#Zen Philosophy

[calmingram]

Serenity Reflected: The Zen of Still Waters

(by calmin.gram )

[tmarshconnors]

Lost in Zen: Navigating the Path to Inner Peace

Introduction

In today's fast-paced world, where chaos and distractions seem to be the norm, finding inner peace has become a coveted goal for many. The journey to inner peace often leads individuals to explore various practices and philosophies. One such path is the practice of Zen Buddhism, which offers a unique and profound way to navigate the complexities of life while seeking tranquility. In this blog, we'll delve into the concept of being "Lost in Zen" and how it can guide us towards a more peaceful existence.

Understanding Zen

Zen is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China and later spread to Japan, where it became most prominent. At its core, Zen is about direct experience and intuitive understanding rather than relying on conventional knowledge or intellectual concepts. It emphasizes the importance of meditation, mindfulness, and living in the present moment to achieve enlightenment or "Satori."

The Paradox of Being Lost in Zen

Being "Lost in Zen" might initially sound counterintuitive. After all, we often associate being lost with confusion and disorientation. However, in the context of Zen, it means letting go of the mental clutter and distractions that keep us disconnected from our true selves and the present moment. Zen encourages us to lose ourselves in the moment, shedding the ego, and experiencing reality as it is, unfiltered.

Key Principles of Zen

Mindfulness: Zen teaches us to cultivate mindfulness, the practice of paying full attention to the present moment without judgment. By doing so, we can break free from the constant mental chatter and worries that often plague our minds.

Meditation: Meditation is a cornerstone of Zen practice. Through meditation, we learn to quiet our minds and observe our thoughts and emotions without attachment. This leads to greater self-awareness and a deeper connection with our inner selves.

Simplicity: Zen advocates for a minimalist and simple lifestyle. By decluttering our physical space and simplifying our lives, we create a conducive environment for inner peace to flourish.

Non-attachment: Zen teaches us to let go of attachments to material possessions, desires, and even our own self-concept. By relinquishing our clinging nature, we free ourselves from suffering and experience greater equanimity.

Practical Steps to Get "Lost in Zen"

Start with meditation: Begin a regular meditation practice to quiet your mind and connect with your inner self. Even a few minutes each day can make a significant difference.

Embrace mindfulness: Practice mindfulness in your daily activities. Pay attention to your breath, the sensations in your body, and the sights and sounds around you as you go about your day.

Simplify your life: Declutter your living space and let go of unnecessary possessions. Simplifying your life can lead to greater mental clarity and a sense of liberation.

Let go of attachments: Reflect on your attachments and desires. Are there things or ideas you're clinging to that cause suffering? Practice letting go and accepting things as they are.

Seek guidance: Consider joining a Zen meditation group or seeking guidance from a Zen teacher. Learning from experienced practitioners can deepen your understanding and practice.

Conclusion

Being "Lost in Zen" isn't about losing your way in life; it's about losing the distractions and attachments that keep you from experiencing true peace and clarity. By embracing the principles of Zen—mindfulness, meditation, simplicity, and non-attachment—you can embark on a transformative journey toward inner peace. Remember, the path to Zen is a lifelong journey, and each step brings you closer to a more meaningful and tranquil existence in our hectic world.

[turiyatitta]

Embracing the Void

The Liberation in NothingnessIn our world, brimming with constant stimulation and endless narratives, the concept of ‘Nothingness’ seems almost alien. It’s a state often misunderstood, perceived as a void of despair or a lack of being. Yet, this misconception veils a profound truth. Nothingness, in its purest form, is not a gaping emptiness but a space of boundless freedom. It’s an existential…

[lazyyogi]

Forgiveness is about making peace with reality. It means you let go of your inner resistance regarding present circumstances and what led to them. As a result, you are free to fully focus on how to move forward productively. Forgiveness does not mean that you approve of what you are forgiving. It is not the same as condoning. When you forgive yourself, it means you are being gentle and honest. When you forgive others, it means you are being compassionate and sane.

[yoga-onion]

- A message from 23 nights temple -

“Count your happiness every day. Otherwise, you will never realise how happy you are.”

-二十三夜堂からのメッセージ-

“毎日、自分の幸せを数えなさい。そうでなければ、自分の幸せに気づくことはできない。”

[boyjumps]

"Keeping calm and quiet when others are angry, you are doing what is best for both you and them." Buddha (Samyutta Nikaya 7･1)

How can a person who is not angry, disciplines himself, lives a righteous life, is already liberated, a fine person who has a calm mind, be angry? A person who responds with anger to someone who is angry will cause evil by doing so. If you don't return your anger to someone you're angry at, you've won a difficult battle.

[psykopaths]

Word of the Day

[yellowocaballero]

what manhwa have you been reading? I've currently been on a very shitty romance isekai villainess kick lmao

I grasp your hands. Another pig in the trough of manwha. I'm not a huge villainess person, but obviously I have read a shitton of it. I read so much awful manwha, but the good is SO good. Everybody knows that SSS Class Suicide Hunter is perfection, but I feel like The Ember Knight is fucking incredible and not discussed as much! Everybody read The Ember Knight (if you like action)! It's incredible!

I just finished Concubine Walkthrough, which was AMAZING. So good! What a great usage of the premise! Chinese period piece concubine drama (a whole genre.) + 'player gets trapped in an MMORPG' flavor isekai + being ACTUALLY science fiction and extremely interested in the science fiction aspects of virtual reality. I refuse to read those gamer MMORPG manwhas because they're terrible, but Concubine Walkthrough is what you always wish those stories were like.

I also just read through My In-Laws Are Obsessed With Me, which sounds like it should be uninteresting but it is shockingly extremely good. Very good character work, extremely slow and realistic buildup of the importance of the FL in the family, great politics/character dynamics, and the slowburn romance is even really good. Just overall extremely good writing and it was an extremely good read.

I've also been reading Until The Tragic Male Lead Walks Again, which is incredibly fun and funny through virtue of himbo buff FL and sweet and sensitive ML. The ML is disabled as well, which is also always great to see, although it still has that strange character note that's identical to Touch My Brother and You're Dead and associates a man gaining a disability as losing masculinity and blah blah blah woke brain off. I also really enjoyed Perks of Being an S-Class Heroine, which does a difficult thing and makes the OP hero story actually very enjoyable. I also re-read/caught up on Lead Me Kidnap The Male Lead! which is VERY fun 100/10 recommend. Also like a lot of other stuff but those are the ones I would recommend.

Always taking manwha recs so if you got any I will definitely check them out :3.

[eelhound]

"Rituals are architectures of time, structuring and stabilising life, and they are on the wane. The pandemic has accelerated the disappearance of rituals. Work also has ritual aspects. We go to work at set times. Work takes place in a community. In the home office, the ritual of work is completely lost. The day loses its rhythm and structure. This somehow makes us tired and depressed.

In The Little Prince [1943], by [Antoine de] Saint-Exupéry, the little prince asks the fox to always visit at the exact same time, so that the visit becomes a ritual. The little prince explains to the fox what a ritual is. Rituals are to time as rooms are to an apartment. They make time accessible like a house. They organise time, arrange it. In this way you make time appear meaningful.

Time today lacks a solid structure. It is not a house, but a capricious river. The disappearance of rituals does not simply mean that we have more freedom. The total flexibilisation of life brings loss, too. Rituals may restrict freedom, but they structure and stabilise life. They anchor values and symbolic systems in the body, reinforcing community. In rituals we experience community, communal closeness, physically.

Digitalisation strips away the physicality of the world. Then comes the pandemic. It aggravates the loss of the physical experience of community. You’re asking: can’t we do this by ourselves? Today we reject all rituals as something external, formal and therefore inauthentic. Neoliberalism produces a culture of authenticity, which places the ego at its centre. The culture of authenticity develops a suspicion of ritualised forms of interaction. Only spontaneous emotions, subjective states, are authentic. Modelled behaviour, for example courtesy, is written off as inauthentic or superficial. The narcissistic cult of authenticity is partly responsible for the increasing brutality of society.

In my book I argue the case against the cult of authenticity, for an ethic of beautiful forms. Gestures of courtesy are not just superficial. The French philosopher Alain says that gestures of courtesy hold a great power on our thoughts. That if you mime kindness, goodwill and joy, and go through motions such as bowing, they help against foul moods as well as stomach ache. Often the external has a stronger hold than the internal.

Blaise Pascal once said that instead of despairing over a loss of faith, one should simply go to mass and join in rituals such as prayer and song, in other words mime, since it is precisely this that will bring back faith. The external transforms the internal, brings about new conditions. Therein lies the power of rituals. And our consciousness today is no longer rooted in objects. These external things can be very effective in stabilising consciousness. It is very difficult with information, since it is really volatile and holds a very narrow range of relevance."

- Byung-Chul Han being interviewed by Gesine Borcherdt, from "Byung-Chul Han: 'I Practise Philosophy as Art.'" Art Review, 2 December 2021.

[srisrisriddd]

Autumn lake - black swan colors see video

A doer arises because of doing and A doing arises because of doer - Dr Devang H Dattani

Good Morning

See Video For Autumn Forest River Black Swan Fishes

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Doctor Devang H Dattani

Infinite SriSriSri DDD

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[mahayanapilgrim]

[pratchettquotes]

"What's a Zen?" he said.

The Fool's bells tinkled as he sorted through his cards. Without thinking, he said: "Oh, a sub-sect of the Turnwise Klatch philosophical system of Sumtin, noted for its simple austerity and the offer of personal tranquillity and wholeness achieved through meditation and breathing techniques; an interesting aspect is the asking of apparently nonsensical questions in order to widen the doors of perception."

"How's that again?" said the cook suspiciously. [...]

The Fool hesitated with a card in his hand, suppressed his panic and thought quickly.

"I'faith, nuncle," he squeaked, "thou't more full of questions than a martlebury is of mizzensails."

The cook relaxed.

Terry Pratchett, Wyrd Sisters

[buddhistmusings]

Pay Attention to Bangladesh

My heart breaks today as I learn about the immense suffering that Hindus are being subjected to in Bangladesh.

There is a history of oppressing religious minorities in the country, including periods of immense ethnic violence, escalating to the point of potentially being labeled as genocide in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, which are populated by groups of mostly Buddhist indigenous peoples called the Jumma. This is a label for a group of related tribes.

Both Hindus and Buddhists have faced violence in Bangladesh, this is nothing new, but since the fall of their government a few days ago, the violence has become much higher. Hindus in the country are being targeting especially strongly right now. People are being killed, their homes are being destroyed, people are being kidnapped, temples are being desecrated and destroyed, and at a pretty massive scale.

I see people celebrating the fall of this government, which I can understand on one hand, as it was repressive, but the lack of authority has allowed incredible violence to be carried out against Hindus.

Please, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian, Jain, or Jew, pray for an end to this. Whatever power you believe in, pray for the violence to end. Do what you can to spread the word about what is happening to my brothers, sisters, and siblings in Dharma.

May all beings be free from hatred and the causes of hatred. May all beings be happy and may all beings be free. Let none anywhere despise any being, let none deceive another. May peace and Metta extend outwards from myself to each and every person, barring none, and may all beings swiftly be free of all suffering. Namo Buddhaya, Namo Buddhaya, Namo Buddhaya.

[balkanparamo]

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

[lazyyogi]

"Is there a difference between happiness and inner peace? Yes. Happiness depends on conditions being perceived as positive; inner peace does not."

Eckhart Tolle

[yoga-onion]

- A message from 23 nights temple -

“The mind is difficult to keep and goes where it wants. If you can balance the light and darkness of your mind, you can find peace.”

-二十三夜堂からのメッセージ-

“心は保ち難く、欲するままに赴く。心の明暗の均衡がとれれば、安楽を得ることができる。”