Daily Buddhism, Reviews

Book: The Saint of Kathmandu, by Sarah Levine

1 Comment

Book: The Saint of Kathmandu and Other Tales of the Sacred in Distant Lands
By Sarah Levine
Reviewed by Brian Schell
Beacon Press, 242 Pages, ISBN 978-0-8070-1312-0
Buy from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0807013129/?tag=askdrarca-20

This is a little different from the other books I’ve reviewed here. It’s not strictly a Buddhist book; it’s about various religions around the world. There are six stories in the book, each one a more-or-less true story in the experience of the author, a British anthropologist.

The first tale is about spirit possession in a Muslim town, the second is about the Cult of the Virgin in Mexico, Witchcraft in Kenya, Buddhism in Kathmandu, Charismatic Christianity in Hong Kong, and Zen in America. For the readers of Daily Buddhism, I am going to focus on just two of the stories, although all are worth your time.

The third story involves the author’s trip from Kathmandu to India, where she visits the places where the Buddha gained Enlightenment and also where he died. Along the way, she has many discussions with Guruma, the leader of the group and a Nepalese Nun, as well as being the titular ‚ÄúSaint‚Äù of the book. Guruma’s stories show what it was like to be a little girl being forced into an arranged marriage, her escape and distant travels to the nunnery, and her later work in bringing the Dharma to thousands of women who otherwise would be neglected by the male-dominated society. Interestingly, early in the story, the author laments the possibility of having to talk about western Buddhism with two Americans, yet at the end of the story she finds that she cannot tolerate the more disciplined approach of the East.

The sixth and last story is an interesting one as well. It’s about the author’s encounter with an American Zen Master (said to be the first American Zen master). While the author is initially taken by the quirky Zen Master/artist, she quickly discovers the dark side of the situation. The man loves being the center of attention, is a control freak, and never wanted to be a teacher anyway. He, as well as his students, became victims of his own cult of personality. Zen Masters do generally come off a somewhat arrogant in most tales, but this story gives a much more real sense of the problem, which is probably much more common than we in the West would probably assume.

It’s an interesting book with an interesting perspective. There are things here both positive and negative about all these various groups and religions. The author is clearly more interested in the people and their attitudes than the places she visits or beliefs the people hold, and the stories she relates are very personal in nature.

You aren’t going to learn anything about how to practice Buddhism with this book, but it’s a good read, and it’s fun to visit the unusual cultures and share the odd experiences the author relates with us here. The final chapter in particular, shows us some of the inherent problems with lineage traditions where it is assumed that the teacher is always right.

Once you reach enlightenment, does it last forever or does it fade?

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Buy from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0807013129/?tag=askdrarca-20

Daily Buddhism

Our Buddhist President: Politics and Religion

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Our Buddhist President: Politics and Religion

There’s no lesson today; I want YOU to teach ME about something I genuinely don’t follow much.

We’re less than two weeks away from the American Presidential election, and the polls seem to show the two candidates extremely close. For every poll that shows one candidate ahead, another shows the other guy winning. The closeness of this race, and the previous two as well, shows that we are deeply divided as to our opinions on how the country should be run. The rest of the world looks on with baited breath, the financial markets are uncertain, the partisans have pulled out all their dirty tricks, and some people just want the candidate’s signs out of their neighbor’s yard.

It’s a big one, and everyone who can vote, should.

I’m not going to tell you how to vote, but I want you guys to “advise” ME which way to go., taking your Buddhist thoughts into consideration. I really want your feedback on this one, as I am STILL undecided. Personally, I don’t believe anything I hear from either side any more as it’s all just campaign promises and what people want to hear, whether it’s true or not.

The Daily Buddhism is not a political platform; we’re here to discuss Buddhism. So let’s talk about Buddhism: Turn on your own mental or emotional ‚ÄúBuddhist Mode‚Äù and explain to me which candidate is better in that respect in your opinion. Neither of THEM is Buddhist, obviously, but which one seems to support Buddhist ideals and philosophy more? Which is closer to “our way” of thinking?

Post your comment in the blog below
Or phone in your thoughts at 937-660-4949 (might be a good time to try this!)
Or email dailybuddhism@gmail.com

And I’m posting this one on a Friday to allow more time for you to send in Feedback. Depending on the number of responses, I may or may not spend a day next week discussing the results, but I don’t want to go into politics too heavily here.

As always, no registration is required to post on the blog, and you’re free to use an alias if you want, but all posts are approved or moderated before they become visible, and anything inappropriate will never see the light of day.

Would we even WANT a Buddhist President? It didn’t work out so well for Tibet.

Daily Buddhism, Reviews

Book: Footprints in the Snow, by Chan Master Sheng Yen

Book: Footprints in the Snow
By Chan Master Sheng Yen
Reviewed by Brian Schell
Doubleday, 210 Pages, ISBN 978-0-385-51330-2
Buy from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385513305/?tag=askdrarca-20

Have you ever dreamed about becoming a Buddhist monk? I have. I’ve visited some of those temples, and can imagine living there, doing the daily work, chanting, meditation, and so forth. After reading this book, I see that my mental picture of it all may have been a bit rosy.

Footprints in the Snow is the autobiography of Sheng Yen, a Chan (“Chinese Zen”) Master. There are several biographies of the man in Chinese, but this is the first edition in English. Sheng Yen was born in an extremely poor farming family in the Chinese countryside. With few other options, he was taken by a family friend to the Wolf Mountain monastery, where he learned the basics of becoming a monk. He later moved on to Shanghai, but the war between the Communists and the Nationalists drove him to become a soldier-for-life in Taiwan. Eventually securing his freedom from the soldier’s life, he once again became a monk. After travels to Canada, the USA, and back to China, he finally became a Chan Master and one of those most influential Buddhists alive today. He combines his personal story with historical events, and we can see how political changes in China and Taiwan altered not only his life, but Buddhism in general.

I found this book hard to put down. I’m not usually a fan of biographies, but his easygoing writing style and obvious love of what he does makes every page enjoyable. Along with the story, the author explains a bit of Buddhist philosophy in a comfortable, jargon-free style that DailyBuddhism readers will appreciate. My favorite parts of the book, however, are his interactions with the monks and abbots of the various monasteries. Far from being the altruistic teachers and devoted worshippers we usually envision, he shows us the real picture. Many of the Chinese monks sell their services for money, they get into trouble with alcohol and women, there is “office politics” in the hierarchies, and so forth. The pettiness of some of the monks and abbots are shocking. One thing is clear though, in the monk’s world, everything revolves around money. Given that we stereotypically assume monks to be poor and penniless, above such financial concerns, the reality or monastery life is quite different.

He goes from poor farm boy to a monk, to a soldier, to an abbott, to a monk again, eventually becoming homeless and rising back to the top. All the way, he refines his teaching style and is attached to nothing. It’s a dramatic story, and there are some good educational bits on Buddhism scattered throughout. If you ever wanted to know about Monastery life, this is a must-read.

This one is going into my “Read it Again someday” pile.

Daily Buddhism

Fear

1 Comment

A Reader recently wrote:

What is the buddhist way to overcome fear and anxiety in life? I understand it is by controlling the mind: but the question is what are some of the key techniques used to tame the mind in a more positive way?

My Response:

Meditation will generally lead to a calmer, more thoughtful approach to most things, and that would be my main recommendation; get started meditating and learn to control your anxieties.

Another thing to consider is that fear is generally a result of attachment. Buddhists consider attachment (“grasping”) a bad thing. Everything changes, and that’s something we have to learn and accept. That’s a whole lot easier to say than do, but that really is it in a nutshell. Think for a bit on what causes your fear. What are you afraid of losing? Is that something (or someone) that you are going to lose eventually anyway? Most things and people are going to be lost someday, no matter what we do; it is important to understand and accept that.

That sounds somewhat negative, but once those bonds of grasping can be broken, you will have real freedom, and the fearlessness that accompanies it.

Buy “No Death, No Fear” by Thich Nhat Hanh
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1573223336/?tag=askdrarca-20

Daily Buddhism

Prayer in Buddhism

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Prayer in Buddhism

You may have noticed by now, that I tend to avoid writing on some of the more “religious” topics of Buddhism. Instead, I have focused more on the easily experienced and obviously practical truths in Buddhist practice. Not this time, since I recently came across something that I really wanted to share.

Yesterday, I reviewed the book, Footprints in the Snow, by Chan Master Sheng Yen. As a biography, it was very interesting, but it also had some of his own philosophy and teaching experiences in it. Toward the end of the book, he tells us how he explains prayer to Westerners. Below follows what may be the clearest, most logical argument for prayer that I have seen. As with all things Buddhist, you can believe it or not according to him. Be sure to notice that he’s perfectly willing to accept that any given ‚Äúmiracle‚Äù may just as well be ‚Äúcoincidence”:

Recitation, or prayer, is another element of the Chan practice that I teach. The power of prayer cannot be explained by psychology or science. When we pray, we generate power. In Buddhism, we say the relationship between the person who prays and the object of prayer is like the relationship between a bell and the person who rings the bell, or a mirror and the person who stands before the mirror. The bell won’t ring without someone to ring it. The mirror does not make a reflection without someone standing in front of it. The being – the object of prayer- can only have power if people have faith in it. It’s the same as in Christianity. You are saved only if you have faith. On this level, Buddhism is no different from that in Western religion. Faith is what gives people its power.

On another level, Chan practice generates mental power. For example, when a mother thinks about her child all the time, the child may begin to think that he should write or call her. He seems to sense her need even though he didn’t hear from her directly. This kind of mental power is universal; it happens in the East and the West. And that’s just the power of one person. Consider what can happen when a thousand people recite the Great Compassion Dharani together; the power generated may create a substantial reaction, ripening causes and conditions until change occurs.

People may come together to pray for money to buy a piece of land for a monastery, for example (which actually happened in Taiwan when we were trying to find funds to purchase the land for Dharma Drum Mountain, our monastery and Buddhist University there). It is not as if the Bodhisattva Guanyin gave those people the will to buy that land. It’s the power of the mind that praying to the Guanyin generates that leads to the result, although the causes and conditions need to be ripe for the results to occur, no matter how many people come together to pray.

Chan does not encourage individuals to use recitation to ask for specific results. When Chan masters ask for something, it’s not just for themselves; it’s for everyone. For example, if there is a terrible drought, with the land all cracked and dried up, local officials may ask a a monk to ask for rain. There are many examples when a Chan master asked for rain, and rain came. Westerners think this is outright superstition. I agree that it is indeed possible that such occurrences are pure coincidence; that when you pray for rain and rain comes, well, it was simply time for it to rain, with or without the prayer.

Still, the nature of what I do and teach cannot be explained by psychology or a science. Enlightenment in Chan cannot be manufactured in a laboratory or measured by a machine. Enlightenment can only be known by direct experience, just as the warmth of a cup of tea can only be understood by the person drinking it.

(Sheng Yen. Footprints in the Snow. Doubleday. 2008. p. 182-83).

Buy Footprints in the Snow from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0385513305/?tag=askdrarca-20

Daily Buddhism, Koans

Koan: Shoun & His Mother

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Koan: Shoun & His Mother

Shoun became a teacher of Soto Zen. When he was still a student his father passed away, leaving him to care for his old mother.

Whenever Shoun went to a meditation hall he always took his mother with him. Since she accompanied him, when he visited monasteries he could not live with the monks. So he would built a little house and care for her there. He would copy sutras, Buddhist verses, and in this manner receive a few coins for food.

When Shoun bought fish for his mother, the people would scoff at him, fo a monk is not supposed to eat fish. But Shoun did not mind. His mother, however, was hurt to see others laugh at her son. Finally she told Shoun: “I think I will become a nun. I can be vegetarian too.” She did, and they studied together.

Shoun was fond of music and was a master of the harp, which his mother also played. On full-moon nights they used to play together. One night a young lady passed by their house and heard music. Deeply touched, she invited Shoun to visit her the next evening and play. He accepted the invitation. A few days later he met the young lady on the street and thanked her for her hospitality. Others laughed at him. He had visited the house of a woman of the streets.

One day Shoun left for a distant temple to deliver a lecture. A few months afterwards he returned home to find his mother dead. Friends had not known where to reach him, so the funeral was in progress.

Shoun walked up and hit the coffin with his staff. “Mother, your son has returned,” he said.

“I am glad to see you have returned, son,” he answered for his mother.

“Yes, I am glad too,” Shoun responded. Then he announced to the people about him: “The funeral ceremony is over. You may bury the body.”

When Shoun was old he knew his end was approaching. He asked his disciples to gather around him in the morning, telling them he was going to pass on at noon. Burning incense before the picture of his mother and his old teacher, he wrote a poem:

For fifty-six years I lived as best I could,
Making my way in this world.
Now the rain has ended, the clouds are clearing,
The blue sky has a full moon.

His disciples gathered around him, reciting sutra, and Shoun passed on during the invocation.

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The Weekly Buddhism PDF Magazine is now taking subscriptions:
http://www.weeklybuddhism.com

Order “Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans (Paperback)” from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0861713826/?tag=askdrarca-20

Daily Buddhism

Becoming a Buddhist

4 Comments

Buddhist “Conversion:

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A Reader recently wrote:
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What I really want to know about becoming a Buddhist is how it is described and done at the website: http://www.parami.org/duta/buddhist.htm but that is in Pali and English what I want to know is if it is the “same” for all the different denominations or different. But I really like the way this is setup and was wondering if this is the way I should go about becoming a Buddhist or if I have to go through some ceremony.

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My Response:
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How Do You Become a Buddhist? That really depends on the specific “sect” of Buddhism you want to join. For the most part, there isn’t any special ritual. You just make a mental decision to live as a Buddhist, and then start practicing Buddhist ways of doing things.

We have talked about this a bit in the past, and you can see more at:

http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/115

and also

http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/172

Remember, most Buddhists in the East are born into it, and Buddhists are not generally evangelical; they don’t go looking for converts. Generally speaking, there is no overall required ritual to become a Buddhist, but there may be specific requirements for joining a particular sangha. If you are joining a local sangha, then ask them what they require, if anything, and go from there.

The page you linked to for becoming a Buddhist looks pretty good, but is still more than absolutely necessary. Personally, I’d skip all the Pali recitations and just read the English translation. I’ve mentioned my distaste for using Pali in Western sanghas in the past, so I don’t want to get into that again today.

Most “Conversion Ceremonies” involve taking a vow to “Take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha” (a.k.a. the Three Jewels) and usually the Five Precepts (or however many that sect uses). What you pointed to is a bit more elaborate, but if it appeals to you, then go for it– I see nothing wrong with the ritual as described there.

Unless you are dealing with a priest or some local sangha, you are going to be practicing Buddhism on your own for the most part– and that’s fine; as I’ve mentioned many times in the past, finding Enlightenment is primarily an individual thing, unique to each person. You need to do whatever ritual or say whatever vow or pledge makes you feel like you are now a Buddhist– and then start living life as a Buddhist. Buddhism is more about practice and living the life than it is about rituals and beliefs.

Daily Buddhism, Reviews

Book: Here You Are, By Mayke Beckmann Briggs

Here You Are, Mayke Beckmann Briggs
Here You Are, Mayke Beckmann Briggs

Book: Here You Are
By Mayke Beckmann Briggs
Reviewed by Brian Schell
Boathouse Books, 42 Pages, ISBN 9780977646913
Buy from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0977646912/?tag=askdrarca-20

There are umpteen-gazillion books out there, both good and bad, concerning Buddhism for adult readers. There are very few good books for Children that involve Buddhist ideas. Books based upon the Jataka Tales are classics, but those stories are ancient and somewhat generic in nature. Modern-day Buddhist children books are starting to enter the market, albeit slowly. This is one of them.

It’s a durable hardcover children’s book with heavy pages and bright colors throughout. The text is short and extremely simple, and even beginning readers will be able to move through the book quickly. The drawings are simple but bright, and mostly involve ‚ÄúYou,‚Äù the central character in the story. Unlike stories about 3rd-person characters, ‚ÄúYou‚Äù are the center of attention here. Fortunately, since the pronoun ‚ÄúYou‚Äù works whether reading the book yourself or having the book read to you, it’s a neat idea.

The subject here is about the main character, who asks the questions, ‚ÄúWho made everything?‚Äù, ‚ÄúWhy am I here?‚Äù and several other ‚Äùbig‚Äù questions. The book does not supply answers to any of the big questions, that’s up to the adult in the child’s life to explain. There are no references to God or any other specific religion. The book could literally be used to introduce any child to the big questions, and the adult must supply whatever answers they feel are appropriate.

I’m assuming that Daily Buddhism readers are going to want to use the book to explain the Buddhist perspective on the questions posed here. The book is fine for that, and there is one section of the book:

Here you are, wondering,

how everything appears out of nowhere like the waves rise up from the sea,

and how everything vanishes into nothing,

like the waves, on a calm summer’s day.

This could lead into a decidedly Buddhist-tinted discussion.

The one and only problem I see with the book are the pictures of ‚ÄúYou‚Äù (see the cover image). The pictures are all of a little boy, or perhaps a girl with very short hair. I’m not sure whether this was an artistic decision or an oversight. I imagine it would be confusing to try to make the pictures of ‚ÄúYou‚Äù to apply to everyone. Still, unless you are buying the book is for a little caucasian boy, be prepared.

Buy from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/0977646912/?tag=askdrarca-20

Daily Buddhism

Zen Gardens

Zen Gardens

Ryoanji, Kyoto Japan
Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto Japan

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A Reader recently Wrote:
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Could you explain what a zen garden is( Much like you did in your podcast with the mandalas)? Thanks

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My Response:
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I’m assuming by ‚ÄúZen Garden,‚Äù you mean ‚ÄúJapanese Rock Garden,‚Äù which is what most Westerners associate with the term.

I suspect most of us have a fairly accurate idea what a Zen Garden looks like already. It’s a flat area of ground covered in sand, with gravel on top. There are usually a few larger rocks scattered around, and there are very few (and often no) plants. I was in Kyoto last December, and while I was there, I visited the Ryoanji Temple, which is best known for its rock garden. I have some pictures from my trip posted here. If you’re ever in Kyoto, it’s within easy walking distance from the Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji Temple); I’d recommend taking in both in the same day.

Ryoanji, Kyoto Japan
Ryoanji Temple, Kyoto Japan

So what is the point of a Zen Garden?

The placement of the stones is intentional and very well-considered. In the Ryoanji Temple, for example, there are 15 stones, but they are placed in such a way that you can only see 14 of them at any time, no matter where you stand. Supposedly if you achieve Enlightenment, then you can see all 15 at once. The stones in other gardens have different stories. Some are laid out in reference to mountains or islands, with the sand or gravel representing the ocean and the rocks becoming the islands. Other gardens may be more random or apparently haphazard, emphasizing the space between the rocks. Every one of them is different.

Mystical Misconceptions

Many people believe the gardens are laid out to create a peaceful, relaxing environment. Although the gardens do sometimes have this effect, this is not actually intentional, and there is certainly nothing mystical involved. Many of the gardens are set up to be viewed from a single sitting position. When one person sits there alone, admiring the aesthetically pleasing garden, they tend to think, “why is this garden arranged like this?” Or perhaps they choose that spot for meditation. Without plants or wildlife, these gardens are very quiet and conducive to contemplation.

There is a misconception that many hold that the purpose of the garden is that the person maintaining the garden would quietly stir the gravel with a rake and maybe reach Enlightenment. In reality, however, the gardens do not change. The garden at Ryoanji, for example, has kept the same layout for over 600 years. Other than occasional minor maintenance, they don’t go in there and play with a rake every day.

Did you know though, that the term “Zen Garden” is a recent invention? Apparently, this term is almost offensive to some people— check out the comments at this page: http://www.rothteien.com/superbait/zenviewpoints.htm, although I suspect they are using a wider definition of Zen Garden than just the gravel & stone variety.

Still, they are attractive and fun to visit. In fact, you can even buy your own ‚ÄúDeluxe Zen Garden‚Äù kit (Amazon link): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005OUHD/?tag=askdrarca-20. It might make a fun gift, but I doubt you’re going to become Enlightened by stirring sand in a little toy tray.

Hotel reservations in Kyoto

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Daily Buddhism, Reviews

Review: Now & Zen Timepiece

Zen Timepiece in Cherry
Zen Timepiece in Cherry

Review: Now & Zen Timepiece
Review by Brian Schell
Manufacturer Link: http://www.now-zen.com
Price $189

Packing & Contents:

My review sample arrived in a nice retail box with plenty of safety packaging. The heavy brass bowl was separated from the wooden clock unit to avoid damage. I played with the bowl a while before ever opening the rest of the clock; you can make a nice resounding gong sound by striking it with anything, even a pencil. Eventually though, I wanted to see the clock, and had to proceed. The box says Batteries not included, yet batteries were in the box, ready to go. A comprehensive manual and product catalog were also in the box. The clock is available in several colors, cherry, maple, and black lacquer. I got the cherry version. From the catalog, it appears that the bowls are all the same, brass.

Setup:

I played with the buttons a bit, and figured out how to set the clock on my own, but did have to peek inside the manual for anything more than that. The instruction booklet is English only, at 40 pages, clearly organized with everything you need to know, plus a good deal of additional suggestions for usage.

There are two small screw-type adjustments, one Hi and one Lo that are located under the bowl; these control the force at which the little plunger strikes the bowl. You can fiddle with these until you get the sound you want from the bowl. The sound can also be adjusted by moving the bowl nearer or farther from the plunger that shoots out to strike the bowl. You can set the clock to run silently, go off at a specified time, or set it to chime on the hour.

Usage:

Setting the alarm is essentially the same as on any other digital clock. The ringing of the alarm is a little unusual, since there is just one long chime rather than the constant chatter a regular ringing alarm clock would make. When the alarm goes off, the bowl gongs once. Then it does it again 3 minutes and 48 seconds later. Then again at 2:21, 1:28, :54, :34, :21, :13, :08. and then repeatedly every 5 seconds. This Golden Ratio Progression is explained in the instructions, and you can Google Golden Ratio for more of an explanation of the mystical significance. More practically, it’s the bowl-striking equivalent of the sleep mode on a most standard clock. They call this progressive awakening. I have mine set to ring on the hour, every hour, so I end up sleeping through single gongs all night long.

Other than the regular alarm mode, it also has a countdown timer, which is pretty straightforward. You set the number of minutes and seconds, and the counter counts down to zero and chimes. There is also a repeat feature that you can set to count down for however long, chime, and then do it again. This is the meditation timer feature, which you can use during meditation. Overall, it’s easy

to set up and use, and the booklet has many interesting suggestions for how to use the clock in meditation, dreamwork, and progressive awakening.

Zen Timepiece in Cherry
Zen Timepiece in Cherry

The Good & The Bad:

There is one major drawback to the clock, and that’s the bowl placement. The bowl has to be placed reasonably close to the plunger in order to strike, but not too close. It’s meant to be adjustable, and that’s OK, but any movement of the bowl away from the plunger, which is not fixed down at all, will keep the chime from sounding. I can imagine several unfortunate scenarios for someone relying on this clock to wake them in the morning. It wouldn’t take much of a jar for the bowl to slip just a little, leaving the alarm silent.

The biggest feature of the clock is the chime. The solid brass bowl has a great resonance to it, and just tapping it with a fingernail makes a great sound. There’s no reason you couldn’t use the bowl in any kind of group meditation for a bell or gong sound. When the clock’s chime strikes, the deep bell resonates for 10 to 15 seconds, and you can imagine you hear it long after the sound has actually faded.

The price is steep for a clock of this size, but it is a very well-designed clock, and the sound is unique to my knowledge. It’s a Buddhist luxury toy if there ever was one. The unusual design and bowl are bound to be conversation starters, if nothing else.

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Plain English Guide to Buddhism