In Zen Buddhism the fundamental practice is zazen, or sitting meditation. In zazen we observe the mind and cultivate awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings without getting caught up in them or characterizing them as good or bad. Another facet of Zen practice is bringing this nonjudgmental awareness into each moment of daily life. Without criticism, analysis, evaluation, or diagnosis of ourselves or others, we simply allow our innate inner wisdom to dictate the most beneficial response in any situation.
As children we often display an innate non-verbal wisdom that responds spontaneously and naturally to each situation. Growing up, we are encouraged to adopt the standards and beliefs of our family, peer group, communities, society, and nation. We lose the sense of the boundless possibilities that are available in each moment as we assimilate concepts, images, social conventions, religious dogmas, marketing memes, and political rhetoric; develop our own distorted thinking patterns, behaviors, memories, judgments, biases and self-restrictions; and acquire various other forms of mental conditioning.
Meditation helps us to strip away this conceptual overlay, and discover that underneath our surface differences there exists a boundless and open awareness, clarity and freedom; a common spiritual heritage that we share with every sentient being on the planet. The direct experience of our deep connection with everyone and everything arising in the universe in this very moment naturally compels us to adopt more compassionate thoughts, words, and actions. By learning to stay present in each moment, we can realize our unlimited capacity to respond to life’s challenging situations with compassion, humility and inner peace.
5 comments:
I am very glad that meditation has been introduced to the west. It has been over 100 years since it was introduced to America. It has benefited thousands of Americans and for that matter all over the world. But, we are approaching a cross road. The Asian priests and teachers who occupy the Zendo's and churches are running out of steam. It is time to take another path. On this path we will learn to speak about Buddhism in our own language, English, without needing to define what we say. We will create our own places to meet together, not the places that the priests and teachers are making their living from. It is time for a religious revolution from the Asian tyrants. An example of the this is the demise of Eido Shimano Roshi. He has been breaking the law for over 40 years and has been protected by the Zen community both here and in Japan. He is just the tip of the iceberg. Take a look at this revealing video on youtube....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDiN1-aGPSk
Hi Chana,
A spiritual practice or relationship, like any other area of human life, has the potential for numerous types of abuse of power. The teacher-student or guru-disciple relationship is, as you suggest, particularly vulnerable in this respect; so those who enter into such a commitment are wise to exercise discretion in their choice, and to continue to listen for, trust, and follow their own inner guidance as they progress along the path.
Before undertaking such a commitment a student or should have demonstrated an appropriate level of maturity and personal integrity. Traditionally this determination has been up to the teacher; because by virtue of their exercise of authority, they are assuming a greater share of karmic responsibility for the outcome.
For those who are emotionally vulnerable or lack the experience or maturity to exercise good judgment, the teacher, sangha, and the Zen tradition and/or community have a shared responsibility to discourage their participation in such a relationship and to direct them to a more appropriate form of spiritual practice.
If a teacher has been *proven* to engage in repeated violations of trust, the sangha and Zen community will also take on the karma of not acting to correct the situation. In determining the correct response, each member in the Zen community is free to examine this according to the ethical system they have adopted, whether it is the eight-fold path, lay precepts, bodhisattva precepts, ten commandments, or some other system.
Please keep in mind that the decision to undertake and continue in such a practice is ultimately the responsibility of the student.
Caveat Emptor.
*****With regard to the choice of the descriptive term tyrant, it is unclear whether it is intended as a criticism of specific individuals or whether this is an unjustified derogatory reference to Asian teachers or Asian people in general. Either way I feel uncomfortable with this choice of language, because it does not show respect for the individual teachers that have been accused of impropriety; and, more to the point, unfortunatly it could be interepreted as disrespecting the entire Asian community.
While different opinions are welcome here, I ask that everyone who posts would please use care to keep their comments respsectful, so that everyone who reads them feels comfortable participating in the dialogues.*****
Post a Comment