New Member Intro - Joy from NC, USA

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JoyCatherine
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Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2018 2:19 pm

New Member Intro - Joy from NC, USA

Post by JoyCatherine »

Namaste Everyone _/\_,
Somehow found this group and joined. I have not taken any vows, but my collection of Buddhist books is substantial. I've listened to many dharma talks online (Dharma Seed, IMS and Commonground Meditation Center). I've understood the two truths to some extent, contemplating for years the conventional reality and universal (Nargajuna) which has (with the Heart Sutra) kept me sane in the face of life's difficulties. Of course, there is a deep connection with HH the Dalai Lama and have read books with his name as the author upon the cover and watched him speak in many online videos. I am getting a new understanding of Theravada Buddhism and vipassana most recently. Zen (Dogen and Suzuki) and then there's Thich Nhat Hanh. Upaya Zen Center audios (esp. Mind-Life Institute info) are also frequented. Pardon, but I don't know how else to describe myself to a Buddhist Group in terms other than these. My most recent reading has been
  • Food for the Heart Chah, Ajahn
    The Mind of Mahamudra: Advice from the Kagyu Masters (Tibetan Classics) Jinpa Ph.D
    The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering Bodhi, Bhikkhu
    The Essential Haiku: Versions of Basho, Buson, & Issa (Essential Poets) Robert Hass
    On Zen Practice: Body, Breath, and Mind Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi
    Issue at Hand Gil Fronsdal
    The Three Pillars of Zen-- Roshi P. Kapleau
    When Awareness Becomes Natural: A Guide to Cultivating Mindfulness in Everyday Life Sayadaw U Tejaniya, Robert French
    Emptiness: A Practical Guide for MeditatorsGuy Armstrong, Joseph Goldstein
Finally, I am understanding the single-pointed meditation (breath, or object of focus) to develop concentration versus the open and inclusive awareness of everything (mindful without preference i.e. equanimity). Accepting aversion without reaction or limited inner disturbance. The sound is just sound -- in that way.

I wrote more than I intended. :namaste:
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Aloka
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Re: New Member Intro - Joy from NC, USA

Post by Aloka »

Welcome, JoyCatherine :hello:

With metta,

Aloka :anjali:
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DNS
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Re: New Member Intro - Joy from NC, USA

Post by DNS »

Welcome to DW!

:buddha1:
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Sam Vara
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Re: New Member Intro - Joy from NC, USA

Post by Sam Vara »

Welcome to Dhamma Wheel! :hello:
paul
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Re: New Member Intro - Joy from NC, USA

Post by paul »

JoyCatherine wrote: Sat Jun 30, 2018 2:49 pm I am getting a new understanding of Theravada Buddhism and vipassana most recently.
The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering Bodhi, Bhikkhu

Finally, I am understanding the single-pointed meditation (breath, or object of focus) to develop concentration versus the open and inclusive awareness of everything (mindful without preference i.e. equanimity).
Welcome to DW.

To further the nascent understanding of Theravada, apply the concepts in “the Noble Eightfold Path”, B.B., to meditation, particularly right effort, chapter V:

“The nature of the mental process effects a division of right effort into four “great endeavors”:
1. to prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome states; 2. to abandon unwholesome states that have already arisen; 3. to arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen;
4. to maintain and perfect wholesome states already arisen.”
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bodom
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Re: New Member Intro - Joy from NC, USA

Post by bodom »

Welcome!

:anjali:
Liberation is the inevitable fruit of the path and is bound to blossom forth when there is steady and persistent practice. The only requirements for reaching the final goal are two: to start and to continue. If these requirements are met there is no doubt the goal will be attained. This is the Dhamma, the undeviating law.

- BB
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retrofuturist
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Re: New Member Intro - Joy from NC, USA

Post by retrofuturist »

Greetings,

Welcome to Dhamma Wheel.

:buddha1:

Metta,
Paul. :)
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
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