― Aimless, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 00:58 (seventeen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 02:06 (seventeen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 02:07 (seventeen years ago) link
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 02:59 (seventeen years ago) link
― Dimension 5ive, Tuesday, 15 May 2007 03:48 (seventeen years ago) link
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Friday, 18 May 2007 03:12 (seventeen years ago) link
― luriqua, Friday, 18 May 2007 03:18 (seventeen years ago) link
― Aimless, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:15 (seventeen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:20 (seventeen years ago) link
― Aimless, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:28 (seventeen years ago) link
― and what, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:31 (seventeen years ago) link
― jhøshea, Friday, 18 May 2007 17:55 (seventeen years ago) link
― Shakey Mo Collier, Friday, 18 May 2007 18:00 (seventeen years ago) link
i thought that was damo suzuki!
― daria-g, Friday, 18 May 2007 20:31 (seventeen years ago) link
that would be an interesting twist
― jhøshea, Friday, 18 May 2007 20:40 (seventeen years ago) link
I see that Bob Six asked about Brad Warner upthread: I picked up Warner's new book yesterday. I'm learning from it, and I must say it's VERY refreshing and eye-opening (having only been familiar with Kapleau, Watts & "the two Suzukis") to read someone whose metaphors illuminate a point for me rather than disguise it. I've always had a level of difficulty with the naturalistic metaphors born of a monastery-dweller's mind, but Warner's reference points are accessible and clear.
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 4 June 2007 00:49 (seventeen years ago) link
i went to a temple with my mum and a friend. i am very much non-spiritual (and atheist) but i started crying when they were praying ( is that how you call it)? really weird.
― stevienixed, Monday, 4 June 2007 00:52 (seventeen years ago) link
You can be Athiest, Buddhist, and spiritual too.
― humansuit, Monday, 4 June 2007 01:10 (seventeen years ago) link
i thought pregnant ladies cried basically all the time, though
― river wolf, Monday, 4 June 2007 01:18 (seventeen years ago) link
Sometimes they don't. When they're beating on you.
― humansuit, Monday, 4 June 2007 01:20 (seventeen years ago) link
KASUNG REPRESENT
― HPSCHD, Monday, 4 June 2007 01:49 (seventeen years ago) link
humansuit otm both times
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 4 June 2007 02:03 (seventeen years ago) link
anyone ever tried the kind of buddhism where you chant out loud? whats that called?
― artdamages, Monday, 4 June 2007 02:06 (seventeen years ago) link
chantric buddhism
― latebloomer, Monday, 4 June 2007 02:52 (seventeen years ago) link
thanks, i'll be here all night. and in the next life.
just a bit of fun, you guys
― river wolf, Monday, 4 June 2007 03:12 (seventeen years ago) link
Hahaha. :-) Yeah, I guess the *preggership* does weird trix on me. ;-)
I realize that. What I wanted to say is that I am very wary (?) of *letting* go. I realize I'm in the wrong, not wanting to join anything. But I know that by admitting I am atheist, I am also joining a group. Still it's a very interesting form of Buddhism that my friend practices. She's very serious about it. My mother now also joins them occasionally and even knows how to recite in Japanese.
Seriously though, it was extremely weird. From the moment I heard them recite out loud in group, I had to hold back tears. And then suddenly I cried. Only for a few minutes.
― stevienixed, Monday, 4 June 2007 06:03 (seventeen years ago) link
I don't think athiests are a group. At least, they aren't a very good one. I'm still waiting to be sent on my athiest mission, to tell Africans there is no God. Was that bad to say? I'm working and it's 11 on Sunday night, so whatever.
I am nominally Buddhist. I say that because unfortunately I don't believe many of the major tenants of Buddhism as it is practiced now. Reincarnation is unlikely and at any rate not useful. I don't remember my past lives, so they don't do anything for me. As for the idea, common in Tibetan Buddhism for one, that you can obtain Buddhahood and then never experience ANY pain because your karma is cleansed - I don't think that's true either, and many Buddhists have elevated Buddha Shakyamuni and Amitabh into God-figures, whom they worship, which I think is anathema (sp) to what the Buddha taught.
Still, meditation is great, and I enjoy that aspect of the community, since discursive thought is not the fastest road to letting go of the things you should ... I can't go here. It's too late. But as long as I am letting go into something that doesn't require "faith," I'm comfortable with that.
― humansuit, Monday, 4 June 2007 06:13 (seventeen years ago) link
Christopher Hitchens doesn't like Buddhism either.
― Mordechai Shinefield, Monday, 4 June 2007 08:36 (seventeen years ago) link
xpost Well, it's all relative, isn't it? I mean, for one thing, I would never go on a mission to preach about the fact there is no God. I don't need anyone else to join my group, nor realize that there is no God. (I don't want to debate the fact the difference between knowing and believing. I don't think it is relevant that *I* or anyone else believes there's no God. Doesn't change the fact that s/he is absent.) Still I belong to a group anyway. I'm not expressing myself (or rather what my husband considers) very well. I wanted to say that he (and I, as I agree with him) also have some set belief and in a sense am not that different from someone who does believe (in a God). Shit, does that make sense?
Anyway, deep down I always sense that I could swing the whole other was: to devote myself to Buddhism (or any other belief). I tend to be radical but try not to push that on others (anymore). I can't really talk about my experience (yesterday) being in that shinto buddhist temple. I did, I talked to my mom about it, and I fucking cried again. How fucking weird is that? I do believe it's also the fact I am in Japan: it always makes me *weak in the knees*. It's as if there's some mysticism that is lacking (for me anyway) in Europe.
In a sense I also realize that I am bad in the sense that I don't want to join in belief because it requires (it would for me anyway) some energy and input. I would not want to be... lazy about it. Does that make sense? I don't like being half-arsed about (these things). I like to be obsessed about my interests. (See music, knitting,...) I'm a bit anal about things. And I would not want to give this up if I would commit myself to it. I did when it came to music, but, fuck, buddhism is something entirely different.
I'm babbling sorry.
― stevienixed, Monday, 4 June 2007 10:26 (seventeen years ago) link
hey stevie - why not just try meditating, maybe study a little dharma, practice with a sangha and see how you like it. no point in making a big deal out of things before you even begin (or ever really).
well all schools have chanting, but you're probably thinking of Nichiren - known in the west for having many celebrities in the fold. considered by many to be somewhat theistic.
HAI!
― jhøshea, Monday, 4 June 2007 11:58 (seventeen years ago) link
Oh it's Nathalie. But nevermind. I should try it out. Maybe read a book first. Take it slow.
― stevienixed, Monday, 4 June 2007 16:28 (seventeen years ago) link
-- Mordechai Shinefield, Monday, 4 June 2007 08:36
The Atheist Pope has spoken.
(I realize you're not suggesting he's an authority etc)
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 4 June 2007 16:57 (seventeen years ago) link
Hey Nath, Shunryu Suzuki (Zen Priest & author of one of the most widely read texts on Zen Buddhism in English) wrote that after a long absence from the monastery, hearing the chants moved him to tears too! You're in good company.
xposts
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 4 June 2007 17:00 (seventeen years ago) link
I notice Mr. Hitchens says a great many things. It is his forte.
― Aimless, Monday, 4 June 2007 17:01 (seventeen years ago) link
jhoshea r u a vegetarian
― river wolf, Sunday, 10 June 2007 20:42 (seventeen years ago) link
no
― jhøshea, Sunday, 10 June 2007 20:57 (seventeen years ago) link
ok jus wonderin
i am about to check out
the way of liberation (watts) this is it (watts) the training of the zen buddhist monk (suzuki)
none of the other books that you recommended (e.g. by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche) were available.
― river wolf, Sunday, 10 June 2007 21:48 (seventeen years ago) link
this library BLOWS
― river wolf, Sunday, 10 June 2007 21:53 (seventeen years ago) link
Whenever clouds gather, the nature of the sky is not corrupted, and when they disperse, it is not ameliorated. The sky does not become less or more vast. It does not change. It is the same with the nature of mind: it is not spoiled by the arrival of thoughts; nor improved by their disappearance. The nature of the mind is emptiness; its expression is clarity. These two aspects are essentially one's simple images designed to indicate the diverse modalities of the mind. It would be useless to attach oneself in turn to the notion of emptiness, and then to that of clarity, as if they were independent entities. The ultimate nature of mind is beyond all concepts, all definition and all fragmentation.
"I could walk on the clouds," says a child. But if he reached the clouds, he would find nowhere to place his foot. Likewise, if one does not examine thoughts, they present a solid appearance; but if one examines them, there is nothing there. That is what is called being at the same time empty and apparent. Emptiness of mind is not nothingness, nor a state of torpor, for it possesses by its very nature a luminous faculty of knowledge, which is called Awareness. These two aspects, emptiness and Awareness, cannot be separated. They are essentially one, like the surface of the mirror and the image, which is reflected in it.
-Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche
― jhøshea, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:38 (seventeen years ago) link
jhoshea i have questions
― river wolf, Thursday, 14 June 2007 02:53 (seventeen years ago) link
Impertinency!
― Aimless, Thursday, 14 June 2007 03:17 (seventeen years ago) link
me too.
that quote appears contradictory to me. I mean presuposing there is such thing as "mind" of course , but if the mind is "beyond all definition, conception etc" why is this person attempting to define and conceptualise it?
― Kiwi, Thursday, 14 June 2007 03:20 (seventeen years ago) link
no the quote made sense, i have other questions
― river wolf, Thursday, 14 June 2007 03:38 (seventeen years ago) link
"I know the human being and fish can coexist peacefully."
― gabbneb, Thursday, 14 June 2007 03:40 (seventeen years ago) link
oh, Buddhism
"no the quote made sense"
Care to share? Pls dont be INDIFFERENT! Im real!
― Kiwi, Thursday, 14 June 2007 04:05 (seventeen years ago) link
http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00000J6AS.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg
― river wolf, Thursday, 14 June 2007 04:10 (seventeen years ago) link
2/10 points for effort mind.
http://www.forumspile.com/Flame-Bring_it_(Western).jpg
― Kiwi, Thursday, 14 June 2007 04:33 (seventeen years ago) link