Edgar, Yes I sat for extended periods in several temples in Japan, and the one in the Catskills in NY...
But in general I, following the example of the Buddha, went from master to master engaging in intense one on one sharing of Zen mind rather than taking extended classes as one of many students with any one human master. In my view Zen is actively seeking realization wherever one glimpses it rather than sitting in the same Zen class for months or years like a passive schoolboy until your master tells you your finished.... Edgar On Mar 31, 2013, at 8:20 PM, Joe wrote: > Edgar, > > Thank you for the write-up. It must have been a great time in your formative > young-adult years. > > I don't see that you stayed for long with any one teacher, or even any one > thing. You do not emphasize any. You may have had a survey-course excursion > in those years of various offerings, but you don't say how deep, into what. > > My experience is that it is most valuable to develop a relationship with a > teacher that allows you to visit -- or a relationship which, by your > commitment to the teaching and practice, definitely results in your visiting > -- the teacher often, and regularly, within a life or a time when you are > ALSO able to practice regularly on your own, in case you are, say, away from > the teacher a good deal. > > How about sesshin? Did you have a chance to participate in 7-day or longer > sesshin? How about Rohatsu, the most intensive sesshin of the year, each > year, during the three years? > > Of course! the important teacher is nature itself and our nature; reality, > yes. > > This is what our practice with a good teacher can open us to. A good teacher > will also make sure we DO open to that (THIS), and not something else. > > A point to check! > > Thanks again. > > --Joe > > > Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > > > I lived in Japan 3 years. [snip] > >
