Spending Time In A Zen Temple
Cosmin Lupu
Oct 29 2012, 11:49 AM
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Being inspired by K1R's thread and what I recently read on this website -> http://www.zenguide.org, I decided that if I will ever afford it, I will go visit Japan and spend some time in a place such as this one:



Eiheiji was build in 1244 and is the main temples of the Soto school of Zen Buddhism. It is located deep in the mountains in Fukui prefecture, about 16 km from Fukui City.

Its was founded by Zen Master Dogen Zenji who, after studying in China for several years, introduced Soto Zen to Japan in 1228.

Eiheiji is the the headquarters of the Soto-shu Zen school and is still today an active monastery, with some 200 monks resides there and devote themselves to the strict Zazen practice. Eihei-ji is regarded as the most influential Zen temple in the world.

Located in a 1000 year old cedar forest, the temple consist of over 70 inter-connected buildings of various sizes standing side by side surrounding the seven major buildings on the 330,000 square meters temple grounds.
General public and foreign visitors are welcome to visit the temple and practice Zazen with the monks. They can also stay in Eiheiji and experience some of the ascetic disciplines of the monks. A one-night stay will be charged 8000 yen (roughly 80$ USD) and includes bath, dinner and evening meditation.

If you are not afraid of embracing this routine for a few days, the four days and three nights intensive Zazen session will give you a better impression of the Zen monastic life and will cost you 12,100 yen.


It sounds really amazing and I do believe it can be a life changing experience indeed!

I will also try and visit other important places such as Musashi and Bokuden's graves and some other spots which I'll probably want to see biggrin.gif So, I guess I'll need some serious cash to make it happen laugh.gif But hey, who knows what's gonna happen in the future smile.gif

I was curious if there's anyone from Japan here at GMC that can tell me some stuff about these places and other interesting things!

Cosmin

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Ben Higgins
Oct 29 2012, 02:03 PM
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That place looks and sounds amazing !

And a 1,000 yr old cedar forest - wow ! biggrin.gif

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Gabriel Leopardi
Oct 29 2012, 11:48 PM
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This sounds really good! My first contact to Zen was thanks to Ben who recommended me the great book "Zen Guitar". That site that you posted looks great. I will read all that info. Thanks mate!

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Cosmin Lupu
Oct 30 2012, 09:45 AM
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You most definitely should mate! I plan on following this path smile.gif It'll be a hard thing getting myself free of anger and all those things but it's all for the best!

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Gabriel Leopardi
Oct 30 2012, 03:08 PM
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QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Oct 30 2012, 05:45 AM) *
You most definitely should mate! I plan on following this path smile.gif It'll be a hard thing getting myself free of anger and all those things but it's all for the best!



I have been reading the site.. it's so cool! Tell us your experiences if you start something related to Zen!

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Cosmin Lupu
Oct 30 2012, 03:28 PM
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QUOTE (Gabriel Leopardi @ Oct 30 2012, 02:08 PM) *
I have been reading the site.. it's so cool! Tell us your experiences if you start something related to Zen!


Well, the first thing and the hardest so far, is trying not to get angry! IT'S INCREDIBLY hard!! sad.gif

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Ben Higgins
Oct 30 2012, 03:44 PM
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QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Oct 30 2012, 02:28 PM) *
Well, the first thing and the hardest so far, is trying not to get angry! IT'S INCREDIBLY hard!! sad.gif


I think it's ok to get angry though C-Man as long as you're aware of these facts 1. You're angry 2. Why you're angry and 3. You have a choice to keep that anger going or to release it.

From all the things I've read and learned, I don't think Zen teaches to suppress emotion or to deny it. If something makes you angry, have the emotion and then get it out of the way. Pretending we're not angry is actually worse because then we get loads of little things that build up over time that we never address and then we explode at the silliest thing.

If I catch myself being angry at least I can admit to myself 'I'm being ZEN angry !' laugh.gif

So I think that we will always experience anger because we're human but our ability to quickly dissolve that anger and release it will improve. smile.gif

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K1R
Oct 30 2012, 10:00 PM
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I didn't know you were practasing Zen, great to see another buddhist here smile.gif Places like this one and people there have some kind a special atmosphere. You should definately go for it. The time I spent in Dharma City is one of the most memorable periods of my life. I do hope it will work out, good luck smile.gif

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Cosmin Lupu
Oct 30 2012, 10:52 PM
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QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Oct 30 2012, 02:44 PM) *
I think it's ok to get angry though C-Man as long as you're aware of these facts 1. You're angry 2. Why you're angry and 3. You have a choice to keep that anger going or to release it.

From all the things I've read and learned, I don't think Zen teaches to suppress emotion or to deny it. If something makes you angry, have the emotion and then get it out of the way. Pretending we're not angry is actually worse because then we get loads of little things that build up over time that we never address and then we explode at the silliest thing.

If I catch myself being angry at least I can admit to myself 'I'm being ZEN angry !' laugh.gif

So I think that we will always experience anger because we're human but our ability to quickly dissolve that anger and release it will improve. smile.gif


Well put Ben! Thanks mate smile.gif I have a lot to learn indeed..

QUOTE (K1R @ Oct 30 2012, 09:00 PM) *
I didn't know you were practasing Zen, great to see another buddhist here smile.gif Places like this one and people there have some kind a special atmosphere. You should definately go for it. The time I spent in Dharma City is one of the most memorable periods of my life. I do hope it will work out, good luck smile.gif


So, you are a buddhist smile.gif Well, by nature, I am a Christian Orthodox but, by precepts and way of thinking I am slowly becoming more closer to Zen/ Buddhist precepts.

The Church here is corrupt and crippled... but being a spiritual person does not mean you must be strictly related to the Church..

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Ben Higgins
Oct 31 2012, 10:45 AM
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QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Oct 30 2012, 09:52 PM) *
The Church here is corrupt and crippled... but being a spiritual person does not mean you must be strictly related to the Church..


Yes, every man is his own church, as they say.

It doesn't matter what religion someone is, including atheism.. they're all just different brand names. Humans love a 'label'. It's almost like we can't cope unless we have guidelines or rules to follow. We don't trust ourselves on our own unless we have a brand or label to follow.

It's like Bruce Lee said '..don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all that heavenly glory.'

The human race is always concentrating on the damn finger..

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Cosmin Lupu
Nov 1 2012, 09:23 AM
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QUOTE (Ben Higgins @ Oct 31 2012, 09:45 AM) *
Yes, every man is his own church, as they say.

It doesn't matter what religion someone is, including atheism.. they're all just different brand names. Humans love a 'label'. It's almost like we can't cope unless we have guidelines or rules to follow. We don't trust ourselves on our own unless we have a brand or label to follow.

It's like Bruce Lee said '..don't concentrate on the finger or you'll miss all that heavenly glory.'

The human race is always concentrating on the damn finger..


Oh, how right you are mate...

Well, unfortunately, people prefer being led to something by something... In here, in the latest October days, there is a pilgrimage at the greatest orthodox church in Bucharest, where people come in swarms, literally to pray and kiss the remains of a great orthodox Saint. They stand in cold and rain for about 4-5 days in a humongous row, thinking of this act as their last hope to solve a family problem/ help a loved one or such... It's just like in the middle ages. I have nothing against these people, but as Musashi said: 'Respect the gods but do not rely on them for help'. There's so much truth in these words...

Anyway, you can't go blaming one for trying a last desperate act for someone who he/ she loves, but maybe there would be something else to be done? I somehow don't believe in this sort of miracles..

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Ben Higgins
Nov 1 2012, 10:08 AM
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QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Nov 1 2012, 08:23 AM) *
Oh, how right you are mate...

Well, unfortunately, people prefer being led to something by something... In here, in the latest October days, there is a pilgrimage at the greatest orthodox church in Bucharest, where people come in swarms, literally to pray and kiss the remains of a great orthodox Saint. They stand in cold and rain for about 4-5 days in a humongous row, thinking of this act as their last hope to solve a family problem/ help a loved one or such... It's just like in the middle ages. I have nothing against these people, but as Musashi said: 'Respect the gods but do not rely on them for help'. There's so much truth in these words...

Anyway, you can't go blaming one for trying a last desperate act for someone who he/ she loves, but maybe there would be something else to be done? I somehow don't believe in this sort of miracles..


The way I see it.. there's nothing actually wrong with religion in itself. It's what people make of it and the relationship they have with the information and wisdom (and that's all it is) that has been written down and passed from generation to generation. It's when you start creating rules and distinctions that the problems set in.

When we start seeing ourselves as separate from each other and the environment, instead of being of the environment, we lose our connection to the energy that created us. Everything at its source is energy and it doesn't matter whether you call it the Higgs Boson or God, they're just words that were created by man.. what cannot be denied is the energy at the source of all things. This energy is beyond such distinctions as words and brands and sects and divisions. To think that such power heeds and works by such man made distinctions is ludicrous.

One popular meaning for the word 'religon' means to 'reconnect'.. with 'God' or 'the universe', our source of 'energy'.. again, the word itself is unimportant. Concentrating on the words or the labels is 'concentrating on the finger'. Instead, heed the message, regardless of where it comes from or the way it is worded. The universe is energy, the energy has a flow, our thoughts and actions are part of that flow and we attract to us what we think and do. If we cast off the unimportant stuff like ego and illusions of things that just don't really matter, we can 'reconnect' with our innate ability to be and do whatever we desire. The power of 'God', 'the universe', whatever you want to call it, is the power that it within us.

In a nutshell wink.gif

Is that too weird for everybody ? I've read a lot and a lot of stuff rolleyes.gif You can take it or leave it.. it's just words smile.gif

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This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: Nov 1 2012, 10:09 AM
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Cosmin Lupu
Nov 1 2012, 10:21 AM
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Always a pleasure to be reminded of the Way smile.gif Thanks man! Nothing weird for me!

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