Best Of
Obituaries
One of my favourite pastimes is writing my own obituary.
Or at least preparing for my death. 
As we may know people [Spoiler alert] die
For example I am surprised when I wake up in the morning,
after the 'little death' of zzz time.
Lobster Pre-Obituary
aka cructacean, lobby, lob etc. was a
fanatical devotee of the Mettaray Buddha
of the future.
She/He/IT, practised many forms of abandoned Dharma.
They passed away quietly in someone else's sleep.
https://yinyana.tumblr.com/
lobster
Re: Daily meditation changes you
I feel a less impulsive and a calmer, better person in general. This does not mean I consider myself a Zen master that has dropped body and mind and can strive under all circumstances with the patience of a Saint..but I start to see benefits which make me reconsider carefully any diversion away from this lifestyle which Zen Buddhism implicitly has.
It's interesting you should mention this @Kotishka . Thus have I heard: the calmness you're experiencing is actually just a by-product of Dharma practice. It's not the ultimate goal, but it often serves as a meaningful incentive to continue with daily practice. 🙏🙏🙏
Shoshin1
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
Anyone know if @how is okay..I left plenty of Zen bait and he has not said much..and now I realise he has not been online since the 27th!
Kotishka
Daily meditation changes you
Hi all,
I know in Zen practice you are not supposed to search or grasp for achievements or materialising any sort of path of development. However, I cannot but notice how restraint, discipline and awareness to my daily habits are becoming fruits born from my practice.
I feel a less impulsive and a calmer, better person in general. This does not mean I consider myself a Zen master that has dropped body and mind and can strive under all circumstances with the patience of a Saint..but I start to see benefits which make me reconsider carefully any diversion away from this lifestyle which Zen Buddhism implicitly has.
I can only wish you all have the same experiences from engaging in your practice, study and sangha. I am currently sitting with Treeleaf. Maybe see you around!
Also....please check this small video and meditation. 5minutes only. For me it was truly refreshing!
Gassho,
K
Kotishka
Re: New Pope on her way...
@marcitko , I actually believe his election as Pope to have been quite a calculated move. He has the intelligence and gravitas to speak eloquently, but in a way that appeals to the masses (pardon the pun) and has already demonstrated an individual mind by contradicting Vance's take on loving our fellow men, in some specific order or levels of degrees. "That's not how it works," he responded (I paraphrase). If Trump sincerely believes he has a staunch ally in the Vatican, I believe time will show him to be greatly mistaken. This is a man of 2 nationalities - North and South American - and is no amateur fly-by-night. I believe him to be acutely aware of the reasons he was chosen, and think he will administer his authority quite shrewdly.
We shall see....
federica
Re: Life events triggering a spiritual search
Life events triggering a spiritual search
Thus have I experienced:
When one starts asking the question why?, when a major life event or crisis happens, this is, in a sense, the beginning of one of many spiritual paths, the journey of (no) self-discovery, the search for understanding and meaning. This can happen at any age, at any time.
Take, for example, the flower power era of the '60s and '70s, when ganja and psychedelic drugs set many off on the spiritual journey of (no) self-discovery. But it could just as easily be grief, depression, anxiety, fear, the list goes on. Life has many ways of shaking us awake.
This search often begins not with the expectation of answers, but with the need to make sense of the ever-changing world we live in. It’s not always a loud or dramatic shift, but more often a quiet turning inward. Sometimes it’s grief, sometimes shock, or simply the stillness that follows disruption, something opens the door.
And from there, the journey takes shape. Why? is, in itself, a way of reaching for something more than what is immediately visible.
And in saying all this, here on a Buddhist forum, the nutshell answer might be: “When the student is ready (karma ripens), the master will appear”, in whatever form it takes. For example: daily Dharma practice, meditation, the Eightfold Path…
Shoshin1
Re: Life events triggering a spiritual search
Today is Vesak.
From one extremely bad Buddhist, to all my rather better-behaved fellow members, I wish you joy, fulfilment and comfort in your assertion of the Triple Gem, and good fortune, resolve, determination and success, in adhering to your Precepts.
Much love in Buddha, to each and every one of you.
federica