tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post6936350510681428224..comments2023-05-08T14:59:38.574+01:00Comments on The Way of Buddha Today: She said: Do something.romanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03183650998043209540noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post-64837329454312190432008-02-24T23:17:00.000+01:002008-02-24T23:17:00.000+01:00thanks for the grammar note - that was a good hit!...thanks for the grammar note - that was a good hit!<BR/><BR/>already correctedromanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03183650998043209540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post-10420200244246319252008-02-24T22:29:00.000+01:002008-02-24T22:29:00.000+01:00Nice article..., you should check irregulars (hit-...Nice article..., you should check irregulars (hit-hit-hit)...,"but when things are necessary to be done, grammatical mistakes don't matter". Good luck to you and Jitka ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post-87170713532020337512008-02-24T20:01:00.000+01:002008-02-24T20:01:00.000+01:00yes, it is impossible to judge what kind of experi...yes, it is impossible to judge what kind of experience other people have or what kind of life they lead from a post, but it is possible to judge their understanding of some part of Buddhism - if it was not possible to judge understanding, it would not be possible to correct other people's mistakes when they try to understand Buddhismromanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03183650998043209540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post-9743152109168572802008-02-24T19:25:00.000+01:002008-02-24T19:25:00.000+01:00"Do you think it is possible to explain one's expe..."Do you think it is possible to explain one's experience or life in a post on the internet?"<BR/><BR/>Not at all, but I am quite sure you were judging my situation whether I were too intellectual from a post. <BR/><BR/>"This would be impossible without years of study and zazen."<BR/><BR/>Some people actually see it differently.<BR/><BR/>When I went to the monastery and something "happened" to me, a friend there said: It would have happened anyway. You knew it before, and went to some adequate place.<BR/><BR/>No merit. <BR/><BR/>Take care.<BR/>BeckyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post-3850163770022096242008-02-24T02:13:00.000+01:002008-02-24T02:13:00.000+01:00Do you think it is possible to explain one's exper...Do you think it is possible to explain one's experience or life in a post on the internet? <BR/><BR/>Contradictions are part of Buddhist philosophy, that is no problem. But these contradictions are something that, when put together, complete the whole picture. When you read Genjo Koan there are contradictions, in Fukanzazengi, there are contradictions, everywhere in Dogen. But reality consists of these opposing views that together make the complete picture.<BR/><BR/>Do I live according to Dogen's teaching? I can only say I practice zazen in the morning and in the evening every day without looking for something, I study Dogen's philosophy and try to understand it and I try to live my life realistically. <BR/><BR/>The clear difference between me now and 15 years ago is just that I used to look for some kind of personal enlightenment, and was totally confused about terms like mind, buddha, truth, God etc. Today I am trying to help myself and others clarify Buddhist philosophy following Dogen's principles. This would be impossible without years of study and zazen. The longer I practice, the more connections of real life and Dogen's teaching I see. The whole accident of my girlfriend only confirmed that Dogen's teaching applies to all kinds of situations. The philosophy of Buddhism helps people practice and live wholeheartedly and realistically. That is the best we can do no matter how hard our life is. I would go away from Dogen's teaching if it was not about my actual life and life of others even in this modern, complicated world. Dogen's teaching is about our actual life and that is wonderful.romanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03183650998043209540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post-16804560276988276282008-02-23T20:11:00.000+01:002008-02-23T20:11:00.000+01:00"If we have doubts about its authenticity or when ..."If we have doubts about its authenticity or when we have doubts Dogen was a true Buddhist, then it is impossible to do the bold step and act in accord with Dogen's teaching."<BR/><BR/>Is this dogmatism necessary? For what? Even if all of Dogen's work is forgery and even if he never lived at all, what does that change for you in this current moment? <BR/><BR/>Personally, I positively don't care about whether I doubt this or that teacher, this or that teaching.<BR/><BR/>And more: Did you act "in accord with Dogen's teaching" in your difficult situation? Do others? Do I? All the time?<BR/><BR/>What difference do you imply, and I am sorry - you repeatingly do.<BR/><BR/>Your posts and your comments sound like someone (me?) contradicts to what you say. While it could be true for some people, one can never be sure if it is not just a matter of language usage and definition.<BR/><BR/>I feel uncomfortable when I read so much about "real" and "truth". I could call my experiences, my ideas, my conceptualizations of what I have seen "truth" - and I admit, I did. My teacher encourages to go beyond this "definitive" truth. Personally, I read this in Dogens work, too.<BR/><BR/>But it's even beyond THAT. It's truth without someone calling it truth. It's truth without being recognized by everyone. It's truth even we I don't preach it. <BR/><BR/>Do you live by what you write?<BR/><BR/>BeckyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post-23388478136479336912008-02-23T16:18:00.000+01:002008-02-23T16:18:00.000+01:00Dogen Zen or the way Dogen Sangha practice and stu...Dogen Zen or the way Dogen Sangha practice and study Buddhism is just one of very many schools of Buddhism. Anyway, we can say it is true Buddhism, authentic Buddhism. If we have doubts about its authenticity or when we have doubts Dogen was a true Buddhist, then it is impossible to do the bold step and act in accord with Dogen's teaching. When our understanding is a bit flexible, we cannot hit the target. The arrow of our efforts must be straight. An arrow that is bent is useless. So when Nishijima roshi exclaimed that THIS is true Buddhism, he means that the path to the truth must be straight. There must be bodai shin, will to the truth. This will to the truth is something that must not be tainted by our intellectual choices. It is beyond our choices and sounds quite totalitarian. The truth is something clear and there is no room for our interpretations. So the truth is not a question of democracy or voting or tolerance. But nobody forces us to choose this path. And we can always give up. But as long as we are pursuing the truth, the efforts must be beyond our personal, intellectual choices.romanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03183650998043209540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post-37517603831056795642008-02-23T15:52:00.000+01:002008-02-23T15:52:00.000+01:00I enjoy reading and thinking about Buddhism intell...I enjoy reading and thinking about Buddhism intellectually. I don't deny that at all. All my writing is based on some intellectual activity of my brain. It is just that this intellectual aspect of Buddhism is not enough. There can be mistakes in how we understand or explain Buddhism and that is what I sometimes write about critically. For example when we read Bendowa, there are parts we don't understand or don't get or may disagree with, but to understand Dogen it is necessary to try to study and practice what he taught and practice. I think Fukanzazengi, Bendowa and Genjo Koan are pillars of Dogen's teaching and in our tradition they are really important texts that we should try to study and understand both intellectually and practically, I mean do what they teach. Of course, they have little value for other Buddhist traditions, as those schools have their own philosophical streams and texts.romanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03183650998043209540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17578037.post-42457196021180705152008-02-23T14:18:00.000+01:002008-02-23T14:18:00.000+01:00Thanks for your story. I hope you are both well.Wh...Thanks for your story. I hope you are both well.<BR/><BR/>While I share the strong emotional situation that this fortunately not serious accident caused I can see more what differs between our pick on Buddhism.<BR/><BR/>Buddhism is not against some "intellectual" way of approaching things. It's about the right approach.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes it's right to act, to do something. Sometimes the DEED you have to DO is thinking about something.<BR/><BR/>Many Zen friends "reject" thinking altogether - and fail indeed. That's terribly wrong.<BR/><BR/>It's about "right" thinking.<BR/><BR/>If you think something like "Where can I get help?" or "I have to be careful not to move her body, she could be injured." it's an absolutely great and adequate thought. A necessary thought.<BR/><BR/>If you think something like "Why does this happen to us? I hope she will survive!" - that's indeed not a "healthy" way of usage of your brain. It will still happen, and that's normal. Shakyamuni cried when he heard about a war in his home country.<BR/><BR/>My teacher used to say that self-referential thinking can be problematic, not thinking itself. As soon we make something OUR story it makes it hard to stay "objective" or "calm" in the midst of anger, aggression, excitement, fear...<BR/><BR/>That is more difficult to accomplish when you encounter extreme situations. Sometimes it actually gets easier.<BR/><BR/>I hope you mean the same thing. I pretty much feel it. But I met too many people who were focussed on "not being intellectual" denying the greatness of our mental capabilities. Therefore I don't enjoy people stressing to "not be intellectual" to much. A better wording could be "personally/emotionally involved" in my opinion.<BR/><BR/>I think Dogen wrote something like: "Not-thinking" is beyond thinking and not thinking.<BR/><BR/>Kind regards<BR/>BeckyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com