Tommy

Actually, when Bodhidharma visited the Shaolin temple, he saw weak monks with poor health. To help the monks, he taught them physical exercise in the form of fighting styles. So, the Kung Fu style had its origins from India. Later on, the reputation of Kung Fu of Shaolin temple overshadowed the original purpose of the monks. So, modern visitors would be looking for Kung Fu instead of seeking the advice of the enlightened monks. So, did Buddhism fall to the wayside and Kung Fu the only shining rainbow?? Do you push forward ideas of Kung Fu instead of Buddhism??

Chinese American background? Born in the USA or born in Asia and moved here when young? Chinese culture while growing up? Hang out with Americans or Asians when growing up? Any Cantonese or Mandarin? I have some experience and speak a little Cantonese. Some older Asians like to practice Tai Chi for health reasons. I never learned. Keeps the body moving and flexible. Suppose to help the Chi or energy flow. Have you had any interest in Buddhism? I have interest in Zen Buddhism. Started after I heard the title, "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance". Of course, I never read that book. Instead started with "The three pillars of Zen" (An older book). And have moved onto other books. Mostly enjoy the Zen stories. Some of which have been turned into Koans. I am new here. So a welcome from me might not mean as much. But, Welcome to the forum.

As far as I know, "spiritual" has two meanings. 1 is relating to or affecting the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things. 2. relating to religion or religious beliefs. Isn't the spirit or soul given by the deity or God? Being a staunch atheist and disbeliever, wouldn't that mean that you do not believe in the spirit or soul? In Buddhism, there is a doctrine of no self or emptiness. Believe it to be called Sunyata. Achieving emptiness or void is to see the truth of Buddha nature. No spirit, no soul, not a spiritual matter?? Or is it no spirit, no soul, no self but it is a spiritual matter?? I am not looking to have an argument. Just putting things in perspective. Humans have the unique ability to accept many contradicting things and make it all seem to be perfectly natural. Like practicing the outer form of Tai Chi in order to manifest internal changes. Like making oneself strong by lifting weights until one feels weak. So, seeker, what is it that you are looking for? For me, I thought it was enlightenment. However, it means no self, sunyata. Achieving emptiness and void. Practice is sitting in meditation to still the mind. I understand the practice but yet to experience anything close to enlightenment. So, what do I believe in? I live and let live. Have interesting conversations with people who are so smart and have delved so deep into the doctrines and speeches. Then I wonder to myself, is this really what the Buddha taught? So much stuff that makes my head spin? But, what else is on the menu?

Thanks for the advice. I know what I should do; just not willing to do it. The moment when thoughts stopped. I panicked and never wished it to happen again. And so, almost 40 years later, it hasn't. I don't feel a need for enlightenment. I like the journey.

Thank you Cobie. I did say I did not know it could be a traumatic experience. I am sorry for my ignorance. The stories I have heard have been positive. One person found God. Another no longer fears death. So, in my mind, death was not something to fear. Now, I am hearing something different. Personally I would rather not learn more about that side of it. I respect those who are able to find a way to survive traumatic events and possibly grow stronger from them. Namaste.

The NDE (near death experience), that I have read about or seen on Youtube, all seem to be related to seeing light and loved ones with feelings of love. And after the NDE, those people would then not fear death anymore. To hear you have trauma from your NDE is something I have not heard about. But, I hope your life gets better and you get the healing that you need. Good luck.

Hello wuweightlifter, I joined this forum after your did. The appeal of Zen to me was it is more direct and cuts out ... stuff. Like the story of the westerner who goes to meet a Zen master in Japan. The westerner is invited inside. They sit and the master asked if the westerner would like some tea. Then, the master pours the tea and continues to pour even after it reaches the brim. The westerner then says that there is no more room in the cup. The master then says something wise like the westerner's mind is like the tea cup, it is full of thoughts about Zen that no more will go in. An example of cutting out the discussion with an analogy easy to understand. So, Zen to me was a way to practice and not get lost into all the conversations about this and that. Although it doesn't satisfy the curious mind, I thought it was better to not have so much stuff to think about. Anyway, after years of practice and much curiosity, I have learned a little bit more than I intended. But, I still enjoy the stories of Zen masters. I do hope you reach your goals. And have a good life. Good luck.

Thank you sterling for your response. It sounds like everything else I have read. Early on, when I was 16, I had the chance to learn and practice meditation. After about two weeks, I had an experience where my thoughts stop and I was seeing my present actions in motion. But, there was no direct after that. No understanding, no subject, no meaning. And for that brief moment, everything felt empty. And, it is only with this thinking mind that there is action and understanding, desire and joy, the continuous world. Since then, I have other experiences but the thinking mind does not relent as it is the method of understanding and action. Have spent time sitting in the quiet and attention held thru concentration upon breath. It last for a moment at a time. Intent can arise from deep without thought. But, it is thought that drives desire and brings on more intent. I have spent much time sitting. But, have not advanced. It is thru forums and reading that I learn a little more and more. It is fortunate I have learned quite a bit. It is unfortunate that I have not been able to help anyone move further along the path or journey. So, thank you and I will continue to work on myself.

Thank you for your help. I appreciate it.

Thanks for the reply. I understand this as what the Buddhist disciples describe as dust on the mirror. The mirror being what perceives the object outside of itself. And to clear the mirror so no dust collects on it. To remove the thoughts because they are not the awareness but dust on the mirror. I know I do not see this correctly. But, it is what I observe. I do not just look at the finger because I become the finger pointing to the moon. Thanks for the reply. As seen from this mind, thoughts are the driving pulse of actions and desires. Without them then no action is possible. There can be no observer without the thought to understand the perceived or object. No understanding means no notice of the object then the object is meaningless. Some thoughts are the follow thru of intentions which also arises with thoughts. What is self? Good question. Since I see self as a the collection of thoughts re-enforced by experiences moment by moment, self is this thinking mind. This of course is not what the Buddha or the Dharma teaches us. That at the center, we are emptiness. Being the same emptiness, we are one and the same.

That is what I am wondering. Awareness is Buddha nature? My awareness as it is now, it is comprised of thoughts and impulses. My attention drawn to those thoughts. They guide me thru my experiences and direct me to answers and actions. For example, a feeling of urgency to go to the bathroom to urinate. The feeling or sensation makes my mind think of thoughts about rushing to the bathroom. The thoughts follow the logic of finding the directions and acting in a fashion to aid it the completion of the act of urination. Of course, this could have been eating or sex or whatever there is in life. The experiences reaffirms my thoughts and actions. No wisdom, no compassion, no love ... just needs and desires. So, how do I direct the mind to dwell in Buddha nature since I have no idea what Buddha nature is (thru or by experience)?? Sorry for my confusion. And for drawing the conversation off topic.

There is much here to read and while I do not claim to know anything useful, I do remember the story of the Buddha answering the question of "Is there a GOD?". Buddha spoke to the first man for a while and then answered there is no God. Then Buddha spoke to a second man for a while and then answered there is a God. One of his students asked, what is the truth? Buddha replied that giving each their answer that they wanted would have ended their spiritual journey. His answer was to bring them back to continue their journey. So, the student asked, is there a God? The Buddha replied, what is important is completing the journey to the destination. I have thought about the notion of no self. That we are just an aggravate of things and so those things fall apart then so does this self. It makes some sense that we are our bodies. Drink alcohol and it affects our consciousness. We are our bodies. So, when the body dies, we die. So, then, what is the point to finding the truth of Buddha nature? What does it matter if there is no self, no soul to continue on. Yeah, so there must be something else. A consciousness which is exactly the same as another therefore no difference. And as such, they are the same??? One with the universe?? This only brings more questions and the mind to think about more things. And so, I was attracted to Zen Buddhism where they cut the distractions out and concentrate on opening the mind to Buddha nature, the truth of our nature, enlightenment. The Dharma is taught but it isn't talked about to the point of creating sides or lines of thought. So, concentration on the meditation has been a focal point that has not yielded much fruit in my case. May be I am doing something wrong??? Sorry, I have no answer to whether to believe in God or not. I would not discourage it. Nor would I encourage it. Just that what ones grows up with, culture, has it way with where we stand and where we go. Our past determines our present state and this present state determines our future.

Seems straight forward. Be nice and play along. Don't insult and don't disturb the vibe. Each forum I have been to seems to have a little difference. Will take a little time to adapt. So, Hello all. Or Namaste, as someone once said to me, I believe it means I bow to you in a greeting sense.