doc benway
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Everything posted by doc benway
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What can be done to stop Buddhist Discussion turning to flame
doc benway replied to thelerner's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Not sure what you are pointing to here, I can be a bit dense, but I suspect I agree with you... I'll take another tack - maybe it also helps if folks from the "outside" come in and set the example as well, as the OP has. Not sure if he'd consider himself one of their own or an outsider... Not sure if it matters... -
What can be done to stop Buddhist Discussion turning to flame
doc benway replied to thelerner's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Socrates filters... words to live by. The variation I generally quote is true, kind, useful. Because that is the point of Buddhist cultivation. The view and practices, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, all of it means nothing whatsoever if we aren't actively attempting to express what they stand for in our daily lives. It certainly is not necessary for anyone participating in the Buddhist forum to be Buddhists or even to practice Buddhism. Folks are certainly welcome to simply discuss philosophy. On the other hand, the forum does present an opportunity to practice and for those serious about the practice it is important to take advantage of every opportunity possible because of the fleeting nature of life. This is the reason for expressing goodness, support, kindness, and acceptance - not simply because puppies are so adorable... -
Can you tell us where you feel the pain and what it feels like?
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Would Buddhist monks be keen to learn Baguazhang?
doc benway replied to Gerard's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Bagua offers lots of physical and energetic benefits. Depending on the tradition, they also so a variety of physical exercises - calisthenics, walking, yoga of various types, energetic forms (tsa lung), and so forth. They seem to stay in pretty good physical shape. -
What can be done to stop Buddhist Discussion turning to flame
doc benway replied to thelerner's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Great topic! I think that the nature of internet discussion is that it attracts intellectuals. So while some (most? a few?) of us actually have a stable practice, there is clearly a part of us that drags us back here to talk about it. And it's hard to find people to talk to about this stuff in the real world. My best friend and spiritual confidant is moving in a few weeks (:sob:) I think that one of the things we can do is to always read and re-read our posts multiple times before posting. Read the post as if someone else had written the post to you and feel how that makes you feel. Read the post as if you were going to send it to someone you respect, someone who's opinion of you is valued - your guru, teacher, parent, child, etc... Most importantly, our priority in communication should not be whether or not we are correct but whether or not we are acting in a caring, civil, and supportive manner. Whether our method of communication is skillful and reflective of the Buddhist values we presumably respect. Whether our messages here would make our guru proud or embarrassed. It takes a lot of work and effort and some would say that it will degrade the quality of debate, but I call bullshit on that. If we really want high level Buddhist debate we should look for the real thing, not a Daoist internet chat room. -
Would Buddhist monks be keen to learn Baguazhang?
doc benway replied to Gerard's topic in Buddhist Discussion
I think it depends on who you are referring to but I seriously doubt it. I apologize if my post is discouraging and I reserve the right to be completely wrong… Monastics of a solid tradition generally have enough to do to allow little or no extra time in their daily practice. "High level Taoist practices" require first that we establish a firm foundation in the basics. This takes a long time. Granted, there are basic practices in Buddhist traditions that are similar to Daoist basics, but it is a substantial investment to reach a point where we are training at a high level and Bagua is a particularly subtle and advanced art. Another concern is that Bagua is martial - it is founded in violence. While I'm of the mind that there may have been circle walking practices that predated Baguazhang as a martial art, modern Bagua palm changes imply violence. This is anathema to Buddhist cultivation. Finally, most Buddhist traditions, particularly monastic ones, are comprehensive and brilliantly designed to support the practitioner along their path. Forays into completely different traditions and other detours are generally discouraged and are unlikely to improve the established tradition. All that said, you never know with people - you may find a monastery with a head monk looking for something new and different, but I think it's unlikely. I think you'd have better luck with Daoists or those on a less traditional path. -
Ditto
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The Course in Buddhist Reasoning and Debate
doc benway replied to gatito's topic in Buddhist Discussion
If this was one's primary source of information, I would agree with your first statement. If one has a teacher, a dedicated practice, and some guidance in their study, then I think one can weigh the various points of view offered and come away with some good information. At least I can say that this is the case for me. Some of the recent contributions here have been quite eloquent. My own observation of Buddhism in the USA seems fairly Tibetan-centric. Just an observation. Quite possibly skewed and inaccurate. Yes - books are not the best way to learn Buddhism, IMO. Even if one read Tibetan fluently and did not rely on translations, that is not enough. Having a competent teacher is important. Having a stable and skillful practice is important. Bringing the principles into one's daily live (body, speech, and mind) is important. I think that a lot of the differences between the emotional and psychological composure and stability you refer to relate to industrialization, technology, loss of community, etc... I think Westerners probably need Buddhism more than anyone and the ones that I know who have a stable practice feel and show results. Absolutely true and that is no different than any meditative and trans-formative practice, be it Tibetan Buddhism or Daoism, for example. One can study texts, light incense, wear a shawl, and smile a lot but deep personal change requires not only getting the basics right but having the devotion and commitment to actually integrate that into one's life. And our fast-paced, technologically driven culture makes very little room for that sort of integration. One has to be highly motivated to make it work. -
The Course in Buddhist Reasoning and Debate
doc benway replied to gatito's topic in Buddhist Discussion
I actually think that Buddhism is reasonably well represented here, but take that with a grain of salt because I'm no authority. There are some very knowledgeable folks, and some that are less so. There are those who focus more on practice (and don't say much) and some who are accomplished scholars and very vocal. And probably some who have struck a nice balance between the two. There is some bickering and some displays of equanimity and compassion. I do think there is a strong predilection for the Tibetan approach, which I think is a Western bias. Quite a few Dzogchen masters have expressed the opinion that Dzogchen is particularly suited to Western sensibilities. -
The Course in Buddhist Reasoning and Debate
doc benway replied to gatito's topic in Buddhist Discussion
I like that… And you really can't help anyone else until you heal yourself. -
The Course in Buddhist Reasoning and Debate
doc benway replied to gatito's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Despite my earlier support for the book's selling price, I'm more of a practitioner than a scholar. Doubt that I'll buy it but I'll share if I do. -
The Course in Buddhist Reasoning and Debate
doc benway replied to gatito's topic in Buddhist Discussion
So who's going to buy a copy!? -
The Course in Buddhist Reasoning and Debate
doc benway replied to gatito's topic in Buddhist Discussion
Yes - from what I can tell the book is not published yet… -
I don't look at it as demons or thought forms being "merely in our own heads." Manifestations, be they thought forms, demons, external forms, whatever…. arise from and return to the same base as displays of the Natural State, as do we.
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I think this is an excellent practice on multiple levels. I do it myself to some degree. I also do a little variation. When the little demon in my head continuously reminds me about whatever threats and risks and what ifs and why didn't I's and so on and so forth are going on in the past and the future….., I find it helpful to sincerely thank him for his concern for my well being. Often that is enough to get him to rest for a bit.
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I agree with that - no one suggested that we grasp the space between thoughts… I used the word aiming at to imply the feeling of not being a captive of thought and the Zhangzhung Nyengyud used the words recognize and practice. We are simply pointing at shamatha (zhiné). If you don't like those words, that is your privilege. I found them helpful in the beginning. Until we develop skill at recognizing and stabilizing the mind, we are helplessly captives of thought. In that condition, progress is hopeless. It is important to recognize when we are not actively chasing the thoughts, that is an interval of presence, instantaneous awareness, knowledge, whatever you want to call it. Aiming to develop recognition and stability in that space is valuable. It is not a grasping, it is a letting go of the reins of thought and letting them run off into space without you. Well said… I do think that we can run into problems with grasping at desire but not space itself
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Mind Control in the Martial Arts
doc benway replied to Unseen_Abilities's topic in General Discussion
It's good to exercise caution. Check out Ki Master vs MMA and Lama Dorje… Funny stuff. -
My best friend and training partner has lived, and adapted to, dyslexia and much more serious challenges, that I choose not to go into, and is a master of Qigong. Much of his healing came about as a result of Qigong, Taijiquan, and meditation practice.
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Are you saying that zhiné is useless, shamatha without an object is useless, or that shamatha is altogether useless? Not everyone follows the same path, that doesn't mean the path is useless to another just because it didn't work for you. For those of us who are not yet able to abide in the Nature of Mind every waking and sleeping moment, shamatha practices can be very useful, in my experience and opinion. I don't believe in every one without a title, either. Belief is unnecessary - better to know or know that one does not know.
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The most powerful Qigong exercise you've experienced
doc benway replied to DaoChild's topic in General Discussion
My good friend and training partner created (channeled) a set of Qigong exercises rooted in classic Chinese Qigong but expressed in terms of the North American medicine wheel (a part of his heritage) and shamanism. This is the most powerful Qigong I've practiced. Quite amazing stuff. -
Nothing common or mere about shamatha to me. I actually think it to be quite precious. I feel blessed to have come into contact with practices like shamatha and teachers like Lopon Tenzin Namdak. Peace
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Mere shamatha? That is a contradiction in terms, IMO. Do you object to the use of shamatha as a preliminary practice in Dzogchen? I suspect that you are familiar with the practice of zhiné. I don't think the Lopon meant that this is all that is needed to realize rigpa. He's got a pretty good idea of what Dzogchen is all about.
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I can't sign off without offering the following warning - I would recommend that everyone follow ChiDragon's advice when following ChiDragon's teachings.... Caveat Emptor!
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Hi John, Are you asking specifically about meditation and cultivation practices? To start with, Chan and Zen are Chinese and Japanese takes on a particular form of "distilled" Buddhism. They bear some similarity to Dzogchen of Tibetan Buddhism in that they basically refer to the inherent perfection of existence and suggest that we need do nothing more than be as we are [edited to add: and this can be seen to be very similar to the Daoist concept of Wu Wei]. Certainly there are a lot of things that can and are done to reach the point where we can recognize what that really means and stabilize in that experience. This includes, as Jack mentioned, koan practice as well as others. Neither Chan nor Zen does much in the way of formalized energetic work to my knowledge but I am not an authority in either. Daoism has a bit of a different fundamental view than Buddhism although the common ground becomes more obvious as we have deeper experiences and knowledge of each. The Daoists are considerably more involved in energetic practices than the Chan and Zen. Again, there are parallels to Tibetan Buddhism where some of the breathing methods and energy methods (tsa lung and tummo) have close parallels to Qigong and Neigong practices in Daoism. The Daoist meditation methods that I have been taught are quite a bit different than Chan, Zen, and Tibetan meditation although there are similarities. In Buddhist methods one can meditate by: - focusing on an external object (candle, Tibetan letter A, etc...) - focusing on an internal object (region of the body, image of a deity, breath, thoughts, mantra, prayer, ...) - without specific focus The Daoist methods I've learned use a combination of meditation on an internal object (orbits, points, meridians, etc..) and meditation without a focus (sitting and forgetting, dissolving). The Buddhists use a combination of all three depending on the sub-group but the Chan and Zen primarily use the second method (koans, breath) and the third method (classic zazen). I haven't had any formal Chan instruction but I'm not aware of specific energy practices in Chan.That said, I would imagine that there are instructors that mix Chan with Qigong and Neigong and so on....
