Have You Heard the Good News of Zen?
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
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About two years ago, found out there is a Zen temple about fifty miles from me, so I watched their videos, listened to podcasts, liked and occasionally commented. After maybe two or three months, their public relations priest contacted me, asking if I had any questions, anyway she could help, what to expect if I came, etc. Ive continued to listen/watch, but only took part in one short series of online classes and attended in person once. They started as a meditation group, grew into a rented temple space, then built a temple. Great for them, but as you touched on, that creates an institution, creates a need for butts on cushions and money in the dana box to cover associated costs. Personally, I would rather read your books and watch your videos than drive a hundred miles round trip to a temple
The Flying Spaghetti Monster is REAL, how dare you sir. As usual more Ziggy.
A sign of my progress as a person: I was walking out of a coffee shop yesterday and some guy ran out behind me to tell me that Christ loves me and instead of saying something incredibly rude to him, as a younger version of me would definitely have done, I just said, “thank you.”
Six days after my wife died (cancer, ugly story) a guy told me that too. He is still alive, but only because a friend held me back.
@@UweHolst after I lost my 4 month old son, I found that many people were more interested in defending God than providing solace.
Thank you so much for the shout out my friend.
The video you made about self esteem was good. "Who is esteeming, and who is being esteemed"
all your vids are good i get at least one thing out of them. keep it up
When I used to sit with the local Rinzai group (the only option at the time) I didn’t mind at all adding to the dana box. They operated out of the osho’s house and it was all above board. I definitely had to seek them out, sit with them for a while and then be quietly told that I could contribute. They were (probably still are) nice folks, there was never any pressure one way or another.
That said, the lack of pressure might have been a side effect of operating out of a home instead of a rented space.
I have since chanced upon a couple of organizations who are definitely trying to get butts in seats (or on zafus). The overall impression is that if you’re not paying, then they’re not going to spend time on you.
Good ol’ capitalistic society, still at it. Profit motive kinda wrecks everything.
Electronic drum kits sound great these days and are partner/neighbour/dog friendly and don't take up as much space if you hadn't thought about that.
Ok, I decided to start a sitting group for my community. Anyone can attend. Part of it is that I like sitting with other people. I do NOT want it to turn into some type of center, temple, etc. The other side of things is that as a disabled veteran my zazen helped me get past quite a few things and develop pain management techniques. So, I'm offering meditation/zazen (not open to the public) for my fellow veterans at the American Legion. I'll offer a community-wide session because someone asked me to offer the opportunity for others to see if they want this type of activity. For me, if no one comes, it's okay - it's their choice. And, I like a chance to sit anywhere regardless of the circumstances. Recruitment mindsets or efforts and proselytization are big turn offs for me. Plus - I don't do it.
Additionally, I do not talk about my practice unless someone asks me directly about it. However, my mother told many people about my ordination, putting me on the hook at family gatherings. Blah :(
I get it.
I've done that practice where I pursued it alone staring at the wall. Now, I'd like to sit with some people and have some friendly conversations.
(Solo practice has merit, but it does get old after a few years.)
My community has just over 2K people but stacked with veterans.
Good stuff
Thank you
Ever thought of making a list of music recommendations?
The first Zen/Chan patriarch in China was Bodhidharma, an Indian prince who became a monk in his forties. Decades later he went to China. He was quite alone the first time he reached China.
The second patriarch of Zen/Chan in China was Bodhidharma's student who knocked out Bodhidharma's tooth before he made himself Bodhidharma's student. He invited himself to be Bodhidharma's student because some deva&devi told him that Bodhidharma knew how to get out of samsara. So, it was the devas doing proselytizing on behalf of Bodhidharma.
Years after following Bodhidharma, he asked why Bodhidharma had not taught him much. Bodhidharma said because he knocked Bodhidharma's tooth out. So, this guy cut his own arm and gave it to Bodhidharma. After that, Bodhidharma gave him the transmission with a message: spread the Dharma and do not let Dharma die.
So it was: the first patriarch of Chinese Zen/Chan was a lonely wolf (Bodhidharma) and the second patriarch had only an arm.
A lot of comments hit on monetary donations, but to me the main takeaway was that a zen center just should not be preoccupied with growing. That mentality - that if you *aren’t trying to get bigger*, then you are failing - is the same capitalistic mindset that I think makes for questionable motives and practices which are at odds with some idea of an authentic transmission of zen. BUT: in practice, what actual harm is done by this not-really-recruitment-but-kind-of-informed activity? Besides, there has been plenty of efforts done in the past (as I understand from some paltry learning done mostly from listening to podcasts) which definitely counts as recruitment without which I doubt zen would have been around long enough for me to find it.
Dana is the first paramita. Donating to charity, dropping cash in the box, etc is all dana. But dana is also the gift of realizing you are on the bodhisattva path. And perfecting dana means sharing the gift.
A lot of the traditional reluctance of Zen/Chan masters to "recruit" is recognition (within an already Buddhist culture) of the difficulty/level of commitment involved in developing prajna. But it's not a coincidence, though, that this "soft sell" approach has led Zen to be pretty successful in the West.
Whatever approach liberates all sentient beings from suffering is best, I suppose. That should be easy to figure out, right?
Whatever approach liberates all sentient beings from suffering is best, I suppose 🙏📿
I don’t think it has anything to do with Zen having a “soft sell” approach in the west. It is more likely the relative absence of pretentiousness is behind its appeal.
I think I've come across both ends of the spectrum, from Soka Gakkai types who go all witness on you, and other temples/groups who seemed to actively discourage you from ever visiting again!
I'm trying to imagine a mid west zen televangelist trying to attract as many followers as possible. I can't put it into words, but it's a power grab and power corrupts. I work with things, not words.
That’s actually quite a hilarious visual in my mind. 🤔😂💁🏼♂️
Although it is not explicitly a Dharna talk the Dharma will impact social interaction and communication in order to clarify.
I live in small town Midwest, where there are no Buddhist centers for, well, you know how it was in Ohio. The conversations people have with me is like they found out I study and practice zazen and that they try to root me out like the red scare era. I'm my mid twenties or so, I just flat out refused to talk about it unless they were really pressing and I got the feeling of sincerity. Now, I'm just some dude so like it's not like I'm proselyting or anything but still. Just keep it to myself, and you all here on the Internet 😹
Hi I have a question about death and rebirth. I have seen your video about "the Tibetan book of the death" and the comments of Dogen about death and rebirth. My question is why is him so vague and what actually happen to us when we die but we haven't been enlightened? Zen Buddhism doesn't believe in the six realm of existence?
What do you do when people ask you what your job is?
I have a weird enough job that I really don’t want to get into a detailed talk about it with my uberdriver. Usually if you don’t give a straight job when asked what you do social conventions start breaking down, and they'll do things like directly ask how much money you make?
First, tell them you're a beast
if they ask again
Tell them you're an idiot.
If they ask a third time
Well...,you watched the video
Yeah, remarkably facile thinker, but he begins to feel like a water spider, skimming here and there across the surfaces
8:53 ziggy is such a dog
You totally need real drums! /you won't have to Zazen no more, just rock n' roll! 😁🙏
More people more money
Shogun Jack who ?
Yeah, I couldn't find it either. Tried by title but there are several videos out there with that title, mostly music.
@@GODSPEED801Shozan - channel is called zen confidential
youtube.com/@zenconfidential25?si=H2Y2stteEbs4c4q6
www.youtube.com/@zenconfidential25
Shozan Jack Haubner. His videos are always worth listening to.
You could've al so saved the world. Heh. Yeah. Hi.
Zoroastrianism is also non-missionary, you can only be born into it
Ugh, something hideous about machines replacing actual musicians. 😒😠😤