--- norco124 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> does medication come into play as an anxiety therapy
> for those
> involved in the practice of zen - or what might be
> the balance between
> drug assistance vs. buddhist confrontration with
> anxiety brought on by behavorial conditioning?
Zen (or Dhyana in Sanskrit) cannot be practiced in
isolation. This means that a practitioner must support
his/her practice with other acts, most importantly by
the acts of giving (but also of discipline, patience
and diligence).
Once a person takes the practice of giving (Dana in
Sanskrit) trully to his/her heart, an incredibly
strong spirit of generosity is absolutely guaranteed
to appear (if you've never tried it before, I strongly
urge you to give it a wholehearted try, you'll be
amazed at the results). This virtue (or 'perfection')
is, according to the Buddha's teaching, 'sightless' --
it needs guidance. Otherwise, the practitioners may
find themselves going in ever decreasing circles.
Dhyana is the practice that enables one to attain
wisdom, which is the 'sight' leading the other blind
practices. Just as a single peson who possesses good
eyesight can lead thousand blind people to their
destination, a single virtue (i.e. wisdom, or Prajna
in Sanskrit), can lead all other virtues to their
perfection.
This is why Zen is extremely important. Without it,
we're risking to follow sightless practice. Only
through Zen can we really open our third eye of
spiritual wisdom.
On this path, most of the everyday anxieties tend to
spontaneously just fall off. The strong spirit of
generosity, fortified by the solid practice of Dhyana,
tends to quickly melt away any concerns and anxieties.
But then other, never before experienced anxieties
arise. But not to worry, these are of the 'good kind',
as they help us generate the great doubt necessary for
the great breakthrough.
More bullshit to come...
Alex
No karma was produced during the composition of this letter
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