AMA

Have been a lurker here for a while. This community has given me much this pass few months and I enjoyed reading the posts and comments. Before I can wholeheartedly post anything, I feel that I should let people here know of my background and views before I contaminate/troll/break anything around here.

So ask me anything, and please let me know if I gave any half-ass answers but I can't guarantee your satisfaction. That is up to you.

Not Zen? Suppose a person denotes your lineage and your teacher as Buddhism unrelated to Zen, because there are several quotations from Zen patriarchs denouncing seated meditation. Would you be fine saying that your lineage has moved away from Zen and if not, how would you respond to being challenged concerning it?

Anyone can denote me how they want and up to their satisfaction.

I grew into a Buddhist family in a Buddhist country; I will be a little offended if people tell me what I am studying is not real Buddhism and may throw a baby tantrum but that is ok. I am here to read about the Zen masters:

what they do, how they talked or how they knock their student around. This is their space and your space for a meaningful or humorous dialogue.

I am fine saying that my lineage moved away from Zen or Buddhism if the dude/the lady can give me a good evident pointing it out. I can be bull-headed but I can be tamed. Challenge me anytime, lets clear it out; I know most of it are done with good intentions. I do apologize if from my background, I bring any Buddhist references in. But just so you know, I just offer thought and I am not the interpretation police or anything. I got more to learn from the interaction than just echoing what I already thought in my head.

I am not the part of Dogen's crews so not a Zen Buddhist. I just happens to love how the Zen Masters treated Buddhism and their understanding/non-understanding of it. Kinda help me feel sane; as a Buddhist, we can sometimes be dogmatic, evangelist and embellished with all the ornaments and things. The Zen Masters help by pointing out that it is unhealthy and need-not be there.

What's your text? What text, personal experience, quote from a master, or story from zen lore best reflects your understanding of the essence of zen?

I revere Yumen and Dahui greatly (been reading them here on r/zen); the more I read and reflect them, the more beautiful the ordinary is. Some people (including myself) sometimes ruin it by wanting to be special.

I love the story of Tokusan being a well-versed in the commentary of the Diamond Sutra but got told off by the Rice cake lady; I wish I could burn my books like him but I am just too attached to my books. Foyan and Huangpo are cool, but I feel that more context and anecdote wouldn't hurt.

Currently going through Blyth's Zen and Zen Classics volume 2.

My reading of Mumonkan and Blue Cliff Record have been flimsy. So I kinda be slander all you guys here and the master if I say I have any understanding of Zen.

Dharma low tides? What do you suggest as a course of action for a student wading through a "dharma low-tide"? What do you do when it's like pulling teeth to read, bow, chant, sit, or post on r/zen?

Take a break, go for a walk. Have a cheesecake. Lift weights, play with the dogs. Take a nap.

Once in a while again,

open a book; hand-copy some quotes. Browse for r/zen's Dahui and Yumen. Listen to Dhamma talks, Podcast or discuss Dhamma (with little of Dhamma combat).

Donate blood perhaps (For me, this somehow works). Grind through some Zen or Buddhist stories.

Rinse and repeat...

Oh just be beware of Dharma high tides... something's must be off.

Submitted September 02, 2020 at 11:51AM by noingso https://ift.tt/32Nen0X