Joe, Now here's an interesting fact I just discovered. Subhana teaches both Zen and Vipassana! A woman after me own Heart!
Mike --- In [email protected], "mike" wrote: > > Joe, > > Funny you should say that. When I first looked into migrating to Australia, > back in '87, I was drawn to Perth even tho I knew nothing about it > (especially in comparison to the more famous cities of Sydney and Melbourne). > Turns out my instincts were correct - Perth is a wonderful place and Western > Australia has a really strong Aboriginal culture, which I find fascinating. > > I think Zen and Vipassana could learn so much from each other, and I feel > fortunate to be in a position in time and place to be exposed to both. I can > honestly say I have no 'allegiance' to either. For me, Zen lacks the emphasis > on Loving Kindness and compassion that Vipassana has (metta practice). I also > think Zen doesn't put as much import on samadhi/the jhanas, which is a shame > because they allow the practiser to experience a dimension of meditation that > can't be comprehended without them. > > I agree with you that Zen does a lot more regarding taking it off the mat. > Indeed, that's what I love about practicing Zen - to see the miraculous in > the ordinary. > > Mike > > > > --- In [email protected], "Joe" wrote: > > > > Mike, > > > > "Perth" resonates. > > > > I am from Perth Amboy. > > > > I regularly work guys in Perth: they usually have radio call signs > > beginning with "VK6". It's a good bit of a longer distance from Arizona > > than Eastern Australia is, and signal strengths are generally weaker by a > > lot from those stations in Perth. I feel it's a feather in my cap to have > > worked them at all. Lately, I have not heard Perth, because the solar > > activity has been very, very low, and quite disappointing, although we are > > at the supposed peak of the current Solar Cycle (no. 24). > > > > Vipassana is familiar to me only by study. I know some Vipassana teachers > > from Massachusetts, by practicing with them on Sheng Yen's Ch'an retreats: > > they came in and gave it a go. Their samadhi was strong, but they needed > > experience bringing it up off the cushion, even as teachers. I don't > > suppose they got it. They went back home. It was a little embarrassing: > > Michael Grady, and Narayan Grady. I tried to help, on days when Sheng Yen > > had designated me as instructor of the physical methods. Alas; but I do > > not know them on their home turf, so they may have something I don't know > > about. But, it is not our Ch'an. Hence, I care little to know much more, > > but I respect Vipassana methods as a way of getting settled and getting > > established, you bet I do! From what I have read... . > > > > My heart and body are with Ch'an/Zen, as you know. > > > > Best, > > > > --Joe > > > > > "mike" wrote: > > > > > > Joe, > > > > > > I intend to stay here in Adelaide for at least another couple of months, > > > but as ever I never know. If I do move again, it will only to be to go as > > > far as Perth, where there is another Diamond Sangha anyway. > > > > > > Do you know much about Vipassana? > > > > > > Mike > > > ------------------------------------ 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/
