The Four Noble TruthsApplied Buddhism
Why Reality May Be Just A TripAccording to Neuroscientist Anil SethRight now, billions of neurons in your brain are working together to generate a conscious experience -- and not just any conscious experience, your experience of the world around you and of yourself within it. How does this happen? According to neuroscientist Anil Seth, we're all hallucinating all the time; when we agree about our hallucinations, we call it "reality." Join Seth for a delightfully disorienting talk that may leave you questioning the very nature of your existence. The Treasure House of Zen SuchnessOriginally, The Way is complete and universal. How can we distinguish practice from enlightenment? The Vehicle of Reality is in the Self. Why should we waste our efforts trying to attain it? Still more, the Whole Body is free from dust. Why should we believe in a means to sweep it away? The Way is never separated from where we are now. Why should we wander here and there to practice? Yet, if there is the slightest deviation, you will be as far from the Way as heaven is from earth. If adverse or favorable conditions arise to even a small degree, you will lose your mind in confusion. Even if you are proud of your understanding, are enlightened in abundance, and obtain the power of wisdom to glimpse the ground of buddhahood; even if you gain the Way, clarify the mind, resolve to pierce heaven, that is only strolling on the border of the Buddha Way. You are still, almost always, lacking the vivid way of emancipation. Moreover, consider Shakyamuni Buddha who was enlightened from birth; to this day you can see the traces of his sitting in the straight posture for six years. And Bodhidharma who transmitted the mind seal; even now you can hear of the fame of his facing the wall for nine years. These ancient sages practiced in this way. How can people of today refrain from practice? Therefore, cease studying words and following letters. Learn to step back, turning the light inwards, illuminating the Self. Doing so, your body and mind will drop off naturally, and Original Self will manifest. If you wish to attain suchness, practice suchness immediately. Now, for zazen a quiet room is best. Eat and drink moderately. Let go of all associations, and put all affairs aside. Do not think of either good or evil. Do not be concerned with either right or wrong. Put aside the operation of your intellect, volition, and consciousness. Stop considering things with memory, imagination and contemplation. Do not seek to become Buddha. To be Buddha has nothing to do with the forms of sitting or lying down. Usually a thick zabutan is put on the floor where you sit, and a zafu placed on it. You may sit full lotus or half lotus. Your clothing should be loose but neat. Then put your right palm up on your left foot and your left palm up on your right palm. The tips of your thumbs should be lightly touching. Sit upright, leaning neither to the left nor right, neither forward nor backward. Your ears should be in line with your shoulders; your nose should be in line with your navel. Place your tongue against the roof of your mouth. Close your lips and jaw. Always keep your eyes open. Breathe quietly through your nose. After having regulated your posture, exhale completely and take a breath. Sway your body from left to right a few times. Sit stably in samadhi. Think of not-thinking. How do you think of not-thinking? Beyond thinking. This is the essential way of zazen. The zazen which I am talking about is not step-by-step meditation. It is simply the dharma gate of peace and comfort. It is the practice-enlightenment of the ultimate Way. In doing zazen, the Koan manifests itself; it cannot be ensnared. When you grasp this, you are like a dragon with water, or a tiger in the mountains. You must know that true dharma manifests itself in zazen, and that dullness and distraction drop away. When you rise from sitting, move your body slowly and stand up calmly. Do not move abruptly. You should see that to transcend both ordinary people and sages and to die sitting or standing, depends upon the power of zazen. Moreover, your discriminating mind cannot understand how buddhas and patriarchs taught their students with a finger, a pole, a needle, or a mallet, or how they transmitted the Way with a hossu, a fist, a staff, or by shouting. Needless to say, these actions cannot be understood by practicing to attain superhuman powers. These actions come from the practice which is prior to discriminating mind. Therefore, do not consider whether you are clever or stupid, and do not think of whether you are superior or inferior. When you practice wholeheartedly, it is truly the practice of the Way. Practice – enlightenment cannot be defiled. Making the effort to obtain the Way, is itself, the manifestation of the Way in your daily life. The Buddhas and sages, both in this world and other worlds, in India and China, preserved the buddha-seal in the same way and expressed the Way freely. They just practiced sitting and were protected by zazen. Although their characters were diverse, each of them practiced the Way of zazen wholeheartedly. There is no reason to leave your own seat at home and take a meaningless trip to the dusty places of other countries. If you make a false step, then you will miss the way, even though it is before your eyes. You have already been given a human body which is vital, so do not spend your time wastefully. Since you are endowed with the essential functioning of the Buddha Way, why pursue worthless pleasures that are like sparks from a flint? Furthermore, your body is like a drop of dew on a blade of grass, your life is like a flash of lightning. Your body will disappear soon, your life will be lost in an instant. You, honored practitioner, after learning in a partial way like the blind people who touched various parts of the elephant, please do not be scared by the real dragon. Devote yourself to the Way which indicates Reality directly. Respect those who realize their Self and no longer seek anything outside. Be in accord with the buddhas’ bodhi. Succeed to the sages’ samadhi. If you practice suchness continuously, you will be suchness. The treasure house will open of itself, and you will be able to use it at will. ZCLA version, translators unknown. A nod of gratitude to The Village Zendo
Modern Physics |
When your mind is uneasy, a sense of urgency is communicated to the body, causing your nervous system to respond with anxiety and adrenaline. Science has demonstrated that even the smallest forms of sickness are far more difficult to overcome when the mind is in constant distress. The ancient technique of meditation teaches us how to apply focus to our surroundings by bringing us closer to the sensations of our body. This is exactly when your mind can relax and be at peace. *From MindBody Vortex | December 12, 2016 |
Zen is not a moral teaching, and as it is without dogma, it does not require one to believe in anything. A true spiritual path does not tell people what to believe in; rather it shows them how to think; or, in the case of Zen - what not to think.
Zen is not a theory, an idea, or a piece of knowledge. It is not a belief, a dogma, or a religion...Zen Buddhism is not interested in metaphysical theories and rituals and focuses entirely on the mindful practice of Zazen. Zen is very simple. It is so simple, in fact, that it's very difficult to grasp.
In the silence of the dojo or temple, quietly sit down, stop moving, and let go your thoughts. Focus just on your Zazen posture and your breathing. Keep your back straight. Let your ego and your unconscious mind melt away, merge with the universe. This is Zen.
When we cleanse our perceptions of grasping and attachment, we experience a universe that is infinite, awakened, and full of delight. Lions Roar features Francesca Fremantle on sight, sound, touch, and other miracles. |
In an article written for The Urban Monk, Pedram Shojai discusses a network of veins called Batson’s Vertebral Plexus, a blood pathway which rises up the spine and dumps into the brain - especially the pineal gland. What makes this particularly interesting is that this becomes the preferential pathway for blood’s return to the brain with abdominal pressure. If you look at the ancient traditions of Kundalini Yoga and Taoist Nei Gong, you see an emphasis on breathing to the low abdomen and the contraction of the pelvic floor. It is said that by increasing pressure in this region, we can draw our energy up the spine and into the spiritual centers of the brain…leading to self realization and enlightenment. |
sensitivity to the beauty of things, a lamentable state of affairs.
*from ESSAYS IN IDLENESS by The Surezuregusa of Kenko. Translated by Donald Keene
"It is best to do this meditation when you have time to sleep afterwards or when you have a hard day to face. Both times are best for this. It will give you absolutely powerful energy and will balance that most effective computer that we call the brain. It is the best remedy for 'brain drain." From The Teachings of Yogi Bhajan and 3HO.org |
Remain calm in every encounter.
Speak less. Hear more.
Believe nothing you cannot verify for yourself.
Investigate and master what you do not understand.
Accept that there are things you may not ever understand.
Do not re-live past mistakes or predict future distress.
Live ONLY in the moment.
Make a complete study of how the human mind & body function and be master of yours.
Do not participate in or associate with ignorance.
Never define yourself.
Finish what you start.
Always do the very best that you can.
Do not be chained to anything that in the long run can destroy you.
Assume the best in others until proven otherwise.
Always be kind and well mannered.
Be generous without witness or need for recognition.
Receive gifts with gratitude.
Keep home and work areas organized and clutter free.
Do not take up too much space.
Do not lie, steal, or cheat.
Do not seek fame or excessive wealth.
Do not follow trends that are not in line with your own code.
Question the status quo.
Question everything.
Do not make unnecessary noises or gestures.
If you are not at peace, act as if you are.
Do not be impressed by strong personalities.
Eat and sleep only as much as is necessary.
Sit quietly for a few moments at the start and end of each day.
Do not discuss your personal problems.
Do not pass judgments or criticize when you do not know all the facts.
Do not have useless friendships.
Do not follow fads.
Do not sell yourself.
Respect the contracts you have signed
Be on time.
Do not be envious.
Speak only when necessary and with few words.
Do not make threats.
Follow through with your promises.
In an argument, put yourself in the place of the other.
Accept when someone is better than you.
Face fear.
Do not react when others speak well or ill of you.
Transform your pride into dignity.
Turn your anger into creativity.
Transform your greed into respect for the beauty.
Transform your envy into the admiration for the values of others.
Do not praise nor insult yourself.
Respect the property of others.
Do not complain.
Use your imagination.
Do not give orders or make demands.
Pay what you owe.
Do not fall into debt, buy and pay immediately.
Do not boast or brag about your possessions or accomplishments.
Do not rest on your laurels.
Do not seek or request pity, admiration, or sympathy from yourself or others.
Never contradict, just be silent.
If you offend someone, ask for forgiveness.
Admit and accept your mistakes and abandon them immediately.
Do not keep useless objects.
Be your own judge.
Do not let your possessions define you.
Never talk about yourself.
Be willing to change.
Accept that nothing is yours.
Never speak poorly or critical of others, especially when they are not present.
Look everyone and everything directly in the eye.
Live within your financial and moral means.
If you are meditating and a demon arrives, make the demon meditate.
Do not kill.
Be prepared to take risks.
Re-write this list and edit where you deem appropriate.
“Awakening is possible only for those who seek it and want it, for those who are ready to struggle with themselves and work on themselves for a very long time and very persistently in order to attain it.” “Without self knowledge, without understanding the working and functions of his machine, man cannot be free, he cannot govern himself and he will always remain a slave.” ― G.I. Gurdjieff |
Categories
All
Absurdism
Advice
Applied Buddhism
Breath Of Fire
Buddhism
Consciousness
Cutting Edge
Death
History
Inspiration
Kundalini
Meditation
Mind
Nei Gong
Note To Self
Philosophy
Quantum Physics
Reality
Science
Science & Medicine
Sleep
Taoism
Technology
Wisdom
Archives
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
January 2019
December 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
February 2017
December 2016
November 2016
September 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015