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After the 4 noble truths and 8 fold path. What are the main practices as a ZEN LAY BUDDHIST?
I say LAY because im talking about the average person going to work, raising a family etc etc..
What practices makes you a Zen Buddhist?
Of course all Buddhists follow the 8 fold path and Meditate..
But is there more to it??
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it all depends on the person really. if your mind is busy usually you can work with a mantra to calm it down.
then move onto keeping "not-knowing" mind by keeping a big question like "who am i?".
see you can't really answer that question because you don't know. so there is not knowing mind. in korean zen we ask ourselves that question as many times as we can throughout the day and in meditation. we feel what it is like to not know from the neck down in our bodies and we just abide in the not knowing.
this not knowing directly cuts off thinking mind and allows us to abide in our original nature. the more and more we do this the more and more potential we have in realizing our buddha nature.
it's a very simple technique. but the mind will always look for an answer. there really is no answer other than the existential answer one gets when they are ripe. so keep this not knowing mind, cut ego and realize your true nature.
if you're interested check out Seung Sahn Sunim. he has some good books or you can google his name and find some teachings.
this is only korean zen though. other zen practices emphasize different things.
soto zen deals with just sitting and that sitting alone is your buddha nature. one must realize that.
where rinzai zen focuses on koan work. similar to the "not knowing" mind. you work with a puzzle that one cannot intellectually solve, but must come into an existential realization of the koan.
of course you have the chanting, bowing, long hours of meditations and sometimes the sesshins.
i am not sure Zen can offer much for the lay buddhist
amongst all the Buddhist schools, only the Pali scriptures can offer direct & complete teachings for the lay buddhist
the term "Mahayana" is a misnomer. The Mahayana created the 'Great Vehicle' by introducing diety worship & other ritualistic superstitions into Buddhism to opiate the masses but at the same time culling the practical teachings of the Buddha specifically for laypeople
the Buddha's teachings for laypeople found in the Pali are extensive & complete. below are just three mere examples from the Buddha, the 3rd being the most extensive & essential:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.062.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an04/an04.055.than.html
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html
Also, find S 55.7 Veludvareyya Sutta The Golden Rule/How to practice the 5 Precepts as this link:
http://sites.google.com/site/dharmafarer2/sam.yuttanikayya
the link below is a compilation of & commentary on most of the Buddha's lay teachings. this is translated from the Thai and the language may sound a bit pompous so try to read it with an awakened mind to comprehend the essence:
http://www.budsir.org/Contents.html
all the best
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.04.piya.html
what else you need bro?
For me, even though I took refuge in the Chinese Mahayana, there are no teachers where I live and so I would be practicing the eightfold path and studying what the Buddha taught for laypeople.
Thanks for the links.
enlighten me bro.
you know, "i" was once also a non-duality "zen" buddhist, until i was required to counsel people
seriously
when this occurred, i released how little i understood or saw
when one's mind is stuck in non-duality, it cannot help people when they ask for counselling about relationships, family problems, etc
these people are not interested in the rhetoric about "there is no self", etc
non-duality is about "no self", "no other", "no good", "no bad" but living in the world of worldly society is all about defining duality, responsibilities, boundaries, relationship roles, etc
luckily, i found the Pali suttas and all the answers are there
i killed the "Zen master" and found the real Buddha
i killed being "blinded by the light" of non-duality
often the mind's illumination is so bright, it is like looking into the sun
regards
see that is your personal experience.
one's own experience doesn't apply to another.
some people might not be attach towards non-duality.
and i do agree non-duality at times is very heartless and stale.
that is why compassion and action is emphasized in different traditions.
sure one can get stuck in their non-duality, but one should also learn how emptiness functions in this world.
just cause you had a bad experience with zen or other traditions doesn't mean we all will.
and it doesn't mean one is more valid or another. it just means that depending on the person and circumstance one may benefit more than another. but there is no way we can know that.
glad you found your freedom bro
The Boddhisattva cannot hope to convey skillful means in order to aid sentient life if he/she cannot communicate the necessity and purpose of cultivating virtuous behavior, thoughts, and speech. I think that you generalizing zen practice and belief based on your own experiences is a detrement to others who may find solace in the history and teachings of such a rich and affluent tradition.
but this is a discussing forum, so we clarifying our position
all thanks for your kind words
regards
when a person asks: "going to work, raising a family, etc", the skills & understanding required are more specific than the broad words you are using
but sure, compassion, patience, kindness, determination, empathy, wisdom are certainly necessary
but what is the exact "wisdom" or "empathy" you are referring to?
if you read this link, you may begin to develop "empathy" towards my views because I am referring to these kinds of perspectives & skilful means
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.html
this dhammas at the link are not as "lofty" as those you mentioned
:coffee:
i mean you can and it can be helpful but at the same time it might not be correct function.
zen teaches that correct function is when we think about others first. in that sense we can use all the range of human experience for others first. so for example greed can even be used for the help of others. even anger at times can be used for the help of others.
but it is important to keep moment to moment clear mind. it's from this clear mind, correct function can arise.
when we don't have clear mind we only think about ourselves, thus it is incorrect function.
the point is to not have a theory or framework to live your life. the point is to keep clear mind moment to moment and in the situation the correct function will always arise. help others. if someone is hungry, feed them. if someone is suffering, help them. it's as simple as that, no thinking involved. unless thinking is necessary, then that will arise as well.
zen teaches how to get clear mind or attain buddha nature. and from there zen teaches how this buddha nature functions automatically to help others using the full range of human expressions.
whatever works bro
but take the basic question of should a parent try to teach their children or should children simply be allowed to learn from their own experiences?
naturally, to be able to teach or impart anything requires a strong foundation of love & trust
but to answer the question, the Buddha taught a parent should try to teach or guide their children to what is good and away from what is harmful
regards
If someone asked, "How should I raise my son?"
The question is too broad. A broad answer may be, "be patient and kind."
If someone asked, "How should I help my son be a good provider for his wife?"
This question is more specific. A specific answer may be, "teach him how to find a gainful livelihood, and impress upon him the importance of financial responsibility when managing a household."
Understand? (you two know who you are)
Before enlightenment, carry water and chop wood.
After enlightenment, carry water and chop wood.
Do you have some books you would recommend by Thay? I am reading "Understanding the Mind" right now and its a little dry.
Thay's "The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching" might not be a bad place to start.
Much of East Asian Buddhism (China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam) follows a direction known as "humanistic Buddhism". It's very much concerned with lay practice and the focus is on applying the bodhisattva path to daily life and to the problems we see around us. Thay's "Engaged Buddhism" is basically the same thing. Another notable figure is Sheng Yen -- you might find his books of interest also.
Mostly based in the Zen/Ch'an tradition, specifically Linji if I remember correctly.
Lay practice in this tradition generally emphasizes cultivation of Buddhist ethics, the paramitas, practicing compassionate action, and development of insight together with bodhicitta.
having a clear mind or empty mind just means you reflect what is in front of you. that is all. it does not mean you are mentally dull or stupid. your mind functions very clearly. if you need to remember a certain piece of information in the situation at hand, you will be able to remember such information. if you need to do something, you just do it.
as an artist i do a lot of gesture drawings of nude models in various poses. the idea of a gesture drawing is to get the essence of the pose in a manner of about 30 seconds to a minute. when i started to do this i over thought and analyzed the model and this basically took too much time and the model would switch poses. not only that the drawing was still and mechanical. with experience i learned that if i just trusted my eyes and hands and just intuitively run with my drawing it was more fluid and accurate. clear mind or empty mind is the same idea.
lol these are some thing we can gain from all traditions but the emphasis in zen is to realize your true nature.
also reap the benefits of clear mind.
Also, not injuring my mind with alcohol when I needed it the most helped.
Most people first take the first five, and then after a while take the next five. Simply following the precepts, is itself, an important practice.
1. Not to kill but to nurture life.
2. Not to steal but to receive what is offered as a gift.
3. Not to misuse sexuality but to be caring and faithful in intimate relationships.
4. Not to lie but to be truthful.
5. Not to intoxicate with substances or doctrines but to promote clarity and awareness.
6. Not to speak of others' faults but to speak out of loving-kindness.
7. Not to praise self at the expense of others but to be modest.
8. Not to be possessive of anything but to be generous.
9. Not to harbor anger but to forgive.
10. Not to do anything to diminish the Triple Treasure but to support and nurture it.
But of course, all those things are included in the 8 fold path already
Other practices are Koan Practice, under the guidance of a teacher, which is specific to Zen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koan
And of course formal sitting meditation, a couple of different kinds. (mantras, mindfulness of breathing and also shikantaza), walking meditation, chanting meditation, as well a mindfulness meditation throughout daily activities.
Interesting way to see it