zenbrook

The honour has been all mine, Father P. Rest easy. ZenB

But that gives me dharmarhoea.

I'd agree here...... but we are perhaps complicit in allowing things to screw themselves up. Please don't get me wrong. I'm absolutely NOT of the opinion that how we are today is a result of our past actions - I'm disabled, consequently I must have been 'bad' in a past life - such triteness is both obscene in its implications and childishly facile. Karma is about how we view the world and consequently respond to it. Habituated behaviour that results in overall unsatisfactoriness. The idea of karma as something independent of the individual experiencing karma is a fairytale told to scare people into 'good behaviour'. We really can drive our own karma, as Swami Beyondananda would say Peace, ZenB Can you recommend a good physician?

No.

Karma is often described as cause & effect, but we should not confound cause & effect with some kind of mechanism inherent in the fabric of reality. The root of karma is the dualistic mind. When the dualistic mind is not present, then karma is also not present. If karma is seen as independent of the individual experiencing karma, then we have a form of fatalism. It's perhaps more useful to see karma in terms of perception & response rather than cause & effect (though the essential meaning is the same). If the cause which is our perception perceives a focus of attraction, aversion, or indifference, the effect will be the response to that cause. There is no sense in which the actual circumstances of our lives are preordained according to a system of rewards & punishments for our previous actions. This is a primitive misconception and one which would make enlightenment dependent upon karma. Karma nonetheless is described as cause & effect, which means that through distorted perception we respond inappropriately and create the cyclic patterns of our neurotic conditioning. Once we have touched the idea that we create our own unsatisfactoriness through dualistic preconception, the possibility of allowing our view to change suggests itself. We can then let go of the form of unsatisfactoriness. Which would be nice ZenB

Once again, bct, you're way ahead of the game Couldn't have put it better myself. Which I guess is why I haven't. That, and apathy. I think this again returns to what I was trying to get at when i started the 'What breed of bum?' thread. A lot of the questions/subjects brought up for discussion here often make little sense precisely because our 'practices' (if indeed we have a practice at all) are many and varied. We're all seeking very different things and consequently our paths are different too. I suppose I was interested in what our unique individual bases were so that I could (hopefully) correspond more effectively with the people here. I'm not sure it quite worked out like that. I'd go with the above, absolutely. If you're not practicing 24/7 you're indulging. BUT that's because for me awareness is the name of the game - everything else is just ornamentation. Like the story says: Like the story, anyway. One assumes Yundon actually meant what he said. As opposed to saying it simply to make a point. Kinda like I'm doing here. Bugger. ZenB

Beautiful, Yoda I don't know about 'divine', but how about these from the Sixth Dalai Lama: 'I incline myself To the teachings of my lama But my heart secretly escapes To the thoughts of my sweetheart' . . . . . . . . . . . . . 'Even if meditated upon, The face of my lama comes not to me, But again and again comes to me The smiling face of my beloved' . . . . . . . . . . . . . 'If I could meditate upon the dharma As intensely as I muse on my beloved I would certainly attain enlightenment Surely, in this one lifetime' . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oh, and guess a topical one for all you bums 'Never have I slept without a sweetheart Nor have I spent a single drop of sperm' . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peace, ZenB

Thank the lord for that - saves me the bother ZenB

Bravo, Hundun! By jove, I think you've got it Peace, ZenB

It's time for zenbrook to put his cards on the table. Much as I would love to continue on my merry way herein, emboldened with a few collected pithy sayings, relevant scholarly quotes or even occasional actual insight into a thing, I have an admission to make. Though I have spent many years learning, meditating and teaching - in both the Zen/Taoist and Tibetan Tantric traditions (before extreme disillusionment brought me back to normality) - I AM A COMPLETE AND UTTER AMATEUR WHEN IT COMES TO MY OWN PHYSICAL WELL-BEING. There, I've said it. Despite training in the tsa-lung system of the inner tantras I have always neglected my own physical being. I have severe arthritis (ankylosing spondylitis - AS) and associated side-effects which are gradually getting worse. As we speak I'm off work with a bad attack of uveitis - an eye inflammation connected with the AS. Bad experiences with certain teachers within the Tibetan tradition (something I'd prefer not to discuss publicly) mean that I have had to leave behind much of what I learned as a tantrika and choose to remain isolated from both that tradition and spiritual groups as a whole. Psychologically / spiritually I have again made peace with myself and returned to the philosophically oriented Taoism of my roots. Physically, I'm falling apart! Tao Bums is the only contact I have with people interested in spiritual thought and practice and, despite initial doubts, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I have been made to feel welcome, appreciated and challenged - in equal measure - and that has both surprised and delighted me. You are good people So now it is to you that I turn seeking advice. What kind of daily healing routine could I follow (allowing that I work full-time) that I could learn myself and that could help me to manage my arthritis? Are there any books you could recommend or do you think a teacher is absolutely necessary? What about diet? Any tips? A one-time full-bloodied practitioner of sexual tantra, I now find myself in the unenviable position of experiencing lack of sexual energy.... any ideas? I guess that'll do for now. Any help will be most gratefully received. Peace, ZenB

Thank you all so much for your suggestions and insight. It never fails to amaze at how much wisdom there is crammed into this little corner of cyberspace. Rest assured I'm taking all comments seriously and will feedback progress (or lack thereof) in my new personal practice thingie, just as soon as I get one/get committed to writing one. In the meantime, please feel free to keep the posts rolling in Peace & gratitude, ZenB

Don't be so sure......... It's been a pleasure, Yen Hui. Peace, ZenB

I was going to throw in my two penneth upon first reading your post - I'm glad I held off. My initial take was to suggest you trust yourself and your path - follow your heart and allow your natural wisdom and awareness to guide you - but the above post shows real maturity and you're right, there are people out there who work hard and have something to offer others. It sounds like you've reached a place in your practice where such a teacher can challenge you to take the next step. That being said, the pine tree's wisdom should not be overlooked and neither should your own. It takes real presence to know when one's meditation becomes 'stuck' and real bravery to attempt to move forward from this point. You have my admiration. I'm sorry I cannot suggest anyone myself who may be able to help, though I'm sure you'll get many good suggestions from the others here. I do, however, wish you all the very best and thank you for your sharing and your honesty. Peace, ZenB

I don't know much about 5 rhythms nowadays, but years ago I stayed with a fellow whose wife taught it - I think it was pretty new then - I believe she was one of the first students of Gabrielle Roth. Ex-wife, I should say. It's no exaggeration to say she detested me.... something about her marriage breakdown being the result of her husband's interest in Tibetan Vajrayana, which I taught at the time. Funny thing was, I quite liked her, though she exemplified (to me at least) the disparity between 'new age' intentions and emotional reality. Her dance seemed to be all about connecting with and opening to the world, her dislike of anything that didn't conform to her understanding of it seeming to all but cut her off from any connection whatsoever. She sure could move, though. I even had a go myself and had a mighty time of it, though copious amounts of alcohol probably helped. Ended up buying a car off her - nearly killed me when the brakes failed on my way to a three month retreat in the hills. She sure could move, though. Peace, ZenB

Great post, xeno Nonetheless, I'd have to disagree. If you can't find (Life) within the computer monitor you're staring at, you certainly won't find it anywhere else either. It's right..... ....here Peace, ZenB

Or at least take the Randi challenge themselves and earn a bob or two Well said, witch! Peace, ZenB

Yes - mild attacks of psoriasis. I also had weak kidneys as a child - in and out of hospital, blood in urine, lots of antibiotics - which I guess hasn't helped. So it'd be a gluten-free diet? And liver-detox? Any good resources on this? Many thanks for your help - and to freeform and bct. I'm hoping to start up a Personal Practice Discussion soon, so I guess I can feedback via that. I'd like to make a positive out of a negative on this one, instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself! Any and all advice is muchly appreciated! Warm regards, ZenB

Welcome Gino! Get stuck in!! I'm sure we have a lot to learn from you also. Peace, ZenB

Hi and welcome! Enjoy your stay. Not many people enter the lobby with such powerful mantra Peace, ZenB

The perfect answer to your original question - given much more eloquently than I could have put it! Peace, ZenB

When I first approached the Tao, many moons ago, I copied out by hand the TTC as a gift and request for teaching from my first teacher. Though I was meticulous in this task, I didn't have a clue as to the meaning of the words I wrote or of their implications for the path ahead. I simply copied out each chapter because it seemed like a nice thing to do and I had no artistic talent whatsoever so a picture or poem was out of the question. My teacher, despite having translated the TTC himself, seemed to appreciate my more humble effort, or at least was kind enough to not laugh out loud at this innocent petitioner. Later on I became much cleverer. The TTC became just one among the many spiritual tomes I mastered and I completed my own translations of texts from Sanskrit and Tibetan and encouraged others to appreciate and understand them all just as I had. So clever did I become that some called me teacher and after a while my understanding became their understanding and the 'Tao of ZenBrook' was born. Still later, I became stupid again. Now I realize that first copy I made was the only version truly worth having. And though I'll never quite be that innocent again, I can at least try. Making it ours. Peace, ZenB

Nonetheless, we must still try. freeform's original enquiry appears to arise in relation to the path: whereas many of our responses seem instead to arise from the perspective of the fruit. Now quite apart from the unlikeliness of this occurring, for 'those who know do not talk' it does seem sometimes as though we forget the wood for the trees (cue cryptic 'no wood, no trees; still the leaves rustle') and offer up koans where teisho may be more appropriate. More of cat's 'gnomics', I guess.... Yes.... and no. Sure it is deluded, but what help is there in that? freeform's question makes perfect sense in light of duality - and that, may I be so bold, is where most of us live. In which case 'merging with the void' becomes just another skillful means that can be applied. Sorry y'all.... I'm off work with a recurring eye infection and feeling fractious. I'm not having a go here, just questioning the validity of my own responses Likewise, freeform, if I'm attempting to put thoughts in your head (or to teach my grandmother how to suck eggs!) forgive me. Oh, and my point? Buddha may well have held up a flower, but it didn't stop him opening his mouth at every opportunity. Sometimes being helpful is more important than being savvy. Here endeth the sermon Peace, ZenB

Funnily enough, I just got that film out on DVD for Mrs B to watch. She enjoyed it muchly. I used to put it on for Buddhist Studies students back in the day when I was teaching - more for fun than anything else. I'm not sure what the majority of them thought about it, though I'm not sure what the majority og them thought about, period! Lovely film though. I'll have to check out Travellers. Thanks for the recommendation. Peace, ZenB

It is because of his expertise in the art of smashing mirrors, that the Buddha is so dangerous Peace, ZenB