Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:20 PM
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My experience at the Buddhist temple |
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I had to drive about 15 miles to get to the temple, but it was the closest one to me and it turned out to be well worth the drive. The directions said the temple was the first house on the left right after a Methodist church, and it turned out to be a four bedroom bi-level out in a suburb. Kind of unconventional for a temple I thought. There were no cars out in the parking lot and I thought this was kind of odd because on their website it says that they hold services every night from 7-8 pm. It turned out that they usually have people over on Thursdays and Sundays only, but they didn't tell me that when I spoke to them on the phone. I was greeted warmly anyway. The man that answered the door was Asian and wore an orange shirt that left his right shoulder and arm exposed, a matching pair of orange pants, and a lighter shade of orange belt. We talked for a little while, although it was difficult to understand him as his English wasn't so good. But we managed OK. I told him of my interest in Buddhism and how I was basically ignorant of the religion beyond a few books that I had read. He asked me if I had ever tried meditation and I told that I had, but not with much success. We were then joined by another monk who was also Asian and dressed the same way. I was asked to sit on the floor and they sat in a position that looked pretty painful to me and began chanting.
They sat sitting on their heals and bowing occasionally while they chanted for about 15 minutes. They said this was to focus the mind. Their chanting had a calming effect on me even though I couldn't understand the language that they were chanting in. When they finished they said it was time for meditation and asked me to join them. I told them I couldn't get into the lotus or even the half lotus position and they said that was alright, that I could sit Indian style. They told me to cup my left hand in my right and to touch the tips of my thumbs together and rest my hands palms up on my legs. We then meditated for 15 minutes. I don't think I got very far down the path to enlightenment in that 15 minutes. Most of my time was spent concentrating on sitting still rather than watching my breath. When we finished one of my legs was numb and there was a dull pain in my left arm. I'm hoping things will get better.
After meditation the second monk, who's English was a little better sat and talked to me for about a half hour. It was mostly him talking and me listening. Amazingly he touched on one of the things that drew me to Buddhism. When he was talking of mindfulness he mentioned that many people are hung up on the past and they can't get beyond the memories and the associated emotions. When they are actually supposed to have their minds on the task at hand, they are dwelling on things that are gone and beyond their control. He also talked of the right way to conduct one's life. He said that many people are seeking happiness in all the wrong places. They drink or do drugs or have sexual affairs. Buddhism's aim is to acquire happiness without any selfish desires. Little did he know that I recently quit drinking, partly due to some medication that I have to take and partly because it was getting out of hand.
The first monk then went into another room and brought me out some booklets and a couple of CDs for my computer. They are an introduction to Buddhism, chanting, and introduction to meditation. With that it was time for me to go. I asked them if it was OK to bring food by when I come on their regular days and if there were any restrictions. They said that was fine just don't bring beef. They are totally reliant on the community to meet their needs.
On the drive home I couldn't stop smiling. I think I've just made a couple of new friends. Something my life has been seriously lacking. I wish I would have done this years ago when I first became interested in the religion.
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serryjw
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:27 PM
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I was raised Jewish and it nver di much for me. I was introduced to Buddhism 3 years ago. I have not done near what I would have liked due to the election. BUT now its time and one of two priorities for me. I love meditation. If I didn't have it I would have lost my mind these last 3 years.It will be many lifetimes before I have any hope of enlightenment, but the journey will be wonderful
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:38 PM
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3. I was raised a baptist, serryjw |
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I attended a baptist church from about the age of 4 until I was sixteen when it became my choice on rather to go or not. It was one of those really negative churches. It really turned me off to Christianity. I spent the next 15 years being an atheist, but I did have an interest in eastern philosophy. It turns out that I don't have to believe in God to be a Buddhist, which is really groovy.
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slutticus
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:37 PM
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Meditation is tough to do properly. I have read a couple of books on it. It takes a lot of dedication and a lot of practice.
The first step is to learn how to ignore your body, by sitting in one position for extended periods you eventually learn to ignore the itches and pain etc...
The second step is learning to ignore your thoughts. Trying to eliminate all thought is very tough. you don't realize how much turmoil is swirling around in your mind until you try to cease all thought.
Another step is learning how to concentrate on only one thought, usually a simple object (like a triangle). After you can do that, then you can concentrate on other more complicated objects or ideas.
There are also many breathing exercises to do. Reciting a mantra can really help with keeping your mind from wandering. I guess that is what they were doing by chanting.
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:42 PM
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4. Yup. It was the coolest thing I've done in a while. |
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I'm going to give this meditation stuff a shot. It's not going to be easy. I think my size is going to make it tougher for me. I'm a pretty big guy.
It turns out that about half of the people who come to the temple do so only to give stuff to the monks. I guess it's good karma to do so. The other half stay for the ceremonies.
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bettyellen
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:53 PM
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9. i know a really good lying down meditation... it's not buddhist but |
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it works great to calm your body. you imagine it's dark but you are on a perfectly warm beach feet towards the shore the air the and everything is the same temp as your body you sort of feel melting into it you can hear waves softly crashing coming closer when they touch your feet , they are sweeping through, like dark through liquid, through your feet your feet feel warmed a little and heavier and relaxed, as the wave recedes..draining any tension you feel the next time you visualize the wave sweeping up to your ankles, it feels like a warm swirling massage... repeat going slowly up your body, when you get to your head you can also imagine it pushing the stress out through your scalp and fingertips. i usually don't make it the whole way up, it usually puts me to sleep! i am not so good at the meditations you wake up refreshed from though!
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:07 PM
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13. Thanks for the tip, bettyellen |
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The monks told me of a similar exercise that you could do while you are lying in bed and said that you will wake up feeling nice and rested. It's sort of like meditating only you are laying down.
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bettyellen
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Tue Dec-28-04 11:01 PM
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22. i had to try a million ways and this one is my sure bet |
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and you can adjust the wave/ beach imagery to be like a heavy breeze or grass or whatever you find relaxing.
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SmokingJacket
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:21 PM
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18. Have you read Jan VanDenWetering's "The Empty Mirror"? |
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A great book about his experience joining a zen buddhist temple in japan. He was a big guy, too, and inflexible, and I remember his vivid descriptions of trying to fold his legs into position...
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:24 PM
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I'll check that out. Sounds like something I need to read.
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SmokingJacket
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Wed Dec-29-04 09:11 AM
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23. I got his name wrong: Janwillem van de Wetering. |
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He's really a wonderfully vivid writer.
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bettyellen
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:43 PM
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5. Wow interesting... i think i would have been intimidated being the only |
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one there but it sounds like it was okay for you. i'm so glad. i used to be an insomniac and have much more stress before i learned some meditation. i have never done the chanting though. well you have inspired me to give it a shot, thanks for the report and the PM you sent! would love to hear about your further adventures!
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:49 PM
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7. You're welcome, bettyellen |
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I think it would take some serious practice to do that chanting and in particular in the way that they did it. I went to sit like those guys and one of the monks stopped me and told me to just sit comfortably. :)
As far as being intimidated goes, I'll admit that I was nervous. But after I talked to those guys for a minute it was clear that they were warm and understanding and they made me feel right at home.
I say you should go for it if you've been wanting to visit a temple. I'm betting you won't be disappointed.
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johnnie
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:44 PM
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It sounds like a place I would like to go to. Meditation is great. It isn't meant to be perfected, but it gets better as time goes on. I go through cycles where I meditate daily and then off for a while until I get back into it again. Life happens and sometimes the good things we do slip away for a while until you grab back onto it again. The good thing about Buddhism is that if you slip up, you just get up and start again...forget the guilt. I am really happy for you that you have found this place and I am looking forward to more of your posts on this. Thank you for sharing.
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:02 PM
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12. You're welcome, johnnie |
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You can bet I'll be posting more on this subject.
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DemBones DemBones
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:50 PM
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8. I'm very happy for you. We all have to find |
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our own spiritual paths and it sounds as if this is the right path for you. I have always been very interested in meditation but not very good at it due to lack of practice.
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roguevalley
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:59 PM
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11. I am so glad for you. :) We have a great temple in Anchorage |
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but its 156 miles away and no Buddhists that I know of around here. I like their philosophy. It makes you feel better.
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:19 PM
Response to Reply #11 |
16. You're right about feeling better |
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just being around those guys made me feel good.
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:17 PM
Response to Reply #8 |
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I don't know if I'll ever be very good at it. My 5'10" 250 lb. frame won't allow me to get into the lotus position. But I think there are other forms of meditation that I'll be able to do. Mindfulness meditation is one. It's where you turn every day living into meditation by not allowing your mind to stray from the task at hand.
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Rabrrrrrr
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Tue Dec-28-04 09:55 PM
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10. What a wonderful experience! I'm very happy for you, that you found |
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an evening of relaxation and inner peace.
Buddhism changed my life. Though I'm not a Buddhist - since I claim first my Christianity - I'm pretty darn close, and buddhism and buddhist philosophy and thought (as well as Taoism) has had a profound impact on my understanding of Christianity, but more important is the profound impact it has had on the way that I encounter the world and other people and events.
I don't know that I could have survived without Buddhism.
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:13 PM
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There are many parallels between Buddhism and Chritianity I think. When both are practiced correctly they should be about compassion. I can see how Buddhism could deepen your understanding of Chritianity.
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Rabrrrrrr
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:23 PM
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19. Yes, the compassion is key, but also the mindfulness and the ego loss |
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Edited on Tue Dec-28-04 10:26 PM by Rabrrrrrr
it's the mindfulness to the moment, being aware of one's self and one's surroundings, that spoke to me so highly.
And also the ability to let go of the ego and thus let go of the material, to not cling to the things of this world; and to let go of the ego enough to let the universe unfold as it should and not worry about shit so much because we're all here for just a moment in time and eventually, we won't be important to anyone who comes later. So all the more reason to just be important to whoever or whatever is front of you right now. Because the right now is all we truly have in life.
And much of that can be found in Jesus' teachings as well, but it's not so obvious; I never found it until I had explored Buddhism so much and began to see the parallels.
Though there are forms of Buddhism, and ways it can be abused, in which life becomes so meaningless that it becomes very easy to start killing each other. But of course, one can find the same thing within Christianity as well.
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frictionlessO
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:21 PM
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17. I am absolutely overjoyed for you Droopy |
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may this path keep you as well as you keep it. May you be blissed with every footstep you take!! Congratualtions... and the meditation gets easier and easier and then you start doing stuff that is beyond the meditation. The meditation is the vehicle not the road nor the destination... never make it harder than it really is....
*sniff*
Im really really happy for you!!:hug:
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Droopy
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Tue Dec-28-04 10:27 PM
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21. Thank you, frictionlessO |
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I don't know how far down that path I'll get. But I guess I shouldn't fret too much about that. One step at a time.
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