...Axia College Material Appendix A Meditation Worksheet Directions: Locate two resources on the Internet that explain meditation techniques. Copy and paste the Web address into the top of the matrix. After reviewing the Web site, provide a brief summary for each source. Below your summary, list two interesting facts you learned from each site. Try the techniques you located in your Internet search. Provide a brief description of what happened in your experience. Be sure to answer the two questions below the matrix also. |Web Address |http://www.healthandyoga.com/html/meditation/meditationtechniques.html |http://www.meditationsociety.com/what.html | |(URL): | | | | |Health and yoga teaches you the various styles of meditation, and give a full explanation of how the |Meditation society tells you what meditation is and walks you through | | |different styles work. The ultimate goal is to reach full relaxation and to let everything in your mind go |the fours steps of meditation and explains in detail what happens when | | |except the one thing that you are focusing on. |you are meditating. ...
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...Tim Hardy Test Two Essay #3 Hum 342-01 November 5th, 2014 The Relationship of Suchness and Emptiness Even though the definitions for both words will cause some people trouble (and emptiness is probably the most easily misunderstood term from Buddhism), "emptiness" and "suchness" are very closely related, and are not as different as some might think. You can only find yourself in your suchness if you are first "emptied" of everything and all of your conditioning. Everything in nature is in its suchness; it is the way that it is, and in this suchness its emptiness, and the way that it connects with all other things, can be found in the same way as it can be found in human beings. In the beginning of The Heart of Understanding, Thich Nhat Hanh gives us the definition for a word, a word not yet in the dictionary. This word is “interbeing”. In his explanation of this word he describes how everything that we see here depends on something else to be what it is. To use his example: without the logger, the sunshine, or clouds, the paper upon which we read would not be able to exist. At the end of this description of the word “interbeing”, Thich Nhat Hanh states that “The Heart Sutra seems to say the opposite. Avalokiteshvara tells us that things are empty.” (p. 4) Thich Nhat Hanh continues to speaks of the piece of paper, and how if we only look at it from the outside, we are separate from it and we will not fully comprehend how everything is interconnected: “If we only look at...
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...R/ST 341i: MW 3:30 pm Final Essay-1 The Recorded Sayings of Chan Master Lin-chi One of the greatest Zen Masters of all time, who spoke powerfully to awaken without compromise, was Ch’an Master Lin-chi. Among the most important texts of Zen literature, the Zen Teachings of Master Lin-chi details the insights and exploits of the great ninth century Chinese Zen master Lin-chi, one of the most highly regarded of the T'ang period masters. This essay discusses about some main themes in the Record of Lin-chi. “The Recorded Sayings of Chan Master” depicts the exchange between Lin-chi and the monk-questioner in much more vivid terms. Following the monk's question: "Who is the true man with no rank?” the passage continues Lin-chi provocations with "the Master got down from his chair, seized hold of the monk and said "Speak! Speak!" (Watson 1). The monk tried to say something. The Master let go of him, and said: "The true man with no rank-what a dried shit stick!" He then returned to his quarters." Lin-chi is really saying that the essential Buddha is the One who controls the physical body. This "true man without rank" has no form and is definitely not a fixed thing. The "true man" is intrinsically free from the basic qualities of material and mental phenomena. The One who sits upon this lump of red flesh is free of impermanence, suffering, and insubstantiality — what Buddhists call "the three marks" of conditioned phenomena. True nature is intrinsically free, now and forever ( Watson...
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...Man’s Best Friend (and Master) Mark Doty’s poem, “Golden Retrievals,” shows the reader more than just the thoughts of a dog going for a walk. Through various poetic techniques, Doty is able to express the basis for a very serious human ailment which is present in (nearly) all of us. This chronic crisis of which we are guilty of is literally expressed in words better than any human could say. In this poem, Doty is showing us that dogs, even though they are much more simple-minded creatures than us, possess profound wisdom which we would do well to take heed. Not only that, but the situation is taken to a whole different level in the final two lines. The most basic element of this poem to understand is that the speaker is a dog (presumably a golden retriever). The thoughts of this dog quickly rattle by as the reader tries to keep up: “Fetch? Balls and sticks capture my attention / seconds at a time” (1-2). And for the preceding four lines the dog stays true to this, and each idea he (we’ll assume the dog here is male) presents us truly lasts no long than a second each. The above lines also serve as an excellent example of Doty’s use of enjambment in this poem to help represent the dog’s never-ending train of thought. The transition from the first to the second stanza flow better than any of the lines surrounding them: “Sniff the wind, then / I’m off again” (4-5). By putting the break one syllable before the end of the line instead of at the end of it denies the...
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...We spend each and every day of our life in the mad rush towards success. Yet we are not satisfied with our life. There always seems to be something missing. As Thich Nhat Hanh correctly points out, happiness can only be attained by gaining freedom. And freedom comes only when we let go of everything, including our thoughts. “A person’s mind is so powerful, it can invent, create, experience and destroy things with thoughts alone” A person who desires freedom has to realize the fact that it is not him who controls his thoughts, but his thoughts who control him. Our thoughts are in command and we unknowingly have become its slaves. This fact can be related to our everyday lives. For instance, I have an assignment to write for the subject “Zen and the Executive Mind”. I freshen up after an entire day attending classes and then sit to write my assignment. I know I have to hurry up, because the deadline is tomorrow and the assignment has to be 2000-3000 words long. But as soon as I start writing the first line, I start thinking about the argument I got into with a friend earlier in the day. I start wondering about the consequences of this argument. Suddenly, I snap out of this thought...
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...Zen Buddhism Zen Buddhism Zen comes from a form of the word dhyana “meditation” and is the school of Buddhism which has a strong effect on countries like Japan, America and Europe. “An exceptional communication outside the scriptures; that does not lean on words and letters; candidly dealing with man’s mind; Looking into one’s personality and reaching Buddhahood.” (Bodhidharma’s definition, 2010) Zen is the school of Mahayana Buddhism which started in China in the 6th century C.E. It was also taught at the Shaolin Monastery of China. It is also Japanese’s name which came from the Chinese “Ch’an.” This is the Chinese translation Sanskrit word dhyana that is a mind consumed in meditation. The most well known practice of Zen is zazen, which is a type of meditation where one sits down. History of Buddhism Buddhism was formed in the 5th century B.C.E. and began in India. This religion started about 2500 years ago when Suddhartha Gotama, or the Buddha was liberated at 35 years old. This religion currently has about 350,000,000 followers and does not have a formal headquarters. Its sacred texts are Pali Tipitika, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Canons. The word originates from “budhi”, which means to awaken. Many followers, Buddhism is more than Religion it is away of living their lives. They feel it is a philosophy, in that this word means love of wisdom. Buddhism is a practice that leads to moral living, being mindful and being familiar with ones way of thinking and what they do...
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...Relation between Koan and Zen Meditation Because koan is the Way which leads a person to mindfulness, koan is essential to Zen Buddhism. Zen Buddhism has had such great influence on the life and culture of Japan. Zen Buddhism is a “just sitting” style of Japanese Buddhism that has been influenced by Chinese Zen. The person who discovered or revised this technique was Tendai monk Eisai. “Eisai went to Mountain Tiantai in China and practiced by eliminating all traditional aspects of Chinese Zen Buddhism except for shikantaza (just sitting) and the meditation of koans (puzzles aimed at overcoming dualistic thoughts) and returned to Japan with Zen” (Koller 278). As Eisai returned, he forcefully headed to Kamakura to establish new temple. At Kamakura, Samurais recognized the importance of Zen in mental detachment and practices of daily life, they allowed Eisai to flourish the temple and after his death, Samurais built Rinzai school of Zen which exercised great influence in Japanese culture, thoughts, and philosophy. The origin of Japanese tea culture is also from Rinzai. Similar to original Buddhism, Zen Buddhism is not a theory or a conception of the world but it is practical experience. A person who meditates is already a Buddhist. One cannot truly understand or comprehend Zen Buddhism until experiencing it. “While intellectual understanding and thinking only grasp the subjects of representation of things, experiencing not only grasps subjects but also does not have distinction...
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...Initially an assemblage of monks in a Zen temple silently meditating appear vastly unrelated to that of a group of fitness-goers holding erratic poses in a yoga studio. At the surface level, it is easy to examine the differences between the practice of Zen Buddhism/zazen meditation and modern day yoga. However, when examined more deeply both groups have comparable audiences, techniques, applications and ultimate objectives in each practice. Although seemingly different in geographical origin and purpose, the practice of silent seated meditation and yoga are notably similar. In this paper, I aim to elucidate the conceptual parallels of zazen meditation that originated in the East, compared to the popularized practice of contemporary Vinyasa...
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...Buddhists. They believe that humans are reborn after dying and adhere to the notion that most humans go through many cycles of birth, life, death and rebirth. These cycles will end when the attachment to desire and the self is released. Once this achieved, a state of freedom from suffering is accomplished. This is the state of Nirvana and the desired destination for believers. Zen Buddhism: Both the words “Zen” (Japanese) and Ch’an (Chinese) derive from the Sanskrit word Dhyana, meaning “meditation”. Zen Buddhists focus on attaining enlightenment (bodhi) through meditation as Siddharta Gautama did. It teaches that all human beings have a Buddha- nature or the potential to attain enlightenment, within them, but the Buddha – nature has been clouded by ignorance. To overcome this ignorance, Zen rejects the study of scriptures, religious rights, devotional practices and good works in favor of meditation leading to a sudden breakthrough of insight and awareness of ultimate reality. Training in the Zen path is usually undertaken by a disciple under the guidance of a master. Zen in China: Zen began in China in the 6th Century C.E. Its introduction is generally attributed to Bodhiharma, a South Indian monk, who arrived in China about 520 C.E. Its philosophical background can be found in the...
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...is Every Step Paper Thich Nhat Hanh is a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, teacher, author, poet and peace activist. He lives in the Plum Village Monastery in the Dordogne region in the South of France, travelling internationally to give retreats and talks. He has published more than 100 books. He was born in central Vietnam in 1926; At the age of 16 he entered the monastery at a Temple near Hue, Vietnam, where his primary teacher was Dhyana Master Thanh Quy Chan That. A graduate of Bao Quoc Buddhist Academy in Central Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh received training in Zen and the Mahayana school of Buddhism and was ordained as a monk in 1949. He lived through the Vietnam War, seeing all of the terrors of war. Nhat Hanh taught Buddhist psychology and Prajnaparamita literature at the Van Hanh Buddhist University, a private institution that focused on Buddhist studies, Vietnamese culture, and languages. At a meeting in April 1965 Van Hanh Union students issued a Call for Peace statement. It declared: "It is time for North and South Vietnam to find a way to stop the war and help all Vietnamese people live peacefully and with mutual respect." Nhat Hanh left for the U.S. shortly afterwards. That’s just the beginning of Thich Nhat Hanh’s life story, his life is a very active and involved one. Nhat Hanh's novel "Peace is Every Step" is a work that centers on the concept of meditation and enlightenment. Hanh bases his discussion on Zen Buddhism, using anecdotes and personal testimonials to...
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...into a world often construed as inscrutable and mysterious", which makes it more interesting for the West (Low).Unlike other western disciplines,Japanese aesthetics is not only limited to fine arts. Traditionally, Japanese aesthetics existed in different art forms such as tea garden, tea ceremony, Noh theatre. Today, itis widely practiced in daily activities such as cooking, packaging, behaviors and etiquette (Encyclopedia).As Japanese aesthetics is firmly rooted in everyday life, it is very unique to the world. The ideals and philosophies of Japanese aesthetics are highly influenced by Shinto, Zen Buddhism and China (Walkup). Japanese aesthetics has a wide range of philosophies, which are narrowed down to two main ideas: acknowledging the basic reality of constant change and connecting it to the practices of self-cultivation experienced in daily life (Parkes). Influence of Shinto, Zen Buddhism and China Japanese aesthetics understanding is developed by indigenous Japanese religion, Shinto and China. The inspiration of exaltation of nature became an essence to Japanese aesthetics through Shinto (Andrijauskas, 201). Japanese learned to celebrate the beauty of ever changing natural phenomena from mythologies of Shinto, which became an essential component of Japanese aesthetics. According to Shinto, every object has a dynamic spirit, kami,for which it...
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...No parent wants to be detached from their son and no son wants to let go of their parents, but it is required to become a Zen monk. In the book, He’s Leaving Home: My Young Becomes a Zen Monk, Ryota must slowly lose his attachment to objects in order to become a Zen monk, but it proves to be difficult. Attachment is a well discussed topic in Buddhism because it means that person has the ability to become enlightened. Detachment, however, means that a person has already become enlightened because of the absence of desire. Throughout most of the book, Ryota is at a constant battle between boyhood wants and spiritual duties which result in him becoming detached. Ryota’s attachment proves to be difficult to break when he decides to become a...
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...Associate Level Material Appendix A Meditation Worksheet Directions: Locate two resources on the Internet that explain meditation techniques. • Enter the name of each website into the matrix, then copy and paste the web address. • After reviewing the website, provide a brief summary for each source. • Below your summary, list two interesting facts you learned from each site. • Try the techniques you located in your Internet search. Provide a brief description of what happened in your experience. When you are finished filling out the matrix, answer the two questions below. Information Website 1 Website 2 Website name and address (URL): Meditation 101: Techniques, Benefits and Beginner’s How To. http://life.gaiam.com/article/meditation-101-techniques-benefits-beginner-s-how How to Meditate Deeply: A Beginners Step-by-Step Guide http://www.quietmindsystem.com/how-to-meditate-deeply-a-beginners-step-by-step-guide/ Summary of the resource: The website states that meditation is an approach to training the mind. Since meditation is the process of clearing the mind. The article talks about different types of meditation techniques. There are instructions for beginners to try meditation for 2 to 3 minutes. The article tells you how long you should meditate for and gives step by step instructions on how to meditate. Two interesting facts: In Buddhist philosophy, the ultimate benefit of meditation is liberation of the mind from attachment of things...
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...company that has gone above and beyond to help those within their community. The need and desire to improve and to make a better life for their children is what Greyston Bakery has in mind. They are a for-profit business that has a bottom line that they go by: “We don’t hire people to make brownies; we make brownies in order to hire people” (Greyston Bakery, 2011). They hire those people that might be considered “hard to employ”. They are part of a foundation that helps individuals get back on their feet and get their lives together as a way to succeed. This bakery is just one of the Foundation’s enterprises in which its program is capable of reaching 2,200 community members annually. The Greyston Bakery was founded in 1982 by a Zen Buddhist meditation group that was led by Bernard Tetsugen Glassman. Glassman who was a former aerospace engineer had an entrepreneurial spirit and a bold vision. He borrowed $300,000 and opened the small bakery in the Bronx. His original goal had been to produce quality, locally made products that would give the company a satisfactory livelihood. They were inspired to be socially responsible and extended what they had to others within their community. The organization takes place in a state-of-the-art facility located on the Hudson River banks. The bakery continues to be a force for self-transformation and community renewal. The bakery offers on-site training with fair wages and benefits to...
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...A Comparison of Eastern Philosophy Asia, the world’s largest continent, consists of over one third of Earths total land are and approximately 60% of the world’s population. Further, a large percentage of Asia’s 4.3 billion people live in the countries of China, Japan, and India (Exploredia, 2011). Out of these densely populated countries three eastern schools of philosophy were born between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE, and it is these same ancient philosophies that flourish throughout Asia today. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism are three major schools of thought that significantly have impacted the political, social and religious views of Asian culture. Confucianism, which was inspired by Confucius, has been followed by the Chinese people for more than two thousand years (Confucianism, 2012, pp.1). Because Confucianism is described as a way of life, it is sometimes viewed as a philosophy and sometimes viewed as a religion, although it does not share the aspect of organization that most other religions share. The idea behind Confucianism is that wisdom and knowledge can be obtained through study, ritual practices, and learning from experiences. Humans are perfectible by wisdom and the ultimate goal is to reach a state of superior wisdom. The first principle Confucius taught is called the principle of mean, which is the importance of seeking balance and moderation in life. Any circumstance of extreme should be avoided. The second principle Confucius...
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