Appamada

Ben's Inquiry Questions

These were Ben’s teachings...

So my questions are:

1. How do we cultivate attention and a focus, in a mind that is incessantly so noisy, destructive and well, frankly a bully?

• Learn to open - again and again - to the space in which it is all arising rather than being enchanted with contents of awareness.

• Your mind will always be noisy and a bully if that is the mind you practice, feed, or privilege.

• Noise quiets at times if you stay with posture and breath in a wholesome way.

• The “bullying” is an indication that there are Parts which need attention and maybe some with with a teacher or a therapist.

• What does the part think it is doing to help?

• What is it afraid would happen if it stopped doing its job?

• We can see that it is trying to protect, however seemingly misguided, but what is it protecting? This is the deeper question...

2. How do we balance ‘not trying to get anywhere’ with evolving (& ‘working with our conditioning’)?

• Work with your conditioning in therapy - touch on not only the protectors, but what is being protected (exiles).

• As the managers relax and the exiles are relieved of their burdens, the True Self shines forth automatically because it has always been there, “always on your side”.

• Non-striving is a way to approach awakening to our True Nature. It is not a general recommendation about how to live life!

3. How do we know we are on the right path?

• Are you a larger container for life energy?

• Are you suffering more?

4. Are there times when sitting Zazen is not a helpful / useful thing?

• Yes, especially if you carry trauma - can’t move or speak - be silent and still.

• Zazen is essential but not sufficient - hence the double helix

• Remember, zazen is not just sitting on a cushion is a certain posture - that is shikantaza - “Just sitting”

• Zazen is profound appreciation and acceptance of your life, just as it is, and which can be expressed in our sitting, walking, relating and working in the world - it is “forgiving ourselves for being ourselves”

REVIEW QUESTIONS ABOVE

• Sit with others; allow them to care for you as you care for them...

2021-11-29 | Depth In Practice | Ordinary Wonder | Joko Beck by Appamada

A pdf copy of Kosho Uchiyama Roshi's "Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice" can be found at https://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/Opening-hand.pdf

2021-11-24 | Precepts Class 6 | Todd Bankler by Appamada

2021-11-22 | Depth In Practice | Ordinary Wonder | Joko Beck by Appamada

Daily Meal Verse

As we begin our meal, may we and all existence be relieved from self-clinging.

This food comes from the efforts of many workers, past and present,

and its ten advantages give us health and well-being and promote strong practice.

We offer this meal of three qualities and six tastes

to everyone, everywhere, and to all the life of the universe.

Seventy-two labors brought us this food; we should know how it comes to us.

As we receive this offering, we should consider whether we understand its nature. As we desire the natural order of mind to be free from clinging,

we must be aware of our greed.

We take this food to support our life;

we take this food to attain the Way.

First, this food is for true practice; second, it is for our teachers and parents; third, it is for all nations and all beings. Thus we eat this food with everyone;

We eat to stop all harming,

to practice serving,

and to accomplish the Awakened Way.

May we exist like a lotus, at home in the muddy water; Thus we bow to life as it is.

The Refuges Chant

I take refuge in Buddha

I take refuge in Dharma

I take refuge in Sangha.

We take refuge in Buddha, before all being,

immersing body and mind deeply in the way,

awakening true mind;

We take refuge in Dharma,

before all being,

entering deeply the merciful ocean of Buddha’s Way;

We take refuge in Sangha,

before all being,

bringing harmony to everyone, free from hindrance.

Now all being has completely taken refuge in Buddha,

Now all being has completely taken refuge in Dharma,

Now all being has completely taken refuge in Sangha.

Bodhisattva’s Vow

Beings are numberless, I vow to free them;

Delusions are inexhaustible, I vow to end them

Dharma gates are boundless, I vow to enter them

Buddha’s Way is unsurpassable, I vow to become it.

Beings are numberless, we vow to free them;

Delusions are inexhaustible, we vow to end them

Dharma gates are boundless, we vow to enter them

Buddha’s Way is unsurpassable, we vow to become it.

Beings are numberless, this vow to frees them;

Delusions are inexhaustible, this vow to ends them

Dharma gates are boundless, this vow to enters them

Buddha’s Way is unsurpassable, this vow to embodies it.

2021-11-14 Dharma Talk | Awakening Joy: The Second Vaccine | Kim Mosley by Appamada

2021-11-21 Dharma Talk | Nicole Marais: My Zen Journey So Far | Interviewed by Ann Lipscomb by Appamada

2021-11-15 | Depth In Practice | Ordinary Wonder | Joko Beck by Appamada