Best Of
Re: An online approach
Thank you for the replies so far. I feel like the general idea is that one should indeed seek out offline connection with a Sangha and a primarily online experience would not be very sufficient. That might be the case. Well, the one I'm talking about is unfortunately 3,5 hours by train so it wouldn't be faster by car and I often barely have the time and energy to just go to the other side of the city. Car sharing would still cost me dearly this way, especially if I'd eventually want to support the Sangha as well. So I think the best way to go about it will be to attend online meditations, try to reach out to a member or two in between sessions and ask about their own offline communities, hopefully the'll be one nearby I can visit that the main group organizing these events wouldn't disapprove of. I certainly would want to avoid Sanghas where they are strict about what reading material and practices you're allowed to follow (from their own founder, no one else, etc) or where some current politics or xenophobia interfere with teachings and the general mood, but I could not decide for myself until I'm exposed to it, so all I have is what a few individuals write online about their own experiences and mostly not even that.
RobinH
Re: An online approach
There are also small private meditation circles, not associated with a temple or organisation. When I was looking into group meditations I found a few larger organisations who would charge about 10 euros for a one hour session in a large shared space… this was too much for my budget… but I also found smaller circles who would operate from someone’s home, and these were usually free of charge. Local newspapers, ad boards in supermarkets, local magazines and websites were the places you could find them.
Jeroen
Re: Space - the final frontier
Interesting that that big rock circling our rock played and continues to play a part in the development/evolution of life on this rock. So, yes, Luna is so much more than just a big rock.
Also, the probes that have cleared the planets are still not out of our solar system. They have a ways to go just to get to the Ort Cloud...a long way to go.
Lionduck
Re: An online approach
Hey Robin,
I applaud your wish to be part of a real life sangha.
The Chan group in my city also has a meditation center in the countryside, around 1.5 hours from the city. However, they make efforts for people to car-share whenever possible.
So, one practical solution might be:
- look into whether the group has some kind of system for car sharing (by calling or e-mailing). If not, describe your situation and ask for advice. I'm sure you would not be the first one with this type of issue.
- if yes, go physically by car sharing whenever possible, and participate online when not.
Where there's a will, there's a way! Usually 😂
marcitko
Re: Does reading about spirituality make any sense?
Does reading about spirituality make any sense?
Yes, it makes sense, but only if the text is not overly intellectualised. (thinking too much about concepts instead of engaging with them directly.)
When the intellect ventures into where it does not belong, it becomes lost in its own confusion
Thus have I heard, and to a degree, experienced.
The foundations of the Buddhist path are the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.
It important not to over-intellectualise these teachings. When beginning to practise, it helps to approach them in a way that suits your personal understanding.
Over time, rough patches tend to smooth out, and a deeper experiential understanding naturally emerges.
Reading Dharma texts can help kick-start the practice, but eventually they are needed only occasionally, to help refine and clarify, while the heart of the practice is lived experience.
Shoshin1
Insight on the Eightfold Path
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech Ethical Conduct
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort Mental Development
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
The Noble Eightfold Path describes the way to the end of suffering, as it was laid out by Siddhartha Gautama. It is a practical guideline to ethical and mental development with the goal of freeing the individual from attachments and delusions; and it finally leads to understanding the truth about all things. Together with the Four Noble Truths it constitutes the gist of Buddhism. Great emphasis is put on the practical aspect, because it is only through practice that one can attain a higher level of existence and finally reach Nirvana. The eight aspects of the path are not to be understood as a sequence of single steps, instead they are highly interdependent principles that have to be seen in relationship with each other.
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html
Re: Just for fun: the random, useless announcements thread!
As one might have predicted, the profiteers are worming their way out of the wood.
Hundreds of advertisements offering different types of merchandise, commemorating or 'supporting' the Monks' 'Walk of Peace'.
The Monks themselves, and their organisers have stated:
"We would like to kindly inform everyone that the Walk For Peace does not sell, promote, or market any products or merchandise of any kind.
Our journey is purely a spiritual and humanitarian walk dedicated to cultivating peace through compassion, loving-kindness, and mindfulness. We do not engage in any commercial activities and do not authorize any individual or organization to sell items on our behalf.
If you encounter anyone claiming to represent the Walk For Peace for sales or fundraising purposes, please know that this is not affiliated with our mission.
Thank you for your understanding and for supporting the purity of this peaceful journey.
With gratitude and respect.
May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace." 🙏
So if you see it, and are tempted -don't! 😉
federica
Re: Does reading about spirituality make any sense?
There comes a time when you have to stop 'doing' and start 'being'.
federica
Re: Does reading about spirituality make any sense?
I know of three examples of spiritual aspirants voraciously reading for decades, learning nothing, before starting meditating/contemplating/self-inquiring in earnest, and eventually finding what they were looking for.
1) Our very own but deceased @genkaku. Feel free to read the second post in the following thread.
https://newbuddhist.com/discussion/19752/please-cast-your-mind-back#Comment_366610
2) Bob Harwood (interviews available on Youtube) who read about Zen for 20 years trying to answer a long list of questions, learned nothing, then started meditating and had a kensho-type experience within 5 months. Over the next 15 years all his questions were answered.
3) Art Ticknor (not a Buddhist, interviews also available on Youtube) who also read for 20 years. When his teacher did not respond to a letter he sent he concluded: 'he's lost hope in me'. A 7 year depression ensued during which he closed all the books with the view that 'understanding won't get me there, but I don't know of any other method'. The depression ultimately lifted (by reading a paragraph from a book!) but he proceeded with earnest self-inquiry and eventually found what he was looking for.
So, for a certain type of aspirant, maybe the intellectual type, maybe voracious reading is a necessary phase. However, I've never heard of someone finding what they were looking for from books. Maybe sutra-monks like Bhikhu Bodhi are such examples?
Feel free to drop the books. No harm done. You would not be the first one. With a bit of time, some kind of action will take the place of the reading. IMHO, that is a more expedient way.
marcitko
Re: Space - the final frontier
What surprised me recently was to read that Australia is wider than the moon, by about 600km!
federica