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Is it possible to view compassion without opposites? Is it only an effect? Can’t it be a cause?
Pat
Compassion can only arise when the sense of a separate self lessens. It’s arising on its own is proof of the whole dharma. The power of compassion is that it doesn’t come alone, but is accompanied by the other immeasurables, loving-kindness, equanim…
Not to cloud this issue with yet another language and culture, but Ken’s post reminded me of Chinul’s (Korean) description of this state. In “Tracing Back the Radiance,” he says, “Itʼs like setting a desk down on the ground with all four legs steady…
Loren Enders: “This is oversimplified but the foolishness here is that if you've lost a raft, build a new one. Surely someone in Asia, Bhutan, Tibet, etc... has the wisdom, compassion and the mindstream to do so.”
Someone in Australia had the guts t…
Profile Information
- City
- Mariposa, California
- Practice level
- mature
- About Me:
- Practiced Soto Zen Buddhism for 23 years. Received permission to teach in 1996. I live in the mountains outside Yosemite National Park.
Comment Wall (6 comments)
- At 1:21pm on December 6, 2009,
Anne B said…
- Hi Pat,
Thank you for offering to put me in touch with one of your students. I think that could be really useful and it might be very interesting for both of us. Here is my email address: anneb37@hotmail.com.
I just saw that you have practiced Zen for a long time! I lived in Japan for 4 years, and always found Zen to be so strict and severe. I used to live in Osaka and would go to Koya San (Wakayama Prefecture) often, a famous buddhist area with many temples and a massive cemetery. I'm tempted to go back there after I finish my contract in Kuwait, because I liked it so much when I lived there before. I want to move to a place where I'll be able to find a teacher and deepen my practice, but I'm not sure Japan is the right place for that.
I do not know much about Zen, actually. I know this may be a huge question, most likely way to big to answer in a casual conversation, but if you feel like answering this...what are some obvious differences between Mahayana and Zen buddhism?
I hope life is nice and peaceful where you are. Do you get snow in the winter since you are in the mountains?
Take care Pat,
Anne
- At 4:21am on November 27, 2009,
Anne B said…
- Hi Pat,
Being Canadian I'm not too sure when the American Thanksgiving was...this weekend is it? We celebrate it sometime in October, but it is not as festive as it is in the US. I hope it was a good one, even though you had to do a bit more cooking/preparing than you originally thought. I'm up to my eyeballs in preparation for an educator's conference I am organizing here. It's on Dec 5th, and after that I can relax. :) Good thing we're currently on vacation, 5 days off, because the Muslims are celebrating their 2nd Eid. Lost of firecrakers going off everywhere, you kind of get used to it after a while, but at the beginning I thought their was a shooting going on outside my apartment...ha!ha!
One of the reasons I signed onto this sight is to be able to feel like I have some kind of community. Very hard to find here. I've been listening to Ken's podcasts for over two years, but struggling to have a stable meditation practice in my life. I know it should be a priority and I am slowly making the changes in my life to ensure my spiritual life becomes a priority.
I'm looking for a new position in either Europe or Asia...not too sure yet where I'll end up. I've applied to schools in Switzerland and Japan (where I've lived before), and I want this move to be long-term. Finding a spiritual community is high on my list of criteria that will determine where I end up.
I just found an institute today on the web called The Golden Hawn Institute (by the famous actress) who sponsors teacher training for this program called MindUp. It's mindfulness training in schools. I also know that Susan Kaiser (who is a member on this website) is also heavily involved in mindfulness training in elementary schools....it's all very very exciting!!! For me anyway ;)
Thanks for being there Pat and let me know how your Thanksgiving went.
Anne
- At 4:04pm on November 20, 2009,
Anne B said…
- Good to know... That might be an interesting option in the future. I hope you are well :)
- At 12:01pm on November 16, 2009,
Anne B said…
- Thanks Pat! I'm sure I will have some questions/comments with time. Getting to know the site at the moment. So Ken does phone visits... how does that work? I assume you must request it? Have a wonderful day :)
- At 10:26am on November 12, 2009,
Anne B said…
- Hi Pat,
Thanks for the message and for the compliment about the picture. I like it...it's from my hometown in Canada. Kuwait... well there is not much of a community here. LOL! Actually, there isn't any, hence me joining this on-line community. I'm hoping it will help me deepen my practice and help me stay motivated to meditate on a regular basis which I find really difficult here without people to meditate with.
Wishing you a great day!
- At 5:36pm on May 15, 2008,
Phil Vinson said… - Hi, Pat. Fancy meeting you here. Ken just told me about this network and invited me to join, so here I am.
Phil
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