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	<title>Comments on: Daisan for All!</title>
	<atom:link href="http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/</link>
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	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:20:07 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>By: brooklynblues</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-636</link>
		<dc:creator>brooklynblues</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Jul 2011 14:20:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-636</guid>
		<description>Dear Sensei,
     
    Hey how&#039;s it going? I&#039;ve been interested in Buddhism for quite some time now, meditating on and off, and have recently commited myself to the daily practice of zazen. My interests aside, I&#039;ve had a few years worth of depression that keeps popping its head up. I&#039;ve been having a very hard time recently and nothing that i do makes me feel better. Will zazen help?I know technically we&#039;re not changing anything when we meditate and we&#039;re not supposed to become attached to any outcome or desired state of being (which i still think is un-human haha) but from what I understand you are a psychotherapist, and I&#039;m curious on your opinion.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Sensei,</p>
<p>    Hey how&#8217;s it going? I&#8217;ve been interested in Buddhism for quite some time now, meditating on and off, and have recently commited myself to the daily practice of zazen. My interests aside, I&#8217;ve had a few years worth of depression that keeps popping its head up. I&#8217;ve been having a very hard time recently and nothing that i do makes me feel better. Will zazen help?I know technically we&#8217;re not changing anything when we meditate and we&#8217;re not supposed to become attached to any outcome or desired state of being (which i still think is un-human haha) but from what I understand you are a psychotherapist, and I&#8217;m curious on your opinion.</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: ws</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-609</link>
		<dc:creator>ws</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Jan 2011 15:16:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-609</guid>
		<description>Dear Sensei,

Thank you for the explanation, it was illuminating. What I want more than anything from a community is the opportunity to be the best I can be. Having had a very difficult childhood and young adulthood I am familiar with the feeling of losing faith in oneself and the value having someone as you&#039;ve described be there to care for your progress through life. Personally, I&#039;ve never put any stock in the idea of someone with answers but more with that sense of connection and trust; that comradeship wherein its less important what the &quot;answer&quot; is and more the feeling of sharing the struggle, and helping each other.

Anyway, again, thanks</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Sensei,</p>
<p>Thank you for the explanation, it was illuminating. What I want more than anything from a community is the opportunity to be the best I can be. Having had a very difficult childhood and young adulthood I am familiar with the feeling of losing faith in oneself and the value having someone as you&#8217;ve described be there to care for your progress through life. Personally, I&#8217;ve never put any stock in the idea of someone with answers but more with that sense of connection and trust; that comradeship wherein its less important what the &#8220;answer&#8221; is and more the feeling of sharing the struggle, and helping each other.</p>
<p>Anyway, again, thanks</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: Ryotan Sensei</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-607</link>
		<dc:creator>Ryotan Sensei</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2011 18:30:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-607</guid>
		<description>The Zen teacher/student relationship is unique.  The teacher is not a guru and has no answers for you.  But the teacher can provide guidance, advice, and encouragement as you  go through the difficult process of finding your own answers. 

As a practical matter, the teacher guides your meditation practice.  One way this happens is in a private interview, known as daisan or dokusan.  During the interview, you have a chance to bring up any questions you may have and the teacher has an opportunity to check your understanding.  

You should choose a teacher who seems trustworthy, whose practice seems sound and, most importantly, one with whom you feel a sense of connection.   In the course of years of practice, a deep bond arises, one that often lasts a lifetime.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Zen teacher/student relationship is unique.  The teacher is not a guru and has no answers for you.  But the teacher can provide guidance, advice, and encouragement as you  go through the difficult process of finding your own answers. </p>
<p>As a practical matter, the teacher guides your meditation practice.  One way this happens is in a private interview, known as daisan or dokusan.  During the interview, you have a chance to bring up any questions you may have and the teacher has an opportunity to check your understanding.  </p>
<p>You should choose a teacher who seems trustworthy, whose practice seems sound and, most importantly, one with whom you feel a sense of connection.   In the course of years of practice, a deep bond arises, one that often lasts a lifetime.</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: ws</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-606</link>
		<dc:creator>ws</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2011 03:24:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-606</guid>
		<description>Dear Sensei,

Would you please speak about the nature of a student/teacher relationship in the &quot;study of the way&quot; typified by Zen buddhism? How have you found it?

Thank you</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Sensei,</p>
<p>Would you please speak about the nature of a student/teacher relationship in the &#8220;study of the way&#8221; typified by Zen buddhism? How have you found it?</p>
<p>Thank you</p>
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		<title>By: anonymous</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-559</link>
		<dc:creator>anonymous</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:22:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-559</guid>
		<description>Thank you, I&#039;ll do my best to use that gate of nonjudgement when anger arises.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Thank you, I&#8217;ll do my best to use that gate of nonjudgement when anger arises.</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: Ryotan Sensei</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-557</link>
		<dc:creator>Ryotan Sensei</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:23:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-557</guid>
		<description>Anger is a manifestation of the Buddha Mind.  Our way is to study this Mind.  Therefore we study our anger, without giving into it and without pushing it away.  Without fear.  Without avoidance.  Where does this anger arise in my body?  What thoughts accompany this anger as it arises in my body ? We notice these thoughts and sensations without judgment.  We just notice.  We just study.  Anger is not our adversary.  It is a pure dharma gate.  Please appreciate your anger and study the Way.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Anger is a manifestation of the Buddha Mind.  Our way is to study this Mind.  Therefore we study our anger, without giving into it and without pushing it away.  Without fear.  Without avoidance.  Where does this anger arise in my body?  What thoughts accompany this anger as it arises in my body ? We notice these thoughts and sensations without judgment.  We just notice.  We just study.  Anger is not our adversary.  It is a pure dharma gate.  Please appreciate your anger and study the Way.</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: anonymous</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-549</link>
		<dc:creator>anonymous</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 00:19:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-549</guid>
		<description>Dear Sensei,

I do my best to be positive as much as I can. I have pretty intimately realized the self-destructive nature of hatred and anger...and yet its all around me. I have even recently surprised myself because I thought I had the self-control (or at least the common sense) to avoid thinking, speaking or acting in an angry or hateful way. However, when it strikes, its strikes like lightening. Its over in a flash, but it does damage to me, my self-confidence and (I am sure) the person to whom the hatred or anger is directed.

Do you think this painful time will pass? In your experience does feeling the destructive nature of anger and hatred cause one to naturally avoid it? or, perhaps, what kind of effort can I make within myself to train myself toward that goal besides just avoiding every situation that could possibly result in anger or hatred?

Thanks</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Sensei,</p>
<p>I do my best to be positive as much as I can. I have pretty intimately realized the self-destructive nature of hatred and anger&#8230;and yet its all around me. I have even recently surprised myself because I thought I had the self-control (or at least the common sense) to avoid thinking, speaking or acting in an angry or hateful way. However, when it strikes, its strikes like lightening. Its over in a flash, but it does damage to me, my self-confidence and (I am sure) the person to whom the hatred or anger is directed.</p>
<p>Do you think this painful time will pass? In your experience does feeling the destructive nature of anger and hatred cause one to naturally avoid it? or, perhaps, what kind of effort can I make within myself to train myself toward that goal besides just avoiding every situation that could possibly result in anger or hatred?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: Ryotan Sensei</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-546</link>
		<dc:creator>Ryotan Sensei</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:53:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-546</guid>
		<description>An excellent question.  Perhaps it would help to add three words to the end of it -- &quot;at this moment&quot;.  How do I develop the strength to endure the suffering of human life without making others suffer -- at this moment?  See what comes up for you.  You may surprise yourself!</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>An excellent question.  Perhaps it would help to add three words to the end of it &#8212; &#8220;at this moment&#8221;.  How do I develop the strength to endure the suffering of human life without making others suffer &#8212; at this moment?  See what comes up for you.  You may surprise yourself!</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: anonymous</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-544</link>
		<dc:creator>anonymous</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2010 04:45:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-544</guid>
		<description>Dear Sensei,

How do I develop the strength to endure the suffering of human life without making others suffer? 

Thanks</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Dear Sensei,</p>
<p>How do I develop the strength to endure the suffering of human life without making others suffer? </p>
<p>Thanks</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: Ryotan Sensei</title>
		<link>http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/comment-page-1/#comment-458</link>
		<dc:creator>Ryotan Sensei</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Oct 2010 17:08:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://villagezendo.org/2010/03/daisan-for-all/#comment-458</guid>
		<description>Hi Charlie, if you think that Buddhism has something to offer you, it is important for you to check out various centers and see what speaks to you.  If you would like to check out Zen as it is practiced at our center, please stop by the Village Zendo on any Monday night at 6:30, which is our Beginners Night.  You will receive a complete orientation.  But whether you come to see us or not, please don&#039;t let one bad experience get in the way of exploring your interest in Buddhism.  I&#039;m sure you can find a group that meets your needs.  Best, Ryo</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi Charlie, if you think that Buddhism has something to offer you, it is important for you to check out various centers and see what speaks to you.  If you would like to check out Zen as it is practiced at our center, please stop by the Village Zendo on any Monday night at 6:30, which is our Beginners Night.  You will receive a complete orientation.  But whether you come to see us or not, please don&#8217;t let one bad experience get in the way of exploring your interest in Buddhism.  I&#8217;m sure you can find a group that meets your needs.  Best, Ryo</p>
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