OneSangha | Zen Practice | Group Activity http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/activity/feed Zen Practice - Group Activity Feed Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:24:04 +0000 http://buddypress.org/?v=1.2.9 en http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/3221/ <![CDATA[Catherine Kehl posted an update in the group Zen Practice: Last week, while a bunch of us were getting ready to leave the Zendo (Cleveland [...]]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/3221/ Sun, 06 Feb 2011 18:21:40 +0000 Catherine Kehl posted an update in the group Zen Practice: Last week, while a bunch of us were getting ready to leave the Zendo (Cleveland winter weather takes some preparing for) we were talking about why people practice. Which actually isn't something I've considered much. But the conversation went along the lines of how you can't expect anything to happen... but on the other hand, if it doesn't, or if you don't expect it to, why do you keep on practicing?

I was thinking of this a bit in terms of my forms practice yesterday. I think there I mostly practice because it's a good practice. I mean, it's work, and it takes time, and you have to get started at it and all that stuff - but the practice itself, is good, just by itself. Even, maybe especially, when it's hard. Even when it seems fruitless. (I really learned that most in the forms practice, especially with the spine injury.)

But then there are those times when the practice, or the world just seems to pour out these absurd riches at our feet. It's not a reward - that's part of the absurdity of it. And I wonder a little how much that plays into my own motivation. I haven't thought a lot about why to practice largely because it seemed kind of obvious. There's a path, under your feet. So you walk on it. I mean, d'oh!

...and I wonder how much of that is the blindness of privilege. I don't think I earned my neurochemistry either.

Comments: 0

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2923/ <![CDATA[Greg Southworth posted an update in the group Zen Practice: Hi all. I have been a Zen practitioner for several years, mostly solo. I found [...]]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2923/ Sun, 19 Dec 2010 02:06:01 +0000 Greg Southworth posted an update in the group Zen Practice: Hi all. I have been a Zen practitioner for several years, mostly solo. I found the Fort Worth Zendo recently and have been sitting there.

Comments: 2

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2922/ <![CDATA[Greg Southworth joined the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2922/ Sun, 19 Dec 2010 02:04:41 +0000 Greg Southworth joined the group Zen Practice

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]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2881/ <![CDATA[Adam joined the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2881/ Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:34:26 +0000 Adam joined the group Zen Practice

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]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2798/ <![CDATA[Rev. Jiun Foster, SDPS joined the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2798/ Sat, 20 Nov 2010 17:14:42 +0000 Rev. Jiun Foster, SDPS joined the group Zen Practice

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]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/30-days-of-practice/#post-93 <![CDATA[Louella Wetherbee posted on the forum topic 30 Days of Practice in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/30-days-of-practice/#post-93 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:29:58 +0000 Louella Wetherbee posted on the forum topic 30 Days of Practice in the group Zen Practice: The practice commitment and suggestions are inspiring. How is it going?
Lou in Dallas

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2789/ <![CDATA[Louella Wetherbee joined the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/2789/ Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:29:57 +0000 Louella Wetherbee joined the group Zen Practice

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]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/30-days-of-practice/#post-86 <![CDATA[Catherine Kehl posted on the forum topic 30 Days of Practice in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/30-days-of-practice/#post-86 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:30:20 +0000 Catherine Kehl posted on the forum topic 30 Days of Practice in the group Zen Practice: I was intrigued by your blog post when I first saw it. Mentioned it to K, but... well, it's been fourteen months and a bit since we started sitting together every evening. That was in addition to the morning bit, and neither of us particularly had anything we were looking to add. (We had one [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/30-days-of-practice/ <![CDATA[Al Jigen Billings started the forum topic 30 Days of Practice in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/30-days-of-practice/ Wed, 03 Nov 2010 00:10:57 +0000 Al Jigen Billings started the forum topic 30 Days of Practice in the group Zen Practice: I posted the following on my blog at http://www.openbuddha.com/2010/10/21/30-days-of-practice/ a short while ago. I offer it for discussion. Inspired by Ryan’s “100 Days of Practice” series, I’m setting up a public commitment to practice, though I’m going to scale it down to 30 days this first time. Now, I have a somewhat regular practice of [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/1091/ <![CDATA[D. A. Rice joined the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/1091/ Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:49:41 +0000 D. A. Rice joined the group Zen Practice

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]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-62 <![CDATA[chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-62 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:24:02 +0000 chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice: So everyone has to have the same view? That is impossible. Buddhism teaches that you take care of your own rice bowl. That is what the Buddha taught. I can not take care of yours or anyone else. I said you are not a noun. "Buddhist". If you think you are, fine. I do not [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-61 <![CDATA[Al Jigen Billings posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-61 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:55:56 +0000 Al Jigen Billings posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice: Chana, it seems you're practicing something different than everyone else here. Maybe you say it is real Buddhism or maybe you call it something else. In any case, I do not feel you are in a position to tell anyone with any authority that what they are doing is not Buddhist or Buddhism. You said [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-60 <![CDATA[Keith Angilly posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-60 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:17:48 +0000 Keith Angilly posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice: Hi Channa, You wrote: "Hi Keith, you say “I don’t know what to say…the words above reflect exactly my point. They are all just incorrect generalizations and negative stereotyping and really just reflect a profound misunderstanding of the Dharma.” Could you explain the true Dharma to me/us? By your reply you seem to know, without [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/997/ <![CDATA[chana posted an update in the group Zen Practice: From the online PDF book....\\\\\\\"Walking in Zen, Sitting in Zen\\\\\\\" by OSHO at http://www.messagefrommasters.com/Beloved_Osho_Books/Zen/Walking_in_Zen_Sitting_in_Zen.pdf I [...]]]> http://www.onesangha.org/activity/p/997/ Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:05:51 +0000 chana posted an update in the group Zen Practice: From the online PDF book....\\\\\\\"Walking in Zen, Sitting in Zen\\\\\\\" by OSHO

at http://www.messagefrommasters.com/Beloved_Osho_Books/Zen/Walking_in_Zen_Sitting_in_Zen.pdf

I love the statement that the ”man of Zen walks in Zen and sits in Zen” for the simple reason that
meditation cannot be just a part of your life. You cannot make a fragment of your life meditative; it
is not possible to be meditative for one hour and then non-meditative for twenty-three hours. It is
absolutely impossible. If you are doing that, that means your meditation is false.
Meditation can either be a twenty-four-hour affair or it cannot be at all. It is like breathing: you cannot
breathe for one hour and then put it aside for twenty-three hours, otherwise you will be dead. You
have to go on breathing. Even while you are asleep you have to go on breathing. Even in a deep
coma you have to go on breathing.
Meditation is the breath of your soul. Just as breathing is the life of the body, meditation is the life of
the soul.
The people who are not aware of meditation are spiritually dead.

also.....

It is not a question of how much more, it is not a question of quantity; either you are asleep or you
are awake. No one is more asleep than anybody else. The people who are asleep are asleep in the
same way. It does not matter how deeply you are asleep – it is not a question of quantity – you are
asleep, that is enough. And the same is the case with awakening: if you are awake, you are simply
awake. Nobody is more awake or less awake.

also.....

Zen is not interested in such compromises. It wants you to really wake up. And it is hard work,
a thankless job. A Zen Master has chosen something for which nobody is going to thank him.
Everybody will feel sabotaged by him and everybody will feel hurt by him. Everybody will feel he is
disturbing their sleep. Only very few people, who are real inquirers, who are ready to risk all, will be
able to understand, because Zen says your whole life has to be transformed, not just a part of your
life.
Chana

Comments: 0

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-59 <![CDATA[chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-59 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:56:02 +0000 chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice: Hi Catherine, You sound like a very sincere person, and a true seeker of truth. you said in your post...."I’m not claiming any perfection here. Actually, let me give an example of my own ineptitude: There’s one guy in our order who often strikes me as striking a pretty authoritarian note. He’s higher ranked than [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-58 <![CDATA[chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-58 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:36:04 +0000 chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice: Your hopes are fulfilled, I am living up to what I have said. No one is a "Buddhist". That like calling yourself a "car" or an "apple". You might be trying to practice what you think is Buddhist religion, or psychology, or philosophy, but not a "Buddhist". Why limit yourself to a label? I guess [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-57 <![CDATA[Catherine Kehl posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-57 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:28:49 +0000 Catherine Kehl posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice: I liked the article and its generally welcoming tone. But I feel like the comments here are wandering a bit into an unnecessary dichotomy. I know a lot of people have out of, or been exposed to, environments in which there is a clergy laiety separation in which there is a small group of people [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-56 <![CDATA[Al Jigen Billings posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-56 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:22:29 +0000 Al Jigen Billings posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice: Well, you seem to understand me, what I'm doing, and Buddhism better than I do, at least in your opinion. I reject the dichotomies you offer above or your requirement to have no teachers, no family, no anything in order to be a Buddhist who isn't a "wannabe" or "faking" it. I think that your [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-55 <![CDATA[chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-55 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:33:09 +0000 chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice: Hi Al, I have been in many religious groups. I do not think i am biased. I think i am being realistic. And as I posted there is some benefit to being involved in religious institutions, as the Buddha said. Wondering about where Buddhism would be without the myriads of sects/schools of Buddhism, is entirely [...]

]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-54 <![CDATA[chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice]]> http://www.onesangha.org/groups/zen-practice/forum/topic/going-it-alone-making-it-work-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#post-54 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:02:05 +0000 chana posted on the forum topic Going It Alone Making It Work as an Unaffiliated Buddhist in the group Zen Practice: Hi Keith, you say "I don’t know what to say…the words above reflect exactly my point. They are all just incorrect generalizations and negative stereotyping and really just reflect a profound misunderstanding of the Dharma." Could you explain the true Dharma to me/us? By your reply you seem to know, without generalizations. I would love [...]

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