Buddhism

i thought that was damo suzuki!

that would be an interesting twist

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.

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.

You can be Athiest, Buddhist, and spiritual too.

i thought pregnant ladies cried basically all the time, though

Sometimes they don't. When they're beating on you.

KASUNG REPRESENT

humansuit otm both times

anyone ever tried the kind of buddhism where you chant out loud? whats that called?

chantric buddhism

thanks, i'll be here all night. and in the next life.

just a bit of fun, you guys

Hahaha. :-) Yeah, I guess the *preggership* does weird trix on me. ;-)

You can be Athiest, Buddhist, and spiritual too.

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.

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.

Christopher Hitchens doesn't like Buddhism either.

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.

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).

anyone ever tried the kind of buddhism where you chant out loud? whats that called?

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.

KASUNG REPRESENT

HAI!

Oh it's Nathalie. But nevermind. I should try it out. Maybe read a book first. Take it slow.

Christopher Hitchens doesn't like Buddhism either.

-- Mordechai Shinefield, Monday, 4 June 2007 08:36

The Atheist Pope has spoken.

(I realize you're not suggesting he's an authority etc)

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

my screen name's buddhist derivation is quite indirect and was mostly unconscious when it happened, but I've kept it over the decades largely to honor those hidden roots. it's ok to peg it to that.

Ever since 1978 or so I've had a hard time deciding whether I'm a bad taoist or an easily sidetracked buddhist, so I oscillate between them, depending on which is easiest to impersonate.

bad taoist = several old roommates of mine

Why wash the dishes piling up in the sink? Let the water flow around them

That reminds me the terrible book Zen Guitar for Assholes where the guy recommends doing everything “100%, all out, all the time” or something like that, including doing the dishes. Not realizing that maybe, just maybe such a white knuckle attitude might actually lead somebody to think “Right now I don’t really feel like I can the dishes 100% so I will postpone that task until I feel up to it” instead of some more, say, self-aware approaches to handling the task with minimum wear and tear on the psyche.

"Reducing non-western culture to western paradigms - also dud" I've been wondering if the terms in English that are used to describe things like Duḥkha in the way intended or if they just make people think kof them in unintended ways.

You should totally check out this article by Carine Defoort:Is There Such A Thing As Chinese Philosophy?

Link is to a pdf file

Today’s Daily Dharma is apropos.
https://tricycle.org/magazine/special-transmission/

I guess philosophy is philosophy and even that doesnt exist

thx for that link, from the chan/zen-zone

Sure. That was intense.