > purifications occur to people spontaneously on intensive 7-day retreats > > with their teachers and practice group. People will sometimes cry for > > several hours, or laugh, and sometimes cry first and then laugh. These > > purifications leave them exhausted, but very settled and calm, and then > > they can practice to a very deep level. Not everyone goes through this, or > > needs to, and everyone is different when it comes to Zen practice (which is > > why an experienced and qualified Zen teacher is so valuable). > > > > The shedding of emotion is physical, just as the bottling-up of emotion is > > physical in its effects. It may be that the separation anxiety you > > experience is "just" a trigger to the emotion that can apparently be > > released by you so readily. You may in fact be fortunate to have such a > > trigger. Some people are rather "hardened", and even though they sense or > > feel that they must release emotion, they cannot DO it! You know best > > about your situation, though: the anxiety or other manifestations may not > > just be from a simple trigger acting to release emotions from many other > > sources: maybe it's all emotion due to the recent losses and current > > separations. > > > > If you have a general doctor, a general physician, may I please urge you to > > see him or her soon?, just to mention what's going on? If you're willing, > > the Doc can refer you quickly to someone who can help even better. But > > please, please see the Doc, first. There are certain nutritional needs > > that can cause extra sensitivities if they are deficient, and sometimes one > > person needs lots more of something versus another person, depending on our > > digestive system's ability to absorb certain minerals, etc. Even a lack of > > Iron (!) has such effects, and is very simple to fix! > > > > If you don't yet HAVE a general doctor, may I also please suggest that you > > see one soon. You can find one or pick one, maybe by getting a > > recommendation from a friend or family member. Or else, just go to the > > Yellow Pages (the book in your house, or else online), and look under > > "Doctors", and call one or two, or three. It's easy. No biggie. And > > worth every penny to get a vitamin or mineral deficiency "fixed" quick. > > > > That's the route I would take. See a Doc. Tell about what's going on. > > Ask if there are vitamin deficiency tests the doc would order. If the > > tests come back OK, then the Doc will know what else to suggest, by way of > > tests, or a simple visit with someone to talk to. It's not rocket science! > > But I would have the physical stuff checked, first. Our food is not as > > nutritious as it used to be! > > > > Wishing you well. > > > > Please keep us posted? > > > > Or perhaps you already know that you are in the best of health. If not, > > don't hesitate to use your time-off to find out: it's that important!, and > > easy! And it will be very satisfying and lead to another stage of life. > > Even if the Doc gives you a clean bill of health immediately, you'll feel > > better for that, too. > > > > Do the simple stuff first! > > > > Best, > > > > --Joe / Arizona > > > > > "wmcashierslave" wrote: > > > > > > My brother and I are from two different religons, but since my mother > > > died in 08 I suffer from seperation anxiety when he leaves or my older > > > brother and his family leaves. When I know it's time for them to leave I > > > feel my guts tie in knots and I get nausiated and depressed and cry. they > > > leave and I am depressed for a few good hours. > > > > > > This time my brother told me about the zen approache to life. I am a > > > christian but I found I can use the zen ways to overcome my emotions, > > > learn to meditate and over come crying and depression nausia and feeling > > > terrible after they leave for a week or so. This time he talked to me and > > > gave me a few practices to repeat to myself, hate that emotional problem, > > > be free of it, it's useless and only makes me feel bad and is not good > > > for me. I dont need it. > > > > > > I would like you guys to help me use zen to free myself of anger, > > > depression seperation anxiety and work, I work retail and got so angry at > > > work and life that I took a week off. I need to master my emotions...my > > > brother said finding a good forum of people to help me with new zen > > > techniques would help. I am a newbie to the zen world so if you dont > > > mind...I do need to kick this problem...it's not doing me any good and I > > > dont need to feel this way it's useless and I hate it. > > > > > > ------------------------------------ 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: [email protected] [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/
