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How to practice Buddhism without being a f*** r****
DaltheJigsaw
Mountain View Veteran
Point One: Remove the stick from your ass.
One of the most common issues with Western Buddhists, both those who 'convert' and those born into it is a strong tendency to take the Dharma, and more worryingly themselves, way too fucking seriously. See previous entries for examples of me doing exactly this.
Taking shit too seriously is a guaranteed way to become tense. When various authentic teachers talk about "practicing like your hair is on fire", or as my teacher told me in retreat "practice like you are fighting for your very life", they mean this in the sense of practicing consistently and genuinely, NOT becoming uptight, humourless and puritanical. The Tibetan word "brtson-’grus" (Sanskrit Virya) is variously translated as "effort," "vigor," "diligence," "zeal," or "energy.", however the best explanations of it I've heard have also imply a sense of joy, or joyous effort.
A few years ago Gyalwa Karmapa gave a teaching to a group of Westerners and people from Taiwan, in other words classic "stick up ass" people. He was teaching how to do Vajrasattva practice, and he explicity stated that Vajrasattva was smiling because people are practicing the Dharma. Similar sentiments are expressed in numerous commentaries.
Even myself as someone who barely knows the real meaning of taking refuge, can attest to the importance of relaxing and not posturing in relation to practice. We start where we are, and if that means laughing at jokes about the Holocaust then we do that. Pretending to be "nice" is self-deceit and hypocrisy and won't benefit ourselves, let alone the limitless beings we are pretending to want to lead to liberation.
In A Brilliant Sun, Patrul Rinpoches commentary on the Bodhicaryavatara, he explicitly talks about "the courage of resting when tired". Laughter and a general sense of lightheartedness go a very long way to making practicing our mind relax which is essential for meditation.
Point Two: Nobody gives a shit about your Scout badges, so don't show them off.
http://icantcomeupwithawittyblogtitle.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-practice-buddhism-without-being.html
One of the most common issues with Western Buddhists, both those who 'convert' and those born into it is a strong tendency to take the Dharma, and more worryingly themselves, way too fucking seriously. See previous entries for examples of me doing exactly this.
Taking shit too seriously is a guaranteed way to become tense. When various authentic teachers talk about "practicing like your hair is on fire", or as my teacher told me in retreat "practice like you are fighting for your very life", they mean this in the sense of practicing consistently and genuinely, NOT becoming uptight, humourless and puritanical. The Tibetan word "brtson-’grus" (Sanskrit Virya) is variously translated as "effort," "vigor," "diligence," "zeal," or "energy.", however the best explanations of it I've heard have also imply a sense of joy, or joyous effort.
A few years ago Gyalwa Karmapa gave a teaching to a group of Westerners and people from Taiwan, in other words classic "stick up ass" people. He was teaching how to do Vajrasattva practice, and he explicity stated that Vajrasattva was smiling because people are practicing the Dharma. Similar sentiments are expressed in numerous commentaries.
Even myself as someone who barely knows the real meaning of taking refuge, can attest to the importance of relaxing and not posturing in relation to practice. We start where we are, and if that means laughing at jokes about the Holocaust then we do that. Pretending to be "nice" is self-deceit and hypocrisy and won't benefit ourselves, let alone the limitless beings we are pretending to want to lead to liberation.
In A Brilliant Sun, Patrul Rinpoches commentary on the Bodhicaryavatara, he explicitly talks about "the courage of resting when tired". Laughter and a general sense of lightheartedness go a very long way to making practicing our mind relax which is essential for meditation.
Point Two: Nobody gives a shit about your Scout badges, so don't show them off.
http://icantcomeupwithawittyblogtitle.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-practice-buddhism-without-being.html
0
Comments
Namaste
What is the r***** denoting? I got the first one, but the second is a mystery to me.
Is it just me or is the poster now taking "not taking yourself seriously" very seriously?
@aMatt click on the link of the OP for r**** - or maybe not, it's not pc.
Retarded.:(
(Kidding)
There's nothing Advanced about this....Anyone using language liberally in that manner, when it's totally unnecessary is a F****** R***** himself, IMO.
This conversation did kinda deteriorate rapidly I'm afraid.
I'd better shut up,have been in rare form all day due to a crazy start to a somewhat messy day...even though it's tomorrow already, since it's after midnight. :::laughing:::
I want to write some day titled "Everything i know about Buddhism I learned from being a mom(dad)'. Rest when tired, yup. When I was a doula I would have these new moms who were used to being professional women and then you would tell them to take a nap, they would argue that they never napped so you would take baby toanother room and they would be out like a light.
I thought since we were off topic anyway. And i won't get all defensive as a western buddhist who is not too serious,
On his birthday last year, Lama Chime Rinpoche was talking to our sangha about his life. At one point, he illustrated the fact that lamas are human too, by telling us what happened the last time he attended a big meeting of all the Tibetan lamas, hosted by HH Dalai Lama. Although they are of different traditions, Lama Chime has known HH Dalai Lama since they were both young and he considers him a friend.
At one point in proceedings, HH Dalai Lama asked Lama Chime to speak privately with him. All of the other lamas were surprised and whispered to one another "What is he saying? Is it some great revelation? Why did he choose to speak to Chime Rinpoche privately?"
All sorts of imagined conversations must have been going through their heads. What could HH Dalai Lama have said to Chime Rinpoche? Lama Chime grinned a rather mischievous grin. "He told me to get my hair cut," he said. "I have very Tibetan hair - it goes its own way!"
But the article is just wanton bad language. Heck, if HH the DL can convey soemthing about buddhism without foul language, it shouldn't be beyond anyone else's ken to do the same.
I swear a lot. But I choose my moments. And I simply have to bear in mind who might get in and read this lot, and what their initial impression of reading it, on a Buddhist forum might be....
But hey, that is just my two cents. You're the mod. That is just my feedback.
I think that author needs some aggression management assistance.
A zendo I attended in NYC would have someone who would come and tap you on the shoulder if you were moving too much during zazen, also. YMMV.
Here is how it ends:
"The above was intended as a mostly satirical take on the traditional Lojong mind training of the followers of Atisha and as a troll directed at Western Buddhists who take themselves too seriously, such as me, however should any of it be of use to anyone or make them smile, then this is good. If it offends then my troll has been successful."
The author is not a native English speaker (he's from Finland), and he has lived in Kathmandu for a while. Accordingly, I'm cutting him a lot of slack for not being pc, for being fed up for once, and for including himself in this biting criticism. :-)
Beyond that: Lighten UP already LOL !!
"Don't take yourself so god-damned seriously"
It's meant to be applied at all times!