tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post2734637359950949197..comments2023-10-30T06:38:39.170-07:00Comments on Snow Branches: Zen but not BuddhistUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-71822480858055113582013-04-03T14:48:14.320-07:002013-04-03T14:48:14.320-07:00: ) : ) susandedorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408105025111214404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-79005217979848537312013-04-02T08:53:10.715-07:002013-04-02T08:53:10.715-07:00Yes, I'm afraid it's mild and blossomy her...Yes, I'm afraid it's mild and blossomy here :)David Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339979176989832285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-30253316866101705712013-04-02T05:52:56.107-07:002013-04-02T05:52:56.107-07:00Yes, so very true - make way for new growth. Thank...Yes, so very true - make way for new growth. Thank you for a thought-provoking post, David. <br />I hope you're enjoying the blossoms - cold and snowy here today, missing the west-coast.susandedorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408105025111214404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-31001230580706890132013-04-01T19:38:00.265-07:002013-04-01T19:38:00.265-07:00Thank you Susan. Nice analogy about the patina bei...Thank you Susan. Nice analogy about the patina being spoiled by washing, no matter how well-intentioned it is. Nurturing doesn't always mean trying to change something for the better. I think we nurture just by acting with sincerity and kindness and hopefully a little wisdom to see when we might be causing damage in the process.David Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339979176989832285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-71834378458475242662013-04-01T08:34:55.861-07:002013-04-01T08:34:55.861-07:00it has evolved, simply by your post.it has evolved, simply by your post.susandedorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408105025111214404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-81828104179639267492013-04-01T08:16:20.079-07:002013-04-01T08:16:20.079-07:00Love this post David, my thoughts went to pure zen...Love this post David, my thoughts went to pure zen is like the taking part (or, at least trying to take), with the nurturing the bloom as the giving part, respecting part. Feeling a bit guilty as like so many of us, we take so from it, but do little to nurture it. With Zen Buddhism being like an antique bowl, touched by so many (thankfully) producing a patina that if you start to wash, you inevitably mess it up - honour its ancestry, nurture its bloom. Feeling it's time care for that which has nurtured me. David, I think you're right, it is happening as you speak. susandedorahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18408105025111214404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-41179104244082915322013-03-29T21:33:29.536-07:002013-03-29T21:33:29.536-07:00Thanks for that information! My ignorance is show...Thanks for that information! My ignorance is showing :) You're right, Zen is a great place to meander :)Mystic Meanderinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746429719911446865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-15889830742830225332013-03-29T17:53:00.070-07:002013-03-29T17:53:00.070-07:00Thanks Christine. I'm not so sure that there i...Thanks Christine. I'm not so sure that there isn't a place for mystics - for example, Robert Kennedy, a Jesuit priest is also a practicing Zen master (see e.g. <a href="http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2005/clarkolson_cathbuddh_feb05.asp" rel="nofollow">Ignatius Insight</a>). Since Zen doesn't propound any set of beliefs, I don't see any conflict with a belief in the intelligence (or not) of the universe. It's a great place to meander either way!David Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339979176989832285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-49872055973417164642013-03-29T15:17:37.368-07:002013-03-29T15:17:37.368-07:00Fascinating post... I could never *really* be a B...Fascinating post... I could never *really* be a Buddhist, or a "Zennist" :) in the religious sense of the word; or the practical sense either - keeping the precepts, and doing the "training." I think I am more enamored with the *idea* of Zen Buddhism, not the reality of its practices. I love Buddhist Wisdom teachings in general, but can't embrace that reality as my way, as there doesn't seem to be a place for mystics: those who believe there *is* a cosmic animating intelligence behind life, from which we are not separate...<br /><br />I also popped over and read your link to Prayer Pruning: Goodbye Jesus? I can certainly relate to that experience! I had a crisis of faith back in 1987, leaving the religion of my childhood (Christianity), and have been meandering ever since. :) Accepting that as my "path" - as convoluted as that may seem. :) Now extricating myself from *contemporary* neo-advaita teachings as they really messed with my head... But maybe that is what they were supposed to do! lol<br /><br />Mystic Meanderinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09746429719911446865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-73340353631082837962013-03-29T09:46:40.373-07:002013-03-29T09:46:40.373-07:00Hi Herb, thanks for stopping by. I agree that the...Hi Herb, thanks for stopping by. I agree that the Precepts and Buddhism are rolled up together, which raises an interesting question - can one keep the Precepts without being "Buddhist" - e.g. might they be a natural outgrowth of Zen practice?<br />Gassho<br />DavidDavid Ashtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18339979176989832285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-803595820939776322.post-12045396217513947022013-03-29T08:52:39.608-07:002013-03-29T08:52:39.608-07:00Practicing Buddhism is about keeping the Precepts ...Practicing Buddhism is about keeping the Precepts as well as meditating. Without the Precepts how can we practice?<br />In Gassho,<br />HerbwormwoodAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com