Dear Rev. Fudo & Group, Deep Bow - When I went to my first Zen Sangha meeting I was excited. I was amazed that a practicing group was right under my nose, and I was unaware of it. I am finding that a combination of factors are bringing forth an inner peace that remains at all times. None of the members are egoless, but the teacher is able to teach and is respected. The magic that I notice is how alive I am now in all moments that come along. The way I deal with life is not the same as before I began the practice of meditation and learning from various teachers. This group does enable posters to learn about Zen Buddhism, but it does lack constant guidance that only can be found one/one with a trusted master. ************************************
I would invite you to spend a few moments in a real Zen sangha. There you will quickly see that there is nothing magic in Zen that somehow changes into perfection each thing it touches. You will find all the abuses, all the imperfections of any human institution. It is not that today there is something degenerate about the practice...in Buddha's day he had to tell his monks not to fuck trees for heaven's sake. Yet we later learn that even the tree fuckers became arhats eventually. During the flowering of Buddhism in China there were only three or four monks in each monastery...and not all of them "got it". There is nothing magical that will happen when you touch a Zen book, nor is there anything magic that will happen when you sit down to do zazen, nor sit with a sangha nor meet your teacher. No single experience or lack of experience will change you into a Buddha. This is all an organic process. It is a natural process...all you have to do is engage in the process. It is a tried and true process proved over thousands of years. This list too is a process. Each contributer (even those who only have criticism to offer) is a part of the process. We are all in it together and we all depend on one another, the loud and the weak. If you cannot have faith in your fellow posters, nor in the things you say you believe in, at least have a little faith in the process that is manifest here on this list. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/UwRTUD/UOnJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> 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/
