Buddhists

Greetings Notself and other forum contributors - I've just spent an enjoyable hour fast-reading through this thread - not going to any of the links yet because i am on dial up -  but thanks for listing them. I guess i'd say that I'm sort of a Buddhist - that is - it's the only spiritual tradition that really rings a bell - except perhaps Taoism, but i know little about that.

I dabble - someone gave me a copy of full Catastrophe Living when I was very ill (way before bc) and i would sleep with it on my lap, as though I might hug the deep compassion i found there - then a few yrs later did take Jon kabat-Zhinn's stress-reduction course, and what has stayed with me is the body scan, which I just used yesterday....and in the hospital...

Eventually took a course in the major world religions at university, was captivated by the eastern ones - and so, on to Buddhism 101 and more.. Totally gripped because it allowed me to understand an experience I'd had maybe 25 yrs ago which up till then i'd called meeting my guardian Angel. Which I now understand to be Buddha nature.

Tried a few retreats, at which I was awful and left early. Tried many times to develop a meditation practice but never stuck.......still, somewhjere in there was introduced to a Tibetan Centre where I took refuge. I think i might be a buddhageek! I must check out that site.

i do believe, despite my lack of sticking to it, that it all somehow shaped my reaction to having bc - because instead of succumbing to fear and my usual depression, I was filled with love. I loved my breast, my drs, the mastectomey did not hurt one bit, I healed like crazy - people asked my partner if i was taking drugs. during chemo - it was fall, and the sky and trees and everything had never looked so beautiful. - ok I'm a bit of an old hippy - it was like acid flashbacks lol! 

so now I discover I can combine 2 of my favourite things - reading the bc discussions AND buddhism at the same time! I am lol.

Notself - I did not know that the Buddha went back to his family and ordained his aunt. My teacher described Theravada as the plain digestive cookie whereas tibetan is the super-duper chocolate peanut chunk with filling. NOTSELF -- we can start calling you Anatman! (joke)

I have also had contact with Nichiren Shoshu buddhism through a friend - did some chanting long ago. 

Was bowled over by Eckhart Tolle & the Power of Now (I do believe I have heard it referred to as Buddhism Lite), loved seeing a picture of him walking with the Dalai lama. 

So, I am lazy, but it turns me on, and it did and does help.  

To round it all out, past few nights I was dipping into Alan Watt's the Way of Zen - a very clear and in-depth account of  - the other way of seeing reality.

A long-winded - excuse me please - way of saying it's been so much fun to find this thread, and thanks to all who posted. I'll return and read your posts more closely. I hope you are all happy and well.

Good morning Anatta - is Anatta the female grammatical form of anatman? that is the word I learned for no self, and the Buddha's significant departure from his current historical spiritual world.

it was very peaceful to read your quotation this morning - Buddha's instruction to his son. I think I would like to wake up every day and read something like that! thank you for saving me from having to go through my usual head-banging over dial-up. yes, there is suffering in various degreees everywhere! and you can see by my attitude how much is self-inflicted!

I've never chatted with, or even met, anyone who is following Theravada - except, and I'd love to know the answer to this - what about the Insight Meditation Society in Mass., from whom I bought meditation tapes long ago  - and what about Thich Nhat Han (sp) is he one of the wanderers between theravada and Zen? it sems to me Jon kabat-Zhinn follows the Theravada tradition.

perhaps you could clarify some concepts about meditation for me - such words as Insight, Mindfulness, vipassana. About as far as I've got is following the breath while sitting or lying down, a  body scan, or sitting outside and just listening, without trying to attach names to the sounds (this is very hard for me)And sometimes walking meditation...

I was re-reading your original post, and yes it would be hard not to be changed by the meeting with bc - mortality right in your face, all of a sudden. Like it only happens to other people.

At school, my first course in buddhism concentrated on the Buddha and his life, awakening - and his teachings - the 4 Noble Truths and the Noble 8-fold path. pratitia samutpada.the cog at the centre of the wheel driven by hatred, greed and  delusion. Much like every seinfield episode, which I was then watching, and couldn't get enough of.  The rise of Mahayana and its frills, the spread through china to japan. we just touched on vajrayana. it was like a map of Buddhism, and I loved it. Our classes were small, cramped, some people had to sit on the floor - they were like dharma talks. Our teacher was wonderful -herself a person who taught yoga teachers. I worked my buns off. it was one of the hardest courses I've ever taken, because we had to give back 120% of what she gave to us. 

later i took a course in mahayana and we basically read Sutras, looking at the rise of "dessert" -  buddha nature and bodhisattvas - delicious! at least, to me....

Through all my studies, and even dharma talks with an enlightened being (Namgyal rinpoche) a Canadian who travelled to the east in the 50's, was taught by theravadins, and later recognized by the Tibetans to be awake, I never got it about ego. It was too scary and challenging. My university teacher, who knew him, said i would be challenged by him in the appropriate way, and i was, hiding  behind other people on their cushions...

But as soon as i started reading Eckhart Tolle, it clicked. He clearly understands about transcending the ego, and it's my opinion that he "accidentally" fell into a bardo, where he woke up. By accidentally, I mean, I think he had some challenging mental process about being 2 and who was he anyway, then he stumbled into something like a koan-like knot unfastening of the thinking mind. a universal experience, one that Buddhsim has carefully mapped- but it happens. And he's teaching in a modern non-sectarian way. Reading him, I can finally understand and appreciate  all those mysterious metaphors and allusions of Jesus that always left me so confused and contributed to my being non-christian..

Blathering on - I'm beginning to understand why, in the mahayana as it moved into Chan and Zen,  there are so many anecdotes and trick language about mirrors! because I haven't read any of the earliest writings.

this is all so refreshing......

Anatta:    I'm all ears.

may you and all others be happy

Arlene

Not self (Anatta) - thank you for your post - I've been busy with my work (busiest time of year) and not been at the computer, but will read what you suggested, and thanks also abou the meditation terms - just a quickie to say thanks, for now - Intend to come back here & read more fully, soon

Arlene

Hi Notself,

I have recently been reading The Bhagavad Gita.  In it, freedom from attraction and aversion are major factors in knowing peace.

Aversion is the one that gives me the most difficulty.  For instance, when I dislike an acquaintance.   Is there a way to overcome my judgements and see this person in a neutral or compasionate light?

I find I am able to do it in the moment.  Historical negative feelings, however, are more difficult to navigate.

I don''t know if this is a fair question to ask you, but .... do you have any suggestions?

Thank you Notself!   I will start this today.

I read it over a few times try to memorize.  Then I was reminded of something people often say - which is when one finds fault with another, it's really a fault in oneself. It seems that, conversly, by wishing good for another can create good feelings for oneself. 

I hope you have a joyful holiday!  Thanks for your help. 

Long time no visit!   Still marching along here dealing with all manner of daily life like dying fridges and new progressive glasses [which I don't feel like I will ever get used to using].  I am still sitting with the oldest most work mornings.  I'd like to get us up to 10 minutes but that would mean waking up earlier and I just can't seem to do that right now.  DH is sitting with our daughter in the morning before she goes to school as well.  Youngest remains reticient to hit the cushion.  The silly part is that we can't seem to get all the family on the cushion on the weekends. . .

I am reading Jan Chozen Bays book on Mindful Eatting to try to improve my relationship with food and my day-to-day mindfulness,  Over the last year, I came to realize how unmindful I am with a lot of my day-to-day living, how so often I am just on autopilot.  So I am trying to get off auto pilot as my goal for the year.  It is HARD!!!!!  Its so easy to gulp down lunch at my desk while staring at the computer screen and not even notice what I am eatting let alone how much.

metta to all.

    3jaysy ladies. glad to see a resurgence on this thread i am your student, and you are great teachers. i am concentrating on Metta, and mindfullness. that is enough to do in a lifetime.. and to improve a lifetime... hmmmm

Sitting here one year out from starting zaps, thinking about our annual family retreat which is set for first weekend in May. 

Been very bad about my sitting but doing better at letting go and practicing that loving kindness stuff. This weekend is our family Zen session.  I am looking forward to it.

Question for the group:  We have divided up the year so that the burden of teaching the children is not on any one or two adults.  My group is dealing with basic Buddhism tenets and different forms of Buddhism.  Any thoughts on what might be included or how to present differences/sameness in practice to children?

As a reminder we are in an American Zen --Japanese influenced--group.....

Thanks notself.  Very helpful links.  I find I am having a good time researching and planning my presentation.  Yes the no one true part is one of the attractions of Buddhism.  I have taken up exercising at lunch [so dull! but necessary] and to ease the boredom, I am listening to podcasts from the BuddhistGeeks website.  They can be found on Itunes.  It is nice because it is lots of different perspectives on Buddhism. 

The part about Buddha leaving Rahula [and the name itself] is always a bit of a sensitive issue because for kids, it can so easily be a parent abandoning their child.  Enlightenment is not something that a child can easily grasp--absence of parent for "huggies" that they get.  I like the first one but think it would have to be pared down for children.. . .then again maybe I can do a "dry run" on my monsters and see how it goes.

Oldest monster and I fell off the meditation wagon for a bit [went on holiday] but are climbing back on this week.  We have new cats in the house and were most amused when one of them decided to join us on the cushion.  I seem to recall that siamese cats originated in Zen Buddhist monestaries in Japan.  Our cats are not Siamese but still seem happy with "sitting."  Of course, it made a challenge for #1 monster not to pet the cat when he was meditating.

hey ladies, checking in.. congrats 3MonstMom, on your year out!      3jays