CedarTree

Zen Buddhists love Basho in particular his frog poem as in the tradition it is seen as uniquely zen and possibly the language of zen of awakening. What is your favorite Daoist quote or scripture or whichever that you think is incredibly eloquent and really struck you as special

Does anyone practice Zazen and in particular the style closely resembling Shikantaza ("nothing but precisely sitting")? This is a method of practice that lineages like the famous Soto Zen tradition of Kōdō Sawaki & Kōshō Uchiyama are famous for. Famous monasteries and training locations like Antai-ji, Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery, and Sanshin Zen Community all belong to this school. I would be interested to know how Daoists approach and view this practice in their own words. Then if some are interested I`d love to dialogue a bit about on it

Stumbled upon this Pali Canon treasure today: Bhikkhu, ‘I am’ is a conceiving; ‘I am this’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall not be’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be possessed of form’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be formless’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be percipient’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be non-percipient’ is a conceiving; ‘I shall be neither-percipient-nor-non-percipient’ is a conceiving. Conceiving is a disease, conceiving is a tumour, conceiving is a dart. By overcoming all conceivings, bhikkhu, one is called a sage at peace. And the sage at peace is not born, does not age, does not die; he is not shaken and does not yearn. For there is nothing present in him by which he might be born. Not being born, how could he age? Not ageing, how could he die? Not dying, how could he be shaken? Not being shaken, why should he yearn? https://suttacentral.net/en/mn140

Commonly in Vedanta it comes down to "One" which is "Awareness". In Buddhism "Awareness" is empty of self. So the old koan what does the one return to? In some schools of Hinduism maybe it is self referential "It returns to the one". In Buddhism there is no one. Lol But I talk from a deluded mind so take this all with lots and lots and lots of salt. Language and concepts are skillfull means I think not awakening.

What are some teachings, perspectives, experiences, or whatever that you have learned a long your walk on the path that have made a lasting and very profound impact in your life? Recently I was posting on The Dao Bums forum and someone addressed my "Sky Gazing" post and included a beautiful Chinese Taoist painting with diverse life and water falls and dimensions and what looks like the seeker within his own painting. He said this was sky gazing in his tradition and it was a good and powerful message to remember the relative is the absolute. It made me think, what have you all experienced and maybe this can really help each of us grow by cutting through the usual questions and answers and getting to the guts of our own lives

So a lot of the posts I look at are the Buddhist and Zen ones hah but I have found lately some of the Daoist posts very interesting. I'd love to hear certain aspects of Daoist teachings you have found most mysterious, meaningful, intense, etc. Maybe explain what the practice means to you and what you do for your practice and what you would like to do for your practice. How do you see the goal of Daoism?

I sometimes hear about: "Sky Gazing" "Watching patterns of smoke from the Chillum" "Prostration Practice". I'd love to see how everyone see's the points of these practices, especially Sky Gazing and also to list some other unique practices they have heard or come by

This sounds a lot like the best period of Chan and how I understand the best part of Zen teachings Also I just wanted to thank you for this amazing write up. Absolutely awesome. I made a post in the Daoist section about what exactly Daoism is to people and the teachings they have found inspirational and intense and meaningful and I would love to hear more from you. Obviously incredibly articulate

I definitely want you to go more into this!

Great contribution! What would you say the depths of Taoist understanding are about this sky vesus maybe the emphasis on emptiness and the void in Buddhism?

In other words searching for un-regulated and un-approved posts on Wikipedia... Lol jk

I use to think a lot of "body" stuff was kind of secondary to the mind but I am starting to realize the body/mind difference may be a total illusion. In Buddhism in particular the tantric traditions we have "inner winds" and in Zen obviously the style of sitting, chanting, walking is all very yogic. Body/mind is the phrase for correct Zazen posture or something similar as it's not about mind or body but something beyond duality. In Daoism what would this area of study be? Look forward to being educated

Great post, can you explain "drops" a bit more. I am familiar with the term "channels" but not drops.

I practice Zazen (Simply sitting) method that is taught in the Kosho Uchiyama-Shōhaku Okumura lineage at places like Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery in America, Sanshin Zen Community, and the famous Antaiji. This method is harmony of body and mind and utter alertness and presence (Bodymind). It is the practice of learning who one is and also moving beyond. I also practice Samatha in the tradition of Theravada in which one enters absorption states (Jhana). From these states I experience and gather insight (Vipassana). I would associate more with the Ajahn Chah style than the honorable Pa Auk as I don't codify these experiences as strongly and directly by writings of the Abhidhamma and Buddhaghosa's Visuddhimagga. These deep meditational experiences I believe show how when conditions change one changes and this can be in radically different way. I also believe it helps purify ones practice as when one establishes deep Samadhi one moves past sensuality and other factors that can trap someone in basic practice. Please share your practices and how you would define them I look forward to hearing from everyone.

Some things have recently happened that have given me the insight of how I will probably feel when I am on my death bed dying Lol And I have decided that truly what lays at the heart of my life and meaning is finding out "What the heck is going on here!" I am planning to check out places like Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery & Sanshin Zen Community both of which are in America for Zen practice. For Theravada most likely continue with Ajahn Chah places but maybe take in a Mahasi or Pa Auk associated center or do the big trip to Burma! Who knows! Maybe even check out the famous Chogyal Namkhai Norbu! All in all I wanted to thank the great community here. I may be back some day! But for now I really want to get to the heart of it all as I know that's where it is for me. Be well everyone!

This discussion is open to all Mahayana, Vajrayana, Theravada, Other Religious Frameworks, and Your Own Unique Perspectives. This is also a topic that has been arising lately in different forms and so I can imagine this will be a great discussion I had an experience a few days ago that I will most likely bring up with Shoryu Bradley (A Zen Teacher I Respect) and possibly some other authorities on the subject. I was at the lake and if I remember correctly had been doing some Zazen in the forest in between quiet swimming and just enjoying the solitude and peaceful/restful nature of the area. I am not sure what was going on at the moment but in a flash the need to hold onto "Awareness" & "Life" in any form kind of dropped off. I came to understand that Sentience & Insentience kind of drop off in Emptiness. Feel free to share all your views, sutras, tantras, quotes, whatever. In general I would love to see how this develops.

Well said.

Welcome

Letting go is definitely were it is at. Very Ajahn Chah of you

That was incredible.

Welcome

Many of us know about places of intensive meditation and practice. On the Zen side places like Antai-ji in Japan & Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery in America come to mind. For Theravada, Panditãrãma or Pa Auk Forest Monastery. I am curious what are the longest stretches of intense meditation you have heard and also completed yourself! It can be a folk story or true. I am having a hard time finding the information now but one of the longest periods of meditation I have heard of is the 100 day Sesshin! I guess it all depends on the time-table of each day but if it is a standard Sesshin that would be beyond intense. For myself I had a period a few years back while watching a property. I would do some simple chores and then walk over to a close park and sit. I probably was sitting around 7-10 hours a day and I think the period was about a month and a half or two. I had a point were I had an incredible absorption/mystical experience. Almost like a powerful psychedelic experience although it was totally clear and there was no background feelings. In it I experienced what felt like the massiveness of Samsara and were I was and had developed so far. Also seemed I had taken Bodhisattva vows in the past as I was experienced as a Bodhisattva. The interesting thing is at this time I was practicing very intensely on the Theravada perspective and so hadn't thought about Bodhisattvas in a long time to my knowledge lol It was a very powerful experience.

Many here know that I deeply respect Shoryu Bradley & Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery in Arkansas. Many that know the Zen and or Buddhist scene in general in the Southern United States know that their is a close familiar bond between the locations. The Austin Zen Center and others have been great supports of Shoryu & Gyobutsuji Zen Monastery. If you are Tibetan, Soto Zen, or which ever tradition or style of practice please support (even with prayers and good vibes) the Buddhist centers and communities in Texas who are having a very hard time right now. Thanks everyone.

Welcome

How would you describe awareness vs conscious awareness as it does sound very similar to Jhana as described in Theravada Buddhism.