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Several years ago when a Zen student was killed at the age of 22 in San Francisco, Dainin Katagiri, a teacher at the center attended by the young man, reminded his mourning friends: "“Human beings have an idea they are fond of—that we die in old age. That’s just an idea. We don’t know when our death will come. Chris’s death has come now.”
Today, bring to your mind the truth that old age is not a guarantee and try to live wisely. Dainin Katagiri himself died at the relative young age of 62.
Today, bring to your mind the truth that old age is not a guarantee and try to live wisely. Dainin Katagiri himself died at the relative young age of 62.
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Do no harm, practice virtues, discipline the mind. Tis is the teaching of all the buddhas.
- Dhammapada
- Dhammapada
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Don’t allow yourself to think or believe, ‘my life is a mess’! Instead allow yourself to think - ‘it’s time to do some repair work and reinvent myself’. - Victor M. Parachin
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Indologist Georg Feuerstein, PhD., states that “Zen is Japan's form of Yoga.” The Japanese Zen tradition is highly focused on meditation as a tool for breaking through to one's pure Buddha nature. Like Yoga, the objective of Zen practice is to awaken consciousness and Self Realize. Both Yoga and Zen meditation are tools for transitioning from the human self to the Higher Self.
Etymologically, the word ‘zen’ emerges from the Sanskrti ‘dhyana’ which means meditative practice or deep mental concentration. When Buddhism was taken to China, dhyana was translated as ‘chan’ and then ‘zen’ in Japan, ‘thien’ in Vietnam and ‘seon’ in Korean. The term Zen is a general one used to describe a variety of traditions who utilize different tools to silence and then awaken the mind to the true self.
Some scholars believe that Zen is a blending of Taoism with Buddhism where the more complex meditative practices of Buddhism encounter the simple, direct approach of the Chinese Tao. This combination produced a new branch of Buddhism known as Zen.
Etymologically, the word ‘zen’ emerges from the Sanskrti ‘dhyana’ which means meditative practice or deep mental concentration. When Buddhism was taken to China, dhyana was translated as ‘chan’ and then ‘zen’ in Japan, ‘thien’ in Vietnam and ‘seon’ in Korean. The term Zen is a general one used to describe a variety of traditions who utilize different tools to silence and then awaken the mind to the true self.
Some scholars believe that Zen is a blending of Taoism with Buddhism where the more complex meditative practices of Buddhism encounter the simple, direct approach of the Chinese Tao. This combination produced a new branch of Buddhism known as Zen.
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The true spirit of giving is to benefit others at the expense of oneself. - Yin Shun
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Singer and songwriter Naomi Judd experienced flu like symptoms for a two year period before her mysterious condition was finally uncovered. She had hepatitis C. Since that time, she has authored The Transparent Life: 30 Proven Ways To Live Your Best. In that book, she writes about her fear and worry and how she put an end to those negative emotions. Here are four of her insights:
1. Fear is pain about the future. When she was told she might have less than three years to live, panic over her future set in. “I knew I had to confront my fear, then learn how to control it I couldn’t allow myself to indulge in anxiety, because I knew my body could turn the doctor’s prognosis into a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
2. Worry is pain about the present. “Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but doesn't’ get you anywhere….It’s the most common form of mental stress. We need to check out whether our anxieties are based on something real or whether our imagination is running away with us.”
3. Worry wastes time and is unproductive. “Worry never gets you anywhere. A quiet, calm mind clears the way for constructive planning.” She advises engaging in practices which produce a calm, peaceful mind such as mediation or prayer.
4. Work with the acronym FEAR. That stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. “If you don’t identify and release your fear, I will leave you powerless and unable to stand up for yourself. An unresolved fear also can develop into an illness and then go on to prevent you from recuperating. Fear is the greatest inhibitor of the human spirit. Fear thrives on lack of self-confidence and prevents us from taking risks.”
1. Fear is pain about the future. When she was told she might have less than three years to live, panic over her future set in. “I knew I had to confront my fear, then learn how to control it I couldn’t allow myself to indulge in anxiety, because I knew my body could turn the doctor’s prognosis into a self-fulfilling prophecy.”
2. Worry is pain about the present. “Worry is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but doesn't’ get you anywhere….It’s the most common form of mental stress. We need to check out whether our anxieties are based on something real or whether our imagination is running away with us.”
3. Worry wastes time and is unproductive. “Worry never gets you anywhere. A quiet, calm mind clears the way for constructive planning.” She advises engaging in practices which produce a calm, peaceful mind such as mediation or prayer.
4. Work with the acronym FEAR. That stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. “If you don’t identify and release your fear, I will leave you powerless and unable to stand up for yourself. An unresolved fear also can develop into an illness and then go on to prevent you from recuperating. Fear is the greatest inhibitor of the human spirit. Fear thrives on lack of self-confidence and prevents us from taking risks.”
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Knowledge is power. But is it? Personally I think this popular maxim is grossly misleading. Nevertheless, knowledge that leads to self-understanding is invaluable because it empowers us to live a life that is not dictated by the mechanism of our unconscious.
- Georg Feuerstein
- Georg Feuerstein
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Generally most people are not happy with their bodies. Many that I know - female and male - engage in private body shaming via their thoughts. They look in a mirror and see themselves as too fat or too thin or some other aspect they don't like. The negative body image is understandable (though sad) because of our religious and cultural impressions. Christianity has a great job teaching the body as sinful. Culturally, the images presented in media, especially magazines, are those of younger people who are either very thin (female) or extremely muscular (male). Both are unrealistic for most people.
So, it was with interest I came across an article"The Body in Buddhism" by Anam Thubten Rinpoche. Here are some of his insights. They can help bring some balance to our dysfunctional views about our bodies.
1. The body can be viewed positively. In his book Walking Words, the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano (1940–2015) understood this problem clearly and summarized it in a poem that pointed out these unnatural and unhealthy attitudes toward the body that are prevalent in both religious and secular society:The church says: the body is sin.
Science says: the body is a machine.
Advertising says: the body is business.
The body says: I am a fiesta. (This is the positive view)
2. Self-mortification of the body is promoted by religion. This is a sad fact. "There is a deep-seated misunderstanding that our body is mundane and impure, while our soul is pure and the essence of who we are, trapped in a prison of flesh and bone. Many spiritual traditions have introduced ascetic practices that appear to abuse the body. Even today, there are ascetics in India who engage in observances that neglect the body as meaningless, transitory, or unimportant."
3. The Buddha presented a middle way. Not too thin, not to obese. Enjoy some activities which bring pleasure to the body. "The Buddha himself tried extreme asceticism in the beginning of his search for the truth of existence. Later, he concluded that such practices are ultimately futile, and instead taught the Middle Way—a lifestyle free from the excesses of both sensual indulgence and asceticism."
4. Treat your body as a mandala. "Many wise people from the past understood this misconception and came up with more enlightened and informed outlooks toward the human body. Tantric Buddhists observe commitments or vows that include not abusing one’s own body, which is considered one of the 14 root downfalls. They also hold the attitude of understanding that the body is a mandala, a holy temple, and naturally sacred. When they eat, they often consecrate the food as a ganachakra or sacred feast. Eating itself becomes a ceremony of offering the feast to one’s body as the divine abode. This practice is described in a verse from one of Patrul Rinpoche’s (1808–1887) dohas:
When the great meditators consume,
Bless the food and drinks as a ganachakra,
One’s body is an assembly of peaceful and wrathful deities.
Consume while not being distracted away from the nature of mind.
So, it was with interest I came across an article"The Body in Buddhism" by Anam Thubten Rinpoche. Here are some of his insights. They can help bring some balance to our dysfunctional views about our bodies.
1. The body can be viewed positively. In his book Walking Words, the Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano (1940–2015) understood this problem clearly and summarized it in a poem that pointed out these unnatural and unhealthy attitudes toward the body that are prevalent in both religious and secular society:The church says: the body is sin.
Science says: the body is a machine.
Advertising says: the body is business.
The body says: I am a fiesta. (This is the positive view)
2. Self-mortification of the body is promoted by religion. This is a sad fact. "There is a deep-seated misunderstanding that our body is mundane and impure, while our soul is pure and the essence of who we are, trapped in a prison of flesh and bone. Many spiritual traditions have introduced ascetic practices that appear to abuse the body. Even today, there are ascetics in India who engage in observances that neglect the body as meaningless, transitory, or unimportant."
3. The Buddha presented a middle way. Not too thin, not to obese. Enjoy some activities which bring pleasure to the body. "The Buddha himself tried extreme asceticism in the beginning of his search for the truth of existence. Later, he concluded that such practices are ultimately futile, and instead taught the Middle Way—a lifestyle free from the excesses of both sensual indulgence and asceticism."
4. Treat your body as a mandala. "Many wise people from the past understood this misconception and came up with more enlightened and informed outlooks toward the human body. Tantric Buddhists observe commitments or vows that include not abusing one’s own body, which is considered one of the 14 root downfalls. They also hold the attitude of understanding that the body is a mandala, a holy temple, and naturally sacred. When they eat, they often consecrate the food as a ganachakra or sacred feast. Eating itself becomes a ceremony of offering the feast to one’s body as the divine abode. This practice is described in a verse from one of Patrul Rinpoche’s (1808–1887) dohas:
When the great meditators consume,
Bless the food and drinks as a ganachakra,
One’s body is an assembly of peaceful and wrathful deities.
Consume while not being distracted away from the nature of mind.
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Three years ago Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh experienced a devastating stroke. Initially, neurologists did not believe he would survive more than a week. Three years later he is alive, living in Thailand at Plum Village, and regaining some motor skills. Lion's Roar editor, Melvin McLeod, recently interviewed Sister Chan Khong, (Thich Nhat Hanh's closest associate) inquiring about his health and his order. Here's what she shared . . .
On his current condition - "He cannot stand up on his feet yet, but he is stronger and stronger every day. He has started to say a few words, although not very clearly. Sometimes we sing songs like, “I have arrived, I am home in the here and now,” and he’ll say “here,” “now,” and so on. He is making good progress, but it is slow."
On the future of his Sangha - "At the beginning after Thay’s stroke, we thought it would be difficult to continue. Every year, we have a gathering at Plum Village in France for four days to practice and hear dharma talks. When Thay was giving the talks, about twelve to thirteen hundred people would come for them. Now, the same number of people come to hear the talks at Plum Village, maybe even more. So the benefit of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings will continue in Europe, in the United States, in Asia, and elsewhere. I don’t think there will be any problem with the continuation of Thay’s teachings. Many people come because they have read his books. They try their best to transform and so they come for a day or a week of mindfulness. There’s no doubt that Thay’s impact is growing."
On a new leader for the Sangha - "Thay prepared everything in advance. He didn’t want to have one heir to replace him. He said the sangha’s collective insight is very important.So his continuation is the sangha of dharma teachers, the sangha of monks and nuns, and the sangha of lay practitioners. That is the key for us. Sometimes, as a big sister, I might think I have the power and the right view. But it’s not true. We need the collective insight of many dharma teachers. That is one of the dharma seals of Thich Nhat Hanh. He gave his heritage to the whole sangha of monastics and lay practitioners."
On his current condition - "He cannot stand up on his feet yet, but he is stronger and stronger every day. He has started to say a few words, although not very clearly. Sometimes we sing songs like, “I have arrived, I am home in the here and now,” and he’ll say “here,” “now,” and so on. He is making good progress, but it is slow."
On the future of his Sangha - "At the beginning after Thay’s stroke, we thought it would be difficult to continue. Every year, we have a gathering at Plum Village in France for four days to practice and hear dharma talks. When Thay was giving the talks, about twelve to thirteen hundred people would come for them. Now, the same number of people come to hear the talks at Plum Village, maybe even more. So the benefit of Thich Nhat Hanh’s teachings will continue in Europe, in the United States, in Asia, and elsewhere. I don’t think there will be any problem with the continuation of Thay’s teachings. Many people come because they have read his books. They try their best to transform and so they come for a day or a week of mindfulness. There’s no doubt that Thay’s impact is growing."
On a new leader for the Sangha - "Thay prepared everything in advance. He didn’t want to have one heir to replace him. He said the sangha’s collective insight is very important.So his continuation is the sangha of dharma teachers, the sangha of monks and nuns, and the sangha of lay practitioners. That is the key for us. Sometimes, as a big sister, I might think I have the power and the right view. But it’s not true. We need the collective insight of many dharma teachers. That is one of the dharma seals of Thich Nhat Hanh. He gave his heritage to the whole sangha of monastics and lay practitioners."
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The point of meditation is to wake up. To wake up from the dream of ignorance – the dream that we are separate, independent beings. - Jan Willis