This is not Eiheiji - it is a zen center in Tokyo called The Dogen Sangha - as a follower of Dogen Zenji they share much in Common with Eiheiji - which was established by Dogen and is a beautiful monastery which I have visited a number of times. This clip was chosen out of many interviews as it is in English and sub-titles are hard to see at this size. Thanks EmptyMind Films
Not only is he very spiritual and peaceful, he is a smart guy that knows his stuff. Lol I'm learning about sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. He's so cool.
wow, he's 84 i wish i could be so healthy at that age, if i get to be 84 also i think he learned english as an adult, probably as a senior, yet he expresses himself very well. mental clarity and good health even at an advanced age...definitely worth trying zen.
Thanks, I'm a Zen student interested in meditation. The Buddha said there were 88,000 forms of meditation, of which seated meditation was only one form. Chanting mantras, studying the sutras or religious texts are others. Thanks for your reply!
I am looking for Rev. Peggy Jiyu Kennett Roshi's Liturgical hymns of Buddhist chants done in western anglicized music. I can't find them anywhere on youtube or throughout. Can someone provide me a link to it.
Hello! :-) I've just been reading Eckhart Tolle's book and he explains that the problem is thinking itself and how we use thought (or it uses us!) Good luck and Happy New Year! Best wishes
Thank you! I actually just finished a debate (if you can call it that) with a person like the one you described. It was pointless talking to him. People need to learn to open their minds and learn to listen and comprehend before rejecting ideas that are not their own. Unfortunately, too many people are perfectly happy bashing the unknown. If we could just take the time to listen, perhaps we'd find that we have a lot more in common than we thought.
To be honest I am completely ignorant to what Zen is . I saw Zen referred to in the weekly show "Life" and what was said (Zen related) really sounded good. So I thought I would see what was out there. Can you all recommend a book to read ? Earl
I've been practicing zazen and reading a couple books. Zen Mind beginners mind and Zen Flesh Zen Bones. But I'm not understanding a lot of it. SOme of it is really mind boggling. Like everything arises out of emptiness and so when we see something it exists, yet at the same time there is no one to see it and nothing exists. Someone help me here.
Is there a way to combine zen meditation with exercise? You can meditate anytime, anywhere. meditate while doing yoga, swimming or walking. I enjoy walking meditation. focus on each inhale and each exhale. I count each step, one-two-three-four steps as I inhale. I count every other step one......two......three as I exhale. Over and over again. Walk at whatever your normal pace is or slower. As thoughts interfere or you loose count, start again. Practice, practice, practice, every day.
Actually, please listen again. He states that there was no scientific explanation during the time of Buddha - not today, where he then explains how science today can verify the principles of zazen.
I frequently forget the implications of differentiating the middle from one extreme to another. Why is it important? You can sit there and be, but regardless of sitting, you're always being. Relocating something, cleaning the dish. I wonder what those books in the background are. Now, I wonder if they will be digitized... imagine a room with a comfortable cushion and a simple computer, online
I recommend reading Nishijima's book "Three Philosophies & One Reality". It explains the "Four Noble Truths of Buddhism" very well. If you read it, you may come to realize that Buddhism is not as negative and world denying as you might be thinking. In fact, saying that the opposites (Nishijima calls them idealism & materialism) can be reconciled through the practice of zazen makes perfectly sense. So read the book, practice zazen and THEN judge Buddhism based on your OWN experiences!
I haven't figured out yet, after years of medittion, how to "control" my mind. Thoughts come and go; that's just what the mind does. For me, meditation is as an effective mind training technique. It's how we look at ourselves, others and the world that shapes our lives. I've never met folks who have become disassociated through meditation, although I've heard that some have. But I believe these folks came to meditation with psychological problems that would have been best addressed on the couch.
Very impressive indeed. I was baffled over how good this old man was in english. I expected it to be suptiteled or something... Anyways, great interview
i have a question for the old geezer. he has been meditating for many years. has anything happened after 40+ years meditation. or was it a waste of time.
Orishania, My meditation is meditation of non thought. I start with mantras, affirmations and chants, then after 10-20 I am in a state of non thought, awareness, but no thought. Yes, thoughts pop up, but I don't follow them and if persistant, I repeat my mantras. Just curious, how does disassociation show or manifest itself, I don't know what that means. Personally I think the couch,is extremely limited. We must identify our deluded 'mind set'...conversation has limits.
lot of people missing the point here...the autonomous nervous system is not a philosophy, it's a physical fact . zazen posture stretches the triple heater meridien,and relaxes the abdomen,allowing the diaphragm free movement so that the breathing can slow and the heart also. This is traditional medical fact, backed by modern investigation.When your body is relaxed and happy,your mind will begin to slow, as you realise the difference between what you want, and what you need.
@GuamKomudo With respect, the point of meditation in Zen is to NOT think about things. The purpose in practice is to see your true self as apart from the false identification with a personal self; mind, ego etc. This is the dream state we live in. Rather than "prayer," meditation is a direct link to our Buddha nature- to pure awareness.
Richard Turnock that depends entirely on your definition of meditation. If you are askibg whether zazen can be done while doing anything else, then the answer is no. Zazen means seated meditation and accirding to dogen the most important kind of zazen is shikantaza, meaning to do nothing but sit.
Sentient beings are numberless, I vow to save them. Desires are inexhaustible, I vow to put an end to them. The dharmas are boundless, I vow to master them. The Buddha way is unsurpassable, I vow to attain it.
Thank you for this. I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) is a cultivation system in the Buddha School based on the principles of the Universe: Truth, Compassion, Forbearance. Since 1999 it has been brutally persecuted by the CCP in China.
"Men will never be free until they have given up their desire to strangle others and have learned to live peacefully without kings or priests." - Drav1dan
He's 84 yrs old??? He looks like someone in his late 50's or 60's! Obviously meditation really has kept him healthy. I'm going to have to start practicing Zazen!
SiAz23, I would call it 'delusion' rather than a form of mind control. Before you understand the history, maybe we should understand ourselves and our motives. But, I found meditation to be an exercise that has help me, understand my delusions. If we are 'deluded' then everything can be a 'mind control', love, work, family, wisdom. What I really appreciate about zen, is the deemphasis of the intellectualized mind and allow the instinctive of wisdom of the body.
@timewilltell7 ...and I just wanted to point out to buchdick that maybe, all christians should stick much to the commandment "love your neighbor as yourself". I was on this page because after a trip to japan I'm being fascinated by buddhism and i just want to learn a little bit more. This said, enough said.
Japanese Zen Buddhism is full of ritual and tradition. There's nothing wrong with disregarding that and finding your own path to enlightenment... in fact by doing that you're probably closer to what Zen teaches than the modern understanding of Buddhism.
If you're interested in a Catholic perspective on medation, in both christian and buddhist traditions, read Thomas Merton. He was respected by monks and followers of both religions and wrote insightful books about both eastern and western religions.
Pizza comes from Italy, jeans from America and Yoga from India. Knowledge has to come from somewhere and wherever knowledge spreads to people refine and improve upon it for their own circumstances.
@jms1jut As far as I know (I may be mistaken), the Buddha never spoke about sin, nor preached how you must behave (he gave recomendations, and the advice to dubt them). He was impulsed to be happy and healthy, never to age, get diseased or die.
back at ya... i've read plenty. again, these things (traditions) come from yoga which go way, way back before the advent of shakyamuni buddha. more than a thosand years before in fact.
for some reason i have that book lying around..... from the bits i read i was impressed....now i see its highly or somewhat recommended ...guess i own a good book...almost threw it away
if you must read on zen, dhyana, meditation, buddha, tao, kokoro, tantra, mo chao, tahata, mumuksha, or even religious affairs... then choose books from OSHO. Zen has not much to do with buddhism, but it definitely has much to do with the inner buddha. Find your own practice, everything can become dhyana.
I don't really see what everyone is arguing about really. It is obvious that if you had enough time then it would be possible to discover the mechanisms behind all phenomena, and so science can explain everything given an infinite amount of time. At the moment though science cannot explain why for example one monk became enlightened after hearing a stone strike a bamboo, through so called sudden realisation. People might understand it some day but at the moment we don't.
the Sound cant be explained by Words.The more clearly you try to explain the Sound numerous are the words required.And to explain the Singular sound infinite are the words required.And that infinite is the sound explaining itself to itself by itself.
There is a phrase that has not died and has been around for what seems to have been a long time... "Out of sight, out of mind..." This doesn't apply with sight only though... One can control his or her mind by recognizing his or her own patterns... With this being a most basic one... E.g. If I want to think of art a lot, will myself to view art, and challenge myself to create art. Naturally I will be thinking more of art and less of other things.
@wishbone103 You will give your utmost concentration and effort to the task in hand. No distractions, until this task is complete. Adopting this discipline is far more productive than any other single skill. Would you agree?
Rest in peace, Nishijima sensei.
He is so gentil and peaceful in his voice. Love Buddhism
When the fish is caught, the hook is forgotten...When we arrive at Zen mind, all the words that helped lead us there will be forgotten.
This is not Eiheiji - it is a zen center in Tokyo called The Dogen Sangha - as a follower of Dogen Zenji they share much in Common with Eiheiji - which was established by Dogen and is a beautiful monastery which I have visited a number of times. This clip was chosen out of many interviews as it is in English and sub-titles are hard to see at this size. Thanks EmptyMind Films
Great wonderful man. he maybe died by now but i am sure he had good energy and enjoyed life to the fullest ,rest in peace my friend.
What a wonderful character. His visage shows true inner peace. Thanks for sharing.
"Soon, you will discover, it is you that will become the most influential teacher for yourself."Banipal Seperghan
This is a living Buddha. He truly lives the path and teachings of Buddhism. At the age of 84, his intelligence is still sharp! Very impressing!!
Not only is he very spiritual and peaceful, he is a smart guy that knows his stuff. Lol I'm learning about sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. He's so cool.
wow, he's 84
i wish i could be so healthy at that age, if i get to be 84
also i think he learned english as an adult, probably as a senior, yet he expresses himself very well. mental clarity and good health even at an advanced age...definitely worth trying zen.
Sweet man!
Thank you for your translation of the Shobogenzo.
Thanks, I'm a Zen student interested in meditation. The Buddha said there were 88,000 forms of meditation, of which seated meditation was only one form. Chanting mantras, studying the sutras or religious texts are others. Thanks for your reply!
From Eiheiji isn't it ?
I spent a short time there.
It is really beautiful.
Thanks
"I have said nothing to get you angry but yet you have been extremely antagonistic"
when someone gives you a gift you sould thank them
I am looking for Rev. Peggy Jiyu Kennett Roshi's Liturgical hymns of Buddhist chants done in western anglicized music. I can't find them anywhere on youtube or throughout. Can someone provide me a link to it.
🙏🏻
super
kul
lepo
wow
zen
buddha
🧘🏻♂️
😊😃😀
👍🏻
havala
SLOVENIJA
Wow, many common folks meditating in a room! Glad to see that!
Hello! :-)
I've just been reading Eckhart Tolle's book and he explains that the problem is thinking itself and how we use thought (or it uses us!) Good luck and Happy New Year!
Best wishes
Something to look forward to--thanks.
thank you for the video.
My first teacher. I hear his voice when I see his face here. Gassho
Thanks for sharing that. You look very young and fit for 84!
Thank you! I actually just finished a debate (if you can call it that) with a person like the one you described. It was pointless talking to him. People need to learn to open their minds and learn to listen and comprehend before rejecting ideas that are not their own. Unfortunately, too many people are perfectly happy bashing the unknown. If we could just take the time to listen, perhaps we'd find that we have a lot more in common than we thought.
To be honest I am completely ignorant to what Zen is . I saw Zen referred to in the weekly show "Life" and what was said (Zen related) really sounded good. So I thought I would see what was out there. Can you all recommend a book to read ?
Earl
I've been practicing zazen and reading a couple books. Zen Mind beginners mind and Zen Flesh Zen Bones. But I'm not understanding a lot of it. SOme of it is really mind boggling. Like everything arises out of emptiness and so when we see something it exists, yet at the same time there is no one to see it and nothing exists. Someone help me here.
just listening to him...idk...just made my day :)
A true Buddhist master. There are not many left these days.
Thank you !
he is amazing!
what r the mantras that are repeated? i want to meditate with mantras
Is there a way to combine zen meditation with exercise?
You can meditate anytime, anywhere. meditate while doing yoga, swimming or walking. I enjoy walking meditation. focus on each inhale and each exhale. I count each step, one-two-three-four steps as I inhale. I count every other step one......two......three as I exhale. Over and over again. Walk at whatever your normal pace is or slower. As thoughts interfere or you loose count, start again. Practice, practice, practice, every day.
Actually, please listen again. He states that there was no scientific explanation during the time of Buddha - not today, where he then explains how science today can verify the principles of zazen.
I frequently forget the implications of differentiating the middle from one extreme to another. Why is it important?
You can sit there and be, but regardless of sitting, you're always being. Relocating something, cleaning the dish.
I wonder what those books in the background are. Now, I wonder if they will be digitized... imagine a room with a comfortable cushion and a simple computer, online
it's a fine philosophy to follow reguardless of any creed we may have, I enjoyed this video thank you ;)
FOR JAPANESE. WHAT'S THE TITLE OF THIS SONG? PLY REPLY
COPY AND PASTE TO SEARCH. .THANK YOU SO MUCH MY HERO. . GODBLESS
I recommend reading Nishijima's book "Three Philosophies & One Reality". It explains the "Four Noble Truths of Buddhism" very well. If you read it, you may come to realize that Buddhism is not as negative and world denying as you might be thinking. In fact, saying that the opposites (Nishijima calls them idealism & materialism) can be reconciled through the practice of zazen makes perfectly sense. So read the book, practice zazen and THEN judge Buddhism based on your OWN experiences!
Does anyone know how long it takes to be a Zen Buddhist Priest? Just read that Jake Adelstein ( author of Tokyo Vice) is one.
@Max0Inq Have you read holy books of different faiths?
I haven't figured out yet, after years of medittion, how to "control" my mind. Thoughts come and go; that's just what the mind does. For me, meditation is as an effective mind training technique. It's how we look at ourselves, others and the world that shapes our lives. I've never met folks who have become disassociated through meditation, although I've heard that some have. But I believe these folks came to meditation with psychological problems that would have been best addressed on the couch.
I have been practicing zen all alone for more than 10 yrs at the midst of a busy city and with 9-5 job usually investigating dogen's work.
as for sleeping during training , a lot of factors come into play.
You can over come them with many years of practice.
@MrTamimisa life experience is dependent on what you believe.
What do you think?
@Max0Inq thats quit interesting, what is your definition of "Truth"?
no the man with the stick hits you on the certain part of the shoulder to give you energy to continue the meditation. its supposed to help your chi.
Looks like the "mon" (crest) of Eiheiji but I may be wrong.
Thanks for the clip.
Very impressive indeed. I was baffled over how good this old man was in english. I expected it to be suptiteled or something...
Anyways, great interview
i have a question for the old geezer. he has been meditating for many years.
has anything happened after 40+ years meditation. or was it a waste of time.
...I love Nishijima Roshi...
Orishania, My meditation is meditation of
non thought. I start with mantras, affirmations and chants, then after 10-20
I am in a state of non thought, awareness,
but no thought. Yes, thoughts pop up, but I
don't follow them and if persistant, I repeat
my mantras.
Just curious, how does disassociation show or manifest itself, I don't know what
that means.
Personally I think the couch,is extremely
limited. We must identify our deluded 'mind
set'...conversation has limits.
😯👏🏼🧡
It find interesting that buddhist middle-way concept is the same of greek metriotes. Wisdom has really no borders.
Love the practitioners in business suits. Awesome!
A smile is the best vitamin
on love and compassion
I practice the middle way, but I can't seem to get professional guidance. Florida is lacking real monasteries. :/
what reply are you talking about?
lot of people missing the point here...the autonomous nervous system is not a philosophy, it's a physical fact . zazen posture stretches the triple heater meridien,and relaxes the abdomen,allowing the diaphragm free movement so that the breathing can slow and the heart also. This is traditional medical fact, backed by modern investigation.When your body is relaxed and happy,your mind will begin to slow, as you realise the difference between what you want, and what you need.
quite a good point of view i muz say!but sometimes stress can be good, as it helps us from overcoming a difficult situation
@GuamKomudo With respect, the point of meditation in Zen is to NOT think about things. The purpose in practice is to see your true self as apart from the false identification with a personal self; mind, ego etc. This is the dream state we live in. Rather than "prayer," meditation is a direct link to our Buddha nature- to pure awareness.
Richard Turnock that depends entirely on your definition of meditation. If you are askibg whether zazen can be done while doing anything else, then the answer is no. Zazen means seated meditation and accirding to dogen the most important kind of zazen is shikantaza, meaning to do nothing but sit.
Buddhism is a science because there are throry and practical. We practice through meditation.
Sentient beings are numberless,
I vow to save them.
Desires are inexhaustible,
I vow to put an end to them.
The dharmas are boundless,
I vow to master them.
The Buddha way is unsurpassable,
I vow to attain it.
@impermanentoo what about so many prophets?
Ah! So, mantra is to vocalisation and thought what Yuji Gong is to physical movement and mind! Wonderful! Thank you :-)
I am a catholic but my heart doesnt belong to it.
I am half chinese..and a buddhist in mind and spirit.. how can i convert into buddhism (legally)?
Thank you for this.
I am a Falun Dafa practitioner. Falun Dafa (or Falun Gong) is a cultivation system in the Buddha School based on the principles of the Universe: Truth, Compassion, Forbearance. Since 1999 it has been brutally persecuted by the CCP in China.
"Men will never be free until they have given up their desire to strangle others and have learned to live peacefully without kings or priests." - Drav1dan
This was great :-)
He's 84 yrs old??? He looks like someone in his late 50's or 60's! Obviously meditation really has kept him healthy. I'm going to have to start practicing Zazen!
Is it Gudo Nishijima?
@cathoman7
You are a wise and open minded person who is definitely on the path of spiritual fullfilment
SiAz23, I would call it 'delusion' rather than
a form of mind control. Before you understand
the history, maybe we should understand ourselves and our motives.
But, I found meditation to be an exercise that
has help me, understand my delusions.
If we are 'deluded' then everything can be
a 'mind control', love, work, family, wisdom.
What I really appreciate about zen, is the
deemphasis of the intellectualized mind and
allow the instinctive of wisdom of the body.
@cathoman7 thank you so very much for being human and not a robot !
@timewilltell7
...and I just wanted to point out to buchdick that maybe, all christians should stick much to the commandment "love your neighbor as yourself".
I was on this page because after a trip to japan I'm being fascinated by buddhism and i just want to learn a little bit more. This said, enough said.
Japanese Zen Buddhism is full of ritual and tradition. There's nothing wrong with disregarding that and finding your own path to enlightenment... in fact by doing that you're probably closer to what Zen teaches than the modern understanding of Buddhism.
If you're interested in a Catholic perspective on medation, in both christian and buddhist traditions, read Thomas Merton. He was respected by monks and followers of both religions and wrote insightful books about both eastern and western religions.
Pizza comes from Italy, jeans from America and Yoga from India. Knowledge has to come from somewhere and wherever knowledge spreads to people refine and improve upon it for their own circumstances.
mainly though, they hit you only if you are using your alertness
@Shadowcry1000 like the nukes during the WWII you mean or is it colonization?
So true
Zen Buddhism reminds me of Taoism
@jms1jut
As far as I know (I may be mistaken), the Buddha never spoke about sin, nor preached how you must behave (he gave recomendations, and the advice to dubt them). He was impulsed to be happy and healthy, never to age, get diseased or die.
@Vaan362 you have erred by assuming I practice any dogmatic religion, rather I am just a bit of consciousness aware of itself.
@Mariet31
did you notice i was just "criticizing" buckdich1 who was saying that zen is bullshit?
I didn't say a word on buddhism!
back at ya... i've read plenty. again, these things (traditions) come from yoga which go way, way back before the advent of shakyamuni buddha. more than a thosand years before in fact.
for some reason i have that book lying around..... from the bits i read i was impressed....now i see its highly or somewhat recommended ...guess i own a good book...almost threw it away
but if you dont look for them the odds seem to drop sharply dont they?
what do you mean by kindergarten level?
@BluePittbull666
I guess that really depends, BluePitbull. What was supposed to "happen" that would, in your view, make it NOT a "waste of time?"
if you must read on zen, dhyana, meditation, buddha, tao, kokoro, tantra, mo chao, tahata, mumuksha, or even religious affairs... then choose books from OSHO. Zen has not much to do with buddhism, but it definitely has much to do with the inner buddha. Find your own practice, everything can become dhyana.
this needs subtitles at some parts
I don't really see what everyone is arguing about really. It is obvious that if you had enough time then it would be possible to discover the mechanisms behind all phenomena, and so science can explain everything given an infinite amount of time. At the moment though science cannot explain why for example one monk became enlightened after hearing a stone strike a bamboo, through so called sudden realisation. People might understand it some day but at the moment we don't.
@BluePittbull666 what about Islam or Judaism?
he looks great and has good mental capacity for his age! Clean living FTW!
the Sound cant be explained by Words.The more clearly you try to explain the Sound numerous are the words required.And to explain the Singular sound infinite are the words required.And that infinite is the sound explaining itself to itself by itself.
There is a phrase that has not died and has been around for what seems to have been a long time... "Out of sight, out of mind..." This doesn't apply with sight only though... One can control his or her mind by recognizing his or her own patterns... With this being a most basic one...
E.g. If I want to think of art a lot, will myself to view art, and challenge myself to create art. Naturally I will be thinking more of art and less of other things.
Which god?
I would recommend the book: 'The Bodhidharma Anthology',
@douglasmacjames I agree with you that obviously we are different in termsof how intellectual of that person is.
@buckdich1
Why is that?.
@wishbone103
You will give your utmost concentration and effort to the task in hand.
No distractions, until this task is complete.
Adopting this discipline is far more productive than any other single skill. Would you agree?