Comments on: The least of the Three Treasures http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/ thoughts on the human experience Thu, 10 May 2012 00:42:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-354 soundofrain Sat, 23 Apr 2011 00:02:32 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-354 Thank you! I'll look for Ambivalent Zen, it sounds good. Have you read Shoes Outside the Door by Michael Downing? Another troubled zendo. A few months ago, I found out there's been some pretty bad stuff going on at my former zendo and the associated monastery for years. When I get a chance, I'll post about it. It made me doubly glad I'd stopped going. Your zendo sounds great! I've heard wonderful things about Chapel Hill in general. Thank you! I’ll look for Ambivalent Zen, it sounds good. Have you read Shoes Outside the Door by Michael Downing? Another troubled zendo.

A few months ago, I found out there’s been some pretty bad stuff going on at my former zendo and the associated monastery for years. When I get a chance, I’ll post about it. It made me doubly glad I’d stopped going.

Your zendo sounds great! I’ve heard wonderful things about Chapel Hill in general.

]]> By: Professordave http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-353 Professordave Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:40:23 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-353 I think this sangha sounds like a bunch of drips. Starts with the head monk and goes right on down (but I think the head monk sets the tone). There's no excuse for this shit. I wouldn't go there either. (Don't know if you've read Ambivalent Zen, by Lawrence Shainberg, but he describes a similar group. Maybe you've wandered into his old zendo!) I can't believe there isn't someplace better than this in all of New York. I attend the Chapel Hill Zen Center in North Carolina, and we have a wonderful sangha of very helpful people. The Abbess sets the tone for that, and has taken real care to creat a welcoming atmosphere. I think that's very important. I think that in a lot of cases people are just self-conscious in a situation like this. They don't know quite how to act, so they act in a cold and offensive way. Also, zendos back in Japan often were cold harsh places on purpose, more like the military than a religious institution, and some of that may have carried over. But I wouldn't put up with it. You were right to leave. I think this sangha sounds like a bunch of drips. Starts with the head monk and goes right on down (but I think the head monk sets the tone). There’s no excuse for this shit. I wouldn’t go there either. (Don’t know if you’ve read Ambivalent Zen, by Lawrence Shainberg, but he describes a similar group. Maybe you’ve wandered into his old zendo!)

I can’t believe there isn’t someplace better than this in all of New York. I attend the Chapel Hill Zen Center in North Carolina, and we have a wonderful sangha of very helpful people. The Abbess sets the tone for that, and has taken real care to creat a welcoming atmosphere. I think that’s very important.

I think that in a lot of cases people are just self-conscious in a situation like this. They don’t know quite how to act, so they act in a cold and offensive way. Also, zendos back in Japan often were cold harsh places on purpose, more like the military than a religious institution, and some of that may have carried over.

But I wouldn’t put up with it. You were right to leave.

]]> By: soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-116 soundofrain Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:51:55 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-116 Cheers, Courtney! I used to live in San Francisco, how funny! I'm sure you'll be fine. I'm excited for you! Zazen works. Just don't expect the people to be any different from other people! Cheers, Courtney! I used to live in San Francisco, how funny!

I’m sure you’ll be fine. I’m excited for you! Zazen works. Just don’t expect the people to be any different from other people!

]]> By: Courtney http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Courtney Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:10:08 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-115 Hmm... interesting. I'm recently found a zendo here in San Francisco where I'll be starting attending zazen most mornings, and after reading your post, I am wondering what exactly I am in for! I hope these people warm up to you soon. Also, I'm a former NYC'er, by the way. Cheers :) Hmm… interesting. I’m recently found a zendo here in San Francisco where I’ll be starting attending zazen most mornings, and after reading your post, I am wondering what exactly I am in for!

I hope these people warm up to you soon.

Also, I’m a former NYC’er, by the way. Cheers :)

]]> By: absurdbeats http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-109 absurdbeats Sun, 02 Aug 2009 19:52:11 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-109 Sounds like the teacher abandoned you---or never even bothered to take care of you in the first place. And by 'take care', I mean, pay attention, and respond to you, as a person. Which, it seems to me, is also what your sangha failed to do for you, as well. They've never been your refuge, even as you've tried to provide it to them. So find a new sangha, one which takes care of you, and allows you to take care of them. Sounds like the teacher abandoned you—or never even bothered to take care of you in the first place.

And by ‘take care’, I mean, pay attention, and respond to you, as a person.

Which, it seems to me, is also what your sangha failed to do for you, as well. They’ve never been your refuge, even as you’ve tried to provide it to them.

So find a new sangha, one which takes care of you, and allows you to take care of them.

]]> By: soundofrain http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-106 soundofrain Tue, 28 Jul 2009 02:06:34 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-106 Thank you for that validation! Yeah, it's not like that at work or anywhere else, so there's something going on there. And it is very jarring. Yet I am the common denominator. I think I got off on the wrong foot by being shy, and now that I'm depressed every time I go there, I'm putting off some heavy vibe. I need to find a new sangha. Thank you for that validation! Yeah, it’s not like that at work or anywhere else, so there’s something going on there. And it is very jarring. Yet I am the common denominator.

I think I got off on the wrong foot by being shy, and now that I’m depressed every time I go there, I’m putting off some heavy vibe. I need to find a new sangha.

]]> By: Jenn H http://soundofrain.net/the-least-of-the-three-treasures/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Jenn H Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:13:40 +0000 http://soundofrain.net/?p=320#comment-105 Man, *I* feel uncomfortable there just from what you've written. In most cases, with most people, had this been the case, I would think, "This person just thinks everything hinges on them." But I know you & I know you're not self-centered. You're like me; random people feel perfectly cozy exposing themselves to you instantly. You have a welcoming presence. So receiving an unwelcoming vibe back would have to be jarring. And depressing. I hope this all works out. Man, *I* feel uncomfortable there just from what you’ve written. In most cases, with most people, had this been the case, I would think, “This person just thinks everything hinges on them.” But I know you & I know you’re not self-centered. You’re like me; random people feel perfectly cozy exposing themselves to you instantly. You have a welcoming presence. So receiving an unwelcoming vibe back would have to be jarring. And depressing.

I hope this all works out.

]]>