17
Nov
To release the thoughts = to hold the posture?
23
Jul
The hands during zazen
Hello, i have a problem with my hands. They dont stay still, and fingers and thumbs move, plus i feel kind of pain (like when you hold your arm up in the air for some time), in both my hands and arms. these are my problems, they dont happen all at once but they happen in general, so all in all i cant remain still. It is not fidgeting, they move ...
07
Nov
Humor?
MASTER KOSEN, I WANTED TO KNOW YOUR THOUGHT ON THE SENSE OF HUMOR IN ZEN, BY THE WAY: GOING THROUGH THE PHOTO GALLERY I BELIEVE THAT SOME BALD MEN HAVE FOUND THEIR DREAMY PLACE TO SOLVE THEIR "BALD" COMPLEX JE.. JE
09
Sep
Tobacco addiction
I do not practice Zen, though in my way, I'm one of your disciples.I feed much on information gathered on the Internet and I've attended various indigenous spiritual practices (I live in Colombia). I've stopped smoking for two months, about one year ago. I then understood how important self-control was and realized its ...
11
May
Glasses during zazen?
Is it safe to wear glasses ["lentilles" in the original in French] during zazen?Thank you very much for all your teachings!
12
Nov
Selecting because of money.
Dear Kosen Master,How someone who recieves money from the government for being poor, for example, can follow his Master around various countries and continents?I believe to have understood that everything was Buddha. But would the selection because of money thus be done also on the way????Great respect for the freshness of your teaching.Very ...
01
May
I prefer hell to paradise
Master Deshimaru said: “ I prefer hell to paradise; there, at least, you can freely have a drink with your friends. This is what Mushotoku is about. People who fear the infernal cycle of transmigration are so boring.”However, Buddhism, and more particularly Tibetan Buddhism, says that being afraid of transmigration and of being ...
19
Nov
About the name which the Master gives us.
Hello Master Kosen. Here still a question which you will answer, I hope. About the name which the Master gives us during the ordination of Bodhissatva. Perhaps, it is wrong of me to be attached to it but I like it and it acts like a koan to be meditated since you gave it to me. Does one have to be attaches to it? To make use of it? ...
09
Dec
Who is there beyond Zen?
Hello Master Kosen, Who is there beyond Zen?
19
Nov
Why is the world so imperfect?
Why is the world so imperfect?
01
Mar
Questions to Master Kosen
What's the point of this online Mondo, if Master Kosen never cares to answer?
01
Apr
I have a problem seeing the diffrence between killing trees, animals and humans.
Dear Mr. Zenmaster,I have a problem seeing the diffrence between killing trees,animals and humans. What is your opinion?
23
Nov
A similar state of mind in the north of France?
I noticed that very often the answer to a question via the Master brings us back to even make the sorting out in us. Especially when it comes to collect an opinion or to decide on an orientation... Besides, it is often with a shift compared to the question!! to make us think by ourselves? I am charmed to find this state of mind in your sangha on...
01
Apr
What importance does Zen give to the writings of Tipitaka ?
What importance does Zen give to the writings of Tipitaka ?
01
Apr
About reiki
Hello Stephane, My question is about reiki. It was done to me, then I discussed with the person who had applied it to me. She said to me, about the initiation into the first or second degree, that it was a setting in touch with my guardian angel, "the ascended Masters and beings of light". That made me perplexed; I was told that you had had an ...
22
Nov
Difference between ego and pride.
Can tell me the difference between the ego and being pride and what is the ego and why is it so hard to get rid of it.Thank you.
10
May
Can zazen worsen a condition?
Hello kosen sensei Hope you don't mind if I make an introduction before stating my point. A few years ago I had a delirious crisis which led me to a psychiatric hospital for 10 days. That episode was presented in the form of negative thoughts and even nightmares which were imposed to me very quickly and lead me in all directions with eccentric ...
26
Apr
Just a greeting
Good morning Master,
I have nothing interesting to ask you today. I just want to respectfully greet you. Your teaching helped me a lot. Though there is no dojo in my vicinity, and though I was able to attend only one sesshin till now, I try to manage following your teaching. I deeply appreciate what you do. I only know this way to communicate ...
01
Jul
About willpower
Greetings,
I'll be very greatful if you will find some time for my question. I understand that buddhism (or practice buddhist teaching) is the way to find answer for all my questions. But I have realy lack of willpower. I have read lot of books about buddhism and I also found our local zen sangha, where I can practicing. But everytime when I ...
21
May
maily magdalena madera rafo
Last night, for the first time, I've practiced zazen at home. I succeeded in relaxing and I felt rather calm. After a while, I went to bed and I had the worst nightmare in my whole life. I dreamt I was lost in a very white and beautiful place that I didn't know. Despite of the beauty of the place, I felt in danger. ...
01
Apr
How much money does it cost to become a member of your Sangha?
How much money does it cost to become a member of your Sangha?
01
Dec
What do you mean with balance the polarities?
What do you mean with balance the polarities? And how "to react" facing the duality? "Idiot" example: I have a strong joy, must I benefit from it completely? Me, I would say yes. I have a strong sorrow, must I live it completely? Or avoid it? ... The balance in all that what is it? Nothing to live completely? Live everything completely? One ...
01
Apr
I would like to know what is action for zen ?
Good morning! I am not especially interested by money or power on the other people; I have no political vocation - anyway, money is in process to win; I know that I will die one day - tomorrow or later, and I try to love the ones I love without succeeding in it the way I would like to (well, a bit like everybody I guess). If I tell you all that,...
11
Jul
Abortion
What is the Zen position about abortion?
26
Oct
Did it ever happen to you to have made a question to your Master?
Did it ever happen to you to have made a question to your Master, Master Deshimaru, which make him angry or to which he wanted to give you no ther answer but silence? If so, which one?Thank you
10
May
"Here and now."
In Zen, it is often heard to return to the "here and now". I perceive "now" like the timless interval between two seized thoughts. The thoughts which emerge we have to only let them pass. The is spirit stripped?I have more problems with the "HERE", although it must be rewarding to be concentrated in the body, with the buttocks on the zafu. It ...
01
Apr
Is breathing in Zen automatic and natural ?
Is breathing in Zen automatic and natural, or is there a techniqueor form to breathe. How do we determine correct breathing for ourselves?What does it feel like? Is this breathing in any sense controlled?
In reality in zen, people learn a breathing technique which consists in concentrating their energy below the navel and to press on the ...
23
Jul
Burned out
I started practicing Buddhism more than ten years ago, I did retreats, etc., but my life is just as miserable as before, or even more. I have lost my faith in chanting mantras or sitting because it had not made me any happier or wiser. I feel old and kind of burned out, I do not feel the slightest inspiration to sit zazen, chant mantras or ...
13
Aug
Vehicle
The will to find my spirit has occured after an experience related to death.Master, though it may seem like looking for a product in a supermarket, which vehicle leads to the true mind? Alls schools of Buddhism are very precious to me. . . But I would like to follow one way only and at this point, I have doubts.I've read that from the ...
01
Apr
Zen and sciences
Since the 70' a lot of people have been talking about comparisons
that should exist between for instance zen and the physics of the
twentieth century - quantum physics and theories of relativity. Do
you consider these parallells substantially ? Is there a real growth
of knowledge in these fields, the western sciences and the mystics or
...
