Buddha | Buddhist | Buddhism

In chaos, there is fertility. ~Anas Nin Post written by Leo Babauta . Recently I wrote about the illusion of control , and living with no goals . What Im still figuring out is what you do if you let go of the illusion of control, and plan as little as possible. Whats life like without goals or plans? How do we deal with the chaos? I dont have all the answers, but Im learning a lot. I went to the World Domination Summit in Portland earlier this month with few plans. I had a speech to give, a couple smaller sessions to hold, a bike tour scheduled, a plane ticket and a hotel room. But the large majority of the weekend I left open, with no plans. It was liberating. I didnt mind giving the talks, and I loved the tour, but meeting unexpected strangers, hanging out with people Id never met, going with the flow of the crowd it was fun. I never really knew what was going to happen next, and thats scary but strangely freeing. As I write this, Im on a plane to Guam for a month, and I have tons ...

"Rejoicing in ordinary things is not sentimental or trite. It actually takes guts. Each time we drop our complaints and allow everyday good fortune to inspire us, we enter the warrior's world." ~Pema Chdrn Technorati Tags: Buddha Buddhist Buddhism Meditation Dharma

If there is an observer in science it is assumed that the observer is neutral. This observer has no influence on the object nor does the object, at hand, impact upon the observer. But what if the observer were not so neutral? Furthermore, lets imagine that the neutral observer is more like the surgeon of the 19th century who never washed his hands, always contaminating his patients with his germ laden fingers. Truth be told, the supposed boundary between the observer and the observed is a complete fictionbut nevertheless a convenient fiction which is not without evil consequences. This leads to the problem of mutual influence or coordinate influence. For the Buddha, the observer aggregate or skandha consciousness and the observed object are always coordinate. This is an opening to deception or the same, duplicity ( dvaya ). By establishing itself with determinate being, skandha consciousness comes to growth and with it is the growth of sorrow, anguish and despair, according to theBud...

A certain priest told [Zen Master] Bankei, You teach the same thing over and over again. Wouldnt it be a good idea, just for the sake of variety, to tell some of those old and interesting stories illustrative of Buddhist life? Bankei said, I may be an old dunce, and I suppose it might help some if I did tell stories of that kind, but Ive a strong hunch that such preaching poisons the mind.

With respect, OK, we discussed the temple schedules during the discussion period after Zazen this morning and I took in a couple of replies from members at large upon returning. Below please find our tentative new schedule for both the Temple and the Priests. At this point there are two of us who will be practicing the Priest's schedule. You are welcome to do so at home if you wish or join us at the Temple. There are some important changes. Please let us know if you will attend any of our functions. Yours, Clear Mind Zen Temple Schedules Temple Schedule New! Monday through Friday: Morning Services 9:30 - 10:30 (NOTE Mesilla Sangha Meets Tuesday/Thursday Morning 9:30 11:00 AM) Evening Zazen at 6:00 - 7:00 PM, Closing Services at 8:00 PM Sangha Activies Monday at 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Comparative Religions Group Tuesday at 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM Zen 101 Thursday Women in Zen 5:00 - 6:00 PM Friday Zen Group --- Cancelled Saturday: CLOSED. Sunday: Formal Zen Service 10:00 AM 12:00 PM Priest...

"Everything is fresh, the essence of realization." ~Pema Chdrn Technorati Tags: Buddha Buddhist Buddhism Meditation Dharma

Good Morning Everyone, Today I would like to ask you about our Sunday practice. It used to be that Sunday mornings were the times that the entire Sangha gathered together to sit. Out Temple has not coalesced in that way. Instead, we have people that come on Monday, some on Tuesday, others on Thursday, and a few on Friday. But a single day when all of us come together has not been happening. I am wondering why. Perhaps it is because we are meeting at 9:00 and 9:00 is too early? Perhaps if we moved the Sunday service to 10:00? Perhaps there are just too many things at the Temple and people need to select one or two? Maybe we should roll all of our educational groups into one Sunday morning curriculum and just have weekdays be for straight Zazen practice? Just a thought. Let me know yours, Daiho