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Receiving the Mindfulness Trainings... Opinions Requested
I've been sitting with a Thich Nhat Hanh group for nearly a year now. Yesterday the sangha had a "Day of Mindfulness", sort of a mini-retreat; a couple hours of sitting/walking meditation, a talk from our dharma teacher, a mindfully eaten lunch, etc. A very nice day; if I did this once a week I'd probably come dangerously close to being sane after a while.
Anyway, at the end of the day several of us received the 5 Mindfulness Trainings. It's regarded in the literature (we use Chanting from the Heart, by TNH) as an ordination of sorts, and as a transmission from teacher to student. I was given a dharma name, and a certificate.
Now, lest anyone think otherwise, I do take the Trainings seriously, and fully intend to make the effort to live by them, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. But...
I'm curious about how people here regard these things. I'll put it out there; I struggle with the notion of "transmissions". It implies that something unseen was passed from the teacher to myself, a transference. I'm a "question everything" guy, in the Brad Warner tradition, not so much a "so it is written" kind of guy.. and this feels to me like something put in place in years past to lend authority to a teacher's successor..and then it's trickled down to other, lesser ceremonies.
What's the history behind this? Am I missing a major point, here?
Anyway, at the end of the day several of us received the 5 Mindfulness Trainings. It's regarded in the literature (we use Chanting from the Heart, by TNH) as an ordination of sorts, and as a transmission from teacher to student. I was given a dharma name, and a certificate.
Now, lest anyone think otherwise, I do take the Trainings seriously, and fully intend to make the effort to live by them, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered. But...
I'm curious about how people here regard these things. I'll put it out there; I struggle with the notion of "transmissions". It implies that something unseen was passed from the teacher to myself, a transference. I'm a "question everything" guy, in the Brad Warner tradition, not so much a "so it is written" kind of guy.. and this feels to me like something put in place in years past to lend authority to a teacher's successor..and then it's trickled down to other, lesser ceremonies.
What's the history behind this? Am I missing a major point, here?
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Comments
Whereas I'm not entirely sure about your specific tradition, in Vajrayana, transmission is extremely important, so I will speak from that standpoint.
Whether one is receiving a teaching or gaining the "permission" to engage in a particular practice by way of an initiation, then transmission is actually very necessary. These kind of teachings have been passed on this way from teacher to student in an unbroken lineage for a very long time. This is one way to continue this unbroken and pure lineage and tradition. In this sense, one will also receive the blessings of the lineage as well. In fact, just about any of these practices are pretty much useless unless one receives a proper transmission. As I said, as far as the practice you mentioned, I'm not sure.
As you kind of alluded to, yes in terms of the practices passed through transmission in this way (in Vajrayana anyways) there is a sort of transference of "energy" (for lack of a better word) here, so I suppose it can be said that there is something "unseen" that is also passed on the the student.
Mani
Palzang
Welcome to the club! Did you get the secret handshake?? Just Kidding
I imagine transmission as something like this; there's this path (way) to the top of the mountain that's been tread by many. It's a proven path; reliable and direct. You have just joined many others who have come before on this path to the top. Without transmission you may have wandered around on other, less reliable, dangerous, or dead end paths for quite awhile!!
Welcome!
Bob ('Joyful Transformation of the Heart' -1998)
There is no such thing as a transmition of merit or magical powers of understanding or whatever. All that can be transmited to you is information. The rest is up to you.
Palzang
Palzang: I did read the article, and can appreciate what was said.
I respect the tradition and feeling of importance that seems to be indicated...but it very much feels like something that's supposed to be taken on faith. Alas, that's one of my spiritual red flags.
Bob: I didn't think that we were supposed to talk about the handshake or the hazing outside of the group!
Seriously though, is the ordinee supposed to be aware of the transmission in some way? I have an increased drive to understand and live by the Trainings..but that's probably because I took an oath to do so. I suppose I have much yet to learn.
--Ray (Courageous Tranquility of the Source)
I imagine it best to simply get to know the Trainings in a very deep way - even just one. Pick one that resonates most with you and KNOW it!!
I study (and have for years) Thay's book 'The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings', I also, imagine Thay's 'For a Future to Be Possible' as a great resource for deeper study and contemplation on the Trainings.
Thay also has many other good books - you may ask your preceptor for advice on which may help you best?
Interesting take on the article. I reread it and can't imagine where you got the idea that it's supposed to be taken on faith. The article was an explanation of what the empowerment is supposed to be doing for the student, which is symbolized in the ritual of it. The ritual isn't the important part. That's just the way the Tibetan culture has chosen to portray it, just as Catholic ritual, for example, is designed to portray the meaning of the mass, for example. It's just an external representation of what the meaning of the practice is. Are people receiving an empowerment aware of what is going on? Almost never. But if they were cognizant of what it symbolized, it might make more sense, eh? Remember, Buddhism is but a finger pointing at the moon, so to speak; it's not the moon. All Buddhism ever does is try to point the way. It's up to us to find the way.
Palzang
My apologies, I had a very busy day yesterday, and skimmed right over what may be the defining paragraph of the article:
In the Zen sense, transmission is somewhat like this: you probably have characteristics from the people you shared your life with. You see a friend acting cool, you also try to act cool. He doesn't have to say a word.
You might even think like people you've met and spend a lot of time with.
Menju, or face-to-face transmission, has to do with the idea that Buddhism is not only in texts, but in the person of the Buddha. Who he was was as important as what he said. This idea is very connected to Zen. The original Buddha was the cool guy, than Mahakashyapa started acting cool too and so on until Thich Nhat Hahn started acting cool, and now it is your turn to act cool.
Wow, I like that! That's signature material...
There is definatrely such a thing as transmission of, what some
people might call, "magical powers."
But I also agree
In-fact not just the rest but everything is up to you, 24 hours a day, for every day of your life.