Current Reading Assignment and Questions

It is with enthusiasm and joy we continue our study of The Heart of The Buddha's Teaching
with everyone. If you have any input on how our process is going feel free to reply to us about that. Otherwise we will proceed in the manner we have been which has been meaningful and gratifying.

FYI in case this might be helpful:
How I, Jayna, study the amount of material we are covering is by reading the next sections
right after we meet and then I ponder and meditate upon the material for a couple weeks.
About midway between our session I sit down with the suggested questions, read again and answer the questions on paper as I go. Then I read a third time just before we meet.
Want to share how you do you do it?

Please read below for our meeting on 3/12:
Here are questions and exercises to consider as we study the rest of Right Mindfulness,
Chapter 11, pg. 68 on:
The Four Establishments of Mindfulness:
1. Identify each one and how we relate to it in our lives.
2. How can we not be intoxicated or terrorized by our feelings? (p. 72)

Right Speech, Chapter 12 (pages 84-98):
Lets be aware of our speech in the next few weeks and ask ourselves:
1) How am I doing with speaking truthfully?
2) Am I tense or short as I speak?
3) Am I exaggerating or embellishing?
4) Have I neglected to say something I might have said that would be helpful to another?

Right Action, Chapter 13 (Pages, 94-98)
Identify a mindfulness training (AKA precept or vow) and how we are actualizing it in our life.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Linage

Sakyamuni Buddha

Buddha's Disciples
(Makhakasyapa, Sariputra, Mahamaugalynayan, Upali, Ananda,
and Mahagotami (mother of Buddha and first nun)

Ancestral Teachers in China and Vietnam
         
Tang Hoi (Vietnam's first known Buddhist Master: expounded mindfulness of breathing)

Dharmadeva (Indian meditation master who came to North Vietnam
in the mid fifth Century to teach meditation)

Vinitaruci (Indian Master who traveled to China and then to Vietnam and founded schools of meditation)

Vo Ngon Thong (Developed form of meditation monasticism and practiced sitting most of the time,
his presence not words attracted people to him)

Master Thao Duong (Developed school of meditation which linked Buddhist and Confucian teachings)

Master Bamboo Forest (Practiced to promote well-being of his own people and surrounding countries; practiced asceticism and taught the five mindfulness trainings (precepts)
to disciples in questions and answers.

Master Lam Te Nghia Hugen (Lin Chi) (Founded Chinese Dhyana School of meditation and taught enlightenment by means of blows with a stick and shouts. Famous for quote: “If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha”-
the Lin Chi School came to Vietnam in two different stages during the 13th and 17th century.

Lieu Quan (Born Central Vietnam in 1670; he wandered in search of teachers and teachings; He was given the koan:
“All things return to the one; where does the one return to?” this did not help him to awaken. Later he read a sentence in his Lamp Transmission which read: “
Points someone to things in order to transmit the mind, that is why people do not understand.” - Enlightenment! -
He made Lin Chi School a reality in Vietnam.

Thien Su Nhat Dinh (Was promoted by the king and queen to offer leadership to the Sanghas in Vietnam.
He was happy to just practice and said: “I am old and fortunately the king is kind to me,
I have my body and this bowl and the side road is open to me.”
The queen created Tue Hieu (Loving Kindness as Filial Piety) in remembrance of his love for his parents.

Dhyana Master Cuong Ky (Abbot of the Tu Hieu Temple and
made Buddhism a shining light in the 20th Century)

Dhyana Master Thanh Quy Chan Tiet
(Root teacher of our own teacher-Thich Nhat Hanh; he died during the Tet Offensive in 1968. Thay said of him during his memorial service: “You loved and were able to see the virtuous qualities and capabilities of people  who were difficult to understand and you loved, accepted, and helped everyone.”

Dhyana Master Trung Quang Nhat Hanh  (Thich Nhat Hanh)

Four- fold Sangha made up of Nuns and Monks and Lay men and women (all of us)
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