Welcome home! Please contact lincoln@icrontic.com if you have any difficulty logging in or using the site. New registrations must be manually approved which may take several days. Can't log in? Try clearing your browser's cookies.
Anyone know about "Zen forum international"?
RichardH
Veteran
Does anyone know about this forum, its quality history and so forth? It looks pretty good.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
I seems there has been some controversies on E-sangha which resulted in the banning of these zen monks - I dont know what happpened on E-sangha, but as far is i now, it should be the main reason why "ZFI" whas born - and someone tells me that a Theravada forum was formed for the same reasons.
Zen Forum International
A forum like any other really.
I think as allanstevns said, it was started because of problems for Zen practitioners at E-sangha. I don't know much about the ins and outs of E-sangha myself, other than reading E-sangha Watch and E-sangha Alert and knowing that the site isn't operating at the moment. If sites get really huge with thousands of members, then its probably likely that problems of some kind or another will occur eventually.
It's worth remembering that ZFI is a tradition specific forum with Zen priests and long-term Zen practitioners, and so unless one is posting in the areas for other traditions, then the Zen view is the one that prevails.
If you accept that then its fine.
Kind regards,
Dazzle
Hello Dazzle
If I may supplement, dear friend _/\_
My understanding is that yes there are different sections, for example Tibetan, Theravadan but also a general Dhamma section, Coffee Lounge etc
As such all viewpoints and explorations should, I imagine, be possible. And not be limited by a particular way or presentation (at least I hope so!)
Also, as a Zen student, I find great resonance in all genuine traditions and teachings, so am heartened by the beauty of all different practitioners.
Naturally, I am only one there, but there are a diverse group there and thus that I hope acceptance is the standard MO. It is a positive group at the moment.
And at least, mutual discussion and discovery is oft a pleasure, at least I think so!
I for one enjoy different perspectives and presentations of practice as the resonance I mentioned above is truly beautiful.
Season's Greetings and New Year Blessings, always
Abu
I'm sorry if my post might have seemed a little negative to you - it definately wasn't intended that way, I'm sure lots of people get many benefits from ZFI.
Kind wishes and a very happy and peaceful New Year to you, my friend, and to all at New Buddhist
Dazzle
Not at all, I may even be inclined to agree, but thought I'd just offer that perspective.
Forums are just forums.
Thankyou for your good wishes, may it all be returned to you manifold.
Goodness and peace, friend.
Blessings always.
_/\_
Just checked out a forum that was at one point quite interesting then when downhill, "Buddhist Community" . It has devolved into a haunted house of vicious trolling.
I was reminded of the joke about the two deaf men on a train,
One says " Is this Wembley ?"
The other replies
" No , its thursday "
The first man then says
" So am I, lets get out and have a drink".
But yes there are some good people on ZFI, as well as people who have watched too many Kung Fu movies. Or who confuse Krishnamurti with Buddhism.
Nonin knows what he is talking about. And his rhyming fellow mod Shonin is always worth reading.
It is after all just a forum with different people, but just as there are folks on this forum who are confused about the Dharma, and people who are clearly deeply experienced in practice, so it is with that forum. So it is with every forum. Do you post there? Why dont you openly express your view. See what people say. I had critisism of this site and expressed them and found the responses clarifying and helpful.
But even before its demise at the hands of the hacker, E-sangha had been increasingly, uhh, 'moderated' by a contingent that increasingly shut others out with a righteous view of Buddhism. I always thought that the hacker might have been reacting to that well-educated, selective virtuousness when s/he pressed his/her little red button.
A lot of good words were lost.
Maybe some people do come to these forums and "swallow up" the advice of older posters, or more respectable posters (whatever that might mean)...but even the Buddha would advise against all of that I think.
Which to all apearances is some insane wobbling poets if not buddhists!
It's a good forum, but not as busy as this one.
It has a few great gems...
So far it would appear that their bluff has been comprehensively called...after an initial rush of mutual satisfaction at having been given their head...they appear to have little useful to say..
I am just pointing out that having lobbied for a long time to have a non teacher position validated those who did the lobbying have nothing to say beyond general expressions of good will. Which may be a valid position, but hardly needs a forum or subforum to itself.
The clear implication was that there would be a sharing of the fruits of practice. The actuality is simply a repeating of the fixed view that a teacher is unnecessary or even harmful.
I suspect that many of them may not even practice...and certainly not Zazen..I might be wrong.
We shouldn't make assumptions about why people study and practice without a teacher. People have their reasons, and they're usually good ones.
I am merely pointing out that having lobbied extensively for Zen practice without a teacher, and having as an " experiment " being given the opportunity to discuss that, the group of them are collectively simply engaged in meta discussion and mutual back slapping.
I suspect that in part it is because most of them lack formal instruction and so lack the necessary vocabulary to discuss their practice...even to the degree that such things are discussable.
This may not invalidate the experience, but it does pose huge problems in terms of public discussion.
Personally I wouldnt take the " jealousy " story too seriously btw.
My own view is that a teacher is highly desirable in the practice of Zazen, and also in the practice of certain other disciplines like Vipassana. Whether a teacher in those spheres is essential is not clear. I suspect that it might be. I will therefore watch with interest to see how things pan out.
Have you tried suggesting that people share the fruits of their practice? I think it's reasonable to assume that people would need some time to let off steam, after facing some negativity on the other thread. But the new one has been going for some weeks now, hasn't it? I need to check in with Zenforum more often, I'm out of the loop.
I dont, so I will. Remind me, didnt you get banned fron ZFI ?
I dont. I will therefore continue to observe the " experiment ".
http://www.sltrib/home/51270057-76/merzel-zen-center-buddhist.html.csp