The thing I like about Brad is the same thing I like about you: both of you are just honest about the reality of practice. You aren't trying to sell people an idea (you're trying to sell books instead 😉) but rather you are just telling us in as plain a fashion as possible the stark reality of practice. No illusions, no holier-than-thou attitude, no over the top "Look how calm and compassionate I am" bs. You're just regular people that spent years and years training hard and came out the other end as, well, regular people. I trust what the two of you have to say because of that.
This is a really great summary of what I like about both of these guys. A lot of English language Zen sure seems to have a lot of people who seem really intent on proving to everyone how perpetually calm and compassionate. It honestly turned me off of Zen for quite some time.
I commented on this on Instagram, but I want to add something. Most people probably have a different view, which is fine (I'm no expert in these things), but I've always worked on the basis that you can meditate anywhere, anytime. Any act, be it walking, sitting, eating, taking a dump, whatever, can be a meditation, and the attainment of enlightenment comes from how much awareness you have of whatever act it is you're doing in your everyday life. Thich Nhat Hanh (yeah, I know I quote him a lot... I'm a Plum Village practitioner and all that... *shrug*) said that "There is no enlightenment outside of daily life." And lay practitioners have just as much of a daily life as monastics do. I'll go crawl back under my stone now.
"Any act, be it walking, sitting, eating, taking a dump, whatever, can be a meditation, and the attainment of enlightenment comes from how much awareness you have of whatever act it is you're doing in your everyday life. " perfect
I have come to really respect and value Brad's videos. He is so unpretentious in appearance and manor, like the nerdy kid next door. But often gives us something to chew on.
Notes on Meditation: "Incidentally (or not), there is never any mention of meditation techniques in the Suttas, but ‘understanding’ and ‘discernment’, as a way to reach the final freedom from suffering, is described and referred to countless times." Bhikkhu Ninoslav Ñāṇamol Tsoknyi Rinpoche shared an old Mahamudra saying; "Sentient beings are not enlightened because they don't meditate. Yogi's are not enlightened because they do."
Your imitation of your teacher reminds me of my mom's dentist, who was an older guy from Hong Kong. In my 20s, she was after me to get braces so she introduced me to him and told him about the braces, and he turned to me and said, "Why you need braces? You go to Hollywood, be movie star?" Which settled the issue once and for all. 😀
@@zenconfidential25 I'm just learning that there are contemporary Zen practitioners that I can learn from. Until now, the teachers of my Zen have all been dead people.
So many that I have known ran to the monastery, not just because of the teacher, but to escape the current reality they were living. Then, they would come down from the mountain and face the reality that they left. Some bounce back. Some don’t. Some become a holier-than-thou pontificator of the TRUE zen experience, aka their own bullhockey. Nope. After my experience and others, I think it’s actually more difficult for many of the monks to polish tile, carry water, and fetch wood. You’re lesson is one of the most important: Re-manifest dying into the activity and letting go - rinse and repeat, moment after moment. Now, back to my peanut butter on toast.
Very well done. I appreciate the theme. My first teacher placed excessively value on kensho, and due to a serious mis-understanding on my part based on my teacher's focus, I spent several years "chasing samadhi" experiences. It actually sent me down some dangerous paths. And indeed, my first teacher eventually "crashed" and stopped his practice. On the other hand, I came out of it and now have wonderful teachers and a meaningful practice.
Yeah, it’s very interesting. I think it was Jung who said something like don’t chase after spiritual experiences that you’re not ready for. There’s real wisdom in that for me.
Thanks Johnny Panini (and Brad)! Because of you, not only do I know **even more** that I’ll never be enlightened, but I just discovered this really cool channel! I can now keep wallowing in samsara, BUT while watching Jack’s videos. Woot! 😎
Many people who would agree with Jonny Salami / Pastrami :) I don't. I will never forget riding in the SUV that takes you into Tassajara and someone talking about sitting for hours and it really felt competitive and ego based and I thought I hope I never speak that way.Retreats are important and provide a sort of reset which is very valuable and at the same time, I don't feel the need to do zazen for hours at all. I feel better when I do it daily and that is why I get my bottom back on the cushion, it works. I don't really know how it works but it works and that's enough for me. I like your reminder that all your problem,/issues whatever you wanna call it follow you, I think people need to hear that. thanks again!
Both me and Brad had the same teacher (Tim McCarthy), so I appreciate Brad's videos. I was Tim's worst student. However, I did have A LOT of interactions with him that I still mostly remember. I still struggle with the question of, "What should I be doing?"
This experience defined as enlightenment could be a nice experience and also could also be a scary experience. It is not a glimpse of some great secret of life, an achievement or a social status for selected people. A tibetan monk says it is merely changes of energy in the body which could evoke bad and good experiences.
Yeah so much to say about this kind of energy. Generally whenever someone starts using a bunch of Zen/Buddhist buzzwords in a regular-ass conversation, I either A. Immediately stop paying attention, or B. Immediately start fucking with them. Uugh, thinking back to my first couple years in a Sangha and the way I used to talk because I was so concerned about my teachers to taking notice to how great I thought my practice was 😭🤣...cringe.
Student: Master i think ive achieved entlightenment😊! Master: Wow! That is fantastic my little Gautama Jr., what are you going to do now? Student: well... I have to take a shit. At that moment both of them became "enlightened "
@@zenconfidential25 I don't know if my previous comment got snagged because it contained an URL, but anyway: I think it's a funny concept that could work like a surreal comic strip, but not so much as a prose story. Surreal like Cowboy Henk (look it up, it's wild). Then every strip is an absurd, elaborate heist which illustrates some Zen concept.
You haven’t seen anyone delivered because till you wake up you see what you want to see. Don’t need monasteries to undergo the undoing of what you made up. Actually the world is the best place to undo by watching what is coming your way to undo it by finding it inside you. Once undone the world disappears and kingdom of Heaven kicks in. It is within you and it’s not of this world. Incomparable to any appearances.
I find the idea of enlightened vs enlightened people pretty repulsive in itself. It also makes a mokery of the whole idea of nonduality in teh first place. I don't want to walk around thinking I am wiser than people, "special". urgh.
@@zenconfidential25 the zen teacher u had me i go in and out of Samadhi each day like rigth now no one is even writing this go in and out each day yet i have no teacher so may need help to finish the process
If you only need 5 seconds to meditate properly, why do the zen masters meditate for so long? Does that mean they dont know what they are doing or are talking shite... a bit like why one would leave a monestary because..... they realise what a load of rubbish their lives are..
@@zenconfidential25 haha! I suppose It’s important to remember that zen practice isn’t really about “me”. Sure it is in the beginning. But the more time you practice, weather as a monk or lay practitioner…the emphasis should begin to shift. It’s not about “me” but about how I can let go of my self obsessed thoughts and desires, and be of service to whatever life is dishing up. And if it’s dishing up salami, so be it!
Johnny Salami is a pretty werid guy. If he is the guy who goes by the same name in other social media, then he is like a Theravada fundamentalist, believes that most Mahayana schools aren't real Buddhism, and many times he makes this confidently incorrect statements about Buddhism and Buddhist practice.
Some people got mad at me for calling him Johnny salami. Alas… I am doomed to offend. I have noticed from one of his other comments on Brad’s page that he seemed to maybe have a different perspective than the Zen perspective. Anyway, Johnny salami? If you’re out there? We love you!
@@zenconfidential25 Hahaha, yes. Yes, I think the guy sometimes makes gross generalizations based in Theravada, as if all Buddhist schools had the same paradigms and criteria.
As I asked on Brad's video: "Can monks become enlightened (at all)?". If so, why haven't any monks advanced Zen theory in light of scientific advances? Why is the realization of the absolute nature of reality not explicitly related to the scientific nature of reality by enlightened monks who should know better? I attained full "enlightenment" (realization of the absolute) the very first time I meditated, in a matter of minutes, so nobody can hookwink me on these issues. I've also been able to relate my experience in purely scientific terms, which no monks have managed to do.
The thing I like about Brad is the same thing I like about you: both of you are just honest about the reality of practice. You aren't trying to sell people an idea (you're trying to sell books instead 😉) but rather you are just telling us in as plain a fashion as possible the stark reality of practice. No illusions, no holier-than-thou attitude, no over the top "Look how calm and compassionate I am" bs. You're just regular people that spent years and years training hard and came out the other end as, well, regular people. I trust what the two of you have to say because of that.
Thank you my friend. That is also why I like Brad's stuff.
This is a really great summary of what I like about both of these guys. A lot of English language Zen sure seems to have a lot of people who seem really intent on proving to everyone how perpetually calm and compassionate. It honestly turned me off of Zen for quite some time.
Exactly!
I commented on this on Instagram, but I want to add something. Most people probably have a different view, which is fine (I'm no expert in these things), but I've always worked on the basis that you can meditate anywhere, anytime. Any act, be it walking, sitting, eating, taking a dump, whatever, can be a meditation, and the attainment of enlightenment comes from how much awareness you have of whatever act it is you're doing in your everyday life.
Thich Nhat Hanh (yeah, I know I quote him a lot... I'm a Plum Village practitioner and all that... *shrug*) said that "There is no enlightenment outside of daily life." And lay practitioners have just as much of a daily life as monastics do.
I'll go crawl back under my stone now.
"Any act, be it walking, sitting, eating, taking a dump, whatever, can be a meditation, and the attainment of enlightenment comes from how much awareness you have of whatever act it is you're doing in your everyday life. "
perfect
Big up to the smiling people at Plum village - I live 50 kms away. Actually the region around plumvillage is infested with zen and tibetan monasteries
@@zenconfidential25 🙂
@@zenconfidential25 yessssss :) u had a good F teacher :)
I have come to really respect and value Brad's videos. He is so unpretentious in appearance and manor, like the nerdy kid next door. But often gives us something to chew on.
Agreed 100%
Aside from Brad's channel, I don't watch any other Zen content...until now, and subscribed. Terrific talk, thank you!
Awesome, thank you!
This one is definitely a candidate for your Greatest Hits list.
awesome praise. Thank you.
Agree. Listening has even added a little tangent to the white board for a video I have yet to shoot.
Notes on Meditation:
"Incidentally (or not), there is never any mention of meditation techniques in the Suttas, but ‘understanding’ and ‘discernment’, as a way to reach the final freedom from suffering, is described and referred to countless times."
Bhikkhu Ninoslav Ñāṇamol
Tsoknyi Rinpoche shared an old Mahamudra saying;
"Sentient beings are not enlightened because they don't meditate.
Yogi's are not enlightened because they do."
That's a great dang quote, thank you.
Thanks Jack! I really appreciate this.
Any time!
Your imitation of your teacher reminds me of my mom's dentist, who was an older guy from Hong Kong. In my 20s, she was after me to get braces so she introduced me to him and told him about the braces, and he turned to me and said, "Why you need braces? You go to Hollywood, be movie star?" Which settled the issue once and for all. 😀
Very. Wise. Words. Period!!! ;)
Subscribed, this was excellent. Look forward to seeing more of your videos 🧐
Welcome aboard! And thank you for reaching out. It means a great deal to me.
@@zenconfidential25 I'm just learning that there are contemporary Zen practitioners that I can learn from. Until now, the teachers of my Zen have all been dead people.
same ;)
So many that I have known ran to the monastery, not just because of the teacher, but to escape the current reality they were living. Then, they would come down from the mountain and face the reality that they left. Some bounce back. Some don’t. Some become a holier-than-thou pontificator of the TRUE zen experience, aka their own bullhockey. Nope.
After my experience and others, I think it’s actually more difficult for many of the monks to polish tile, carry water, and fetch wood. You’re lesson is one of the most important: Re-manifest dying into the activity and letting go - rinse and repeat, moment after moment.
Now, back to my peanut butter on toast.
And back to my falafel! ;)
Was going to tag you on Brad's video because he mentioned you. Loved the vid! ( - AM)
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you.
Welcome!
But well explained....accords with my own experience over years of sitting
Very well done. I appreciate the theme. My first teacher placed excessively value on kensho, and due to a serious mis-understanding on my part based on my teacher's focus, I spent several years "chasing samadhi" experiences. It actually sent me down some dangerous paths. And indeed, my first teacher eventually "crashed" and stopped his practice. On the other hand, I came out of it and now have wonderful teachers and a meaningful practice.
Yeah, it’s very interesting. I think it was Jung who said something like don’t chase after spiritual experiences that you’re not ready for. There’s real wisdom in that for me.
I feel like a good Zen monastery forces you to wake up. However, lay life will almost certainly force you to grow up. great video!
Very well put, yes.
Thanks Johnny Panini (and Brad)! Because of you, not only do I know **even more** that I’ll never be enlightened, but I just discovered this really cool channel! I can now keep wallowing in samsara, BUT while watching Jack’s videos. Woot! 😎
We can at least make samsaric existance more pleasant, hehehe.
Hehe, Jack, love ya dude! Great dork pic!Get well soon brotha!
Thanks!
Great message.
thank you
Feel better Jack! This is …masterful. So much truth. So much to digest. Love ya!
Thank you as always Jeffrey!
I just saw Brad’s video and looked you up, looked you up. Cool channel.
Thank you and welcome aboard!
Many people who would agree with Jonny Salami / Pastrami :) I don't. I will never forget riding in the SUV that takes you into Tassajara and someone talking about sitting for hours and it really felt competitive and ego based and I thought I hope I never speak that way.Retreats are important and provide a sort of reset which is very valuable and at the same time, I don't feel the need to do zazen for hours at all. I feel better when I do it daily and that is why I get my bottom back on the cushion, it works. I don't really know how it works but it works and that's enough for me. I like your reminder that all your problem,/issues whatever you wanna call it follow you, I think people need to hear that. thanks again!
Both me and Brad had the same teacher (Tim McCarthy), so I appreciate Brad's videos. I was Tim's worst student. However, I did have A LOT of interactions with him that I still mostly remember. I still struggle with the question of, "What should I be doing?"
thank you my friend
great video
Glad you enjoyed it. Be well dear friend.
Everyone is so uptight and attached to the “my enlightenment is bigger than yours” mentality. So silly but god love them. Great video!
Yes! Thank you!
This experience defined as enlightenment could be a nice experience and also could also be a scary experience. It is not a glimpse of some great secret of life, an achievement or a social status for selected people. A tibetan monk says it is merely changes of energy in the body which could evoke bad and good experiences.
Been thinking about Bankei, not sitting in meditation, but just cultivating a mind state
Do tell!
Yeah so much to say about this kind of energy. Generally whenever someone starts using a bunch of Zen/Buddhist buzzwords in a regular-ass conversation, I either A. Immediately stop paying attention, or B. Immediately start fucking with them.
Uugh, thinking back to my first couple years in a Sangha and the way I used to talk because I was so concerned about my teachers to taking notice to how great I thought my practice was 😭🤣...cringe.
been there!
11:53 Truth!
Student: Master i think ive achieved entlightenment😊!
Master: Wow! That is fantastic my little Gautama Jr., what are you going to do now?
Student: well... I have to take a shit.
At that moment both of them became "enlightened "
Thank you senpai!
Can we address Mr Samadhi's real name? Its actually Jhanny Samadhi. Which seems to me to be far superior to a mere Johnny. Kudos to all Jhannies.
I wholeheartedly concede your point. It’s a pretty awesome name.
There's a Johnny Salami in every group of people.
I'm not interested in enlightenment. But what the hell kind of green tea are you drinking? 🙏
The good stuff, my friend. Only the good stuff. ;)
Johnny Samadhi would also be a great concept for a gangster story - he steals by recognizing that he IS the loot.
Dude. Expand on this. I LIKE it....
@@zenconfidential25 I don't know if my previous comment got snagged because it contained an URL, but anyway: I think it's a funny concept that could work like a surreal comic strip, but not so much as a prose story. Surreal like Cowboy Henk (look it up, it's wild). Then every strip is an absurd, elaborate heist which illustrates some Zen concept.
Johnny Samadhi neva had the makings of a varsity athlete 🤌
Perhaps rather than manufacture or enginer one might say "induce"
Jeez. Perfectly put my friend. Where were you when I was making this video??!!! :)
You haven’t seen anyone delivered because till you wake up you see what you want to see.
Don’t need monasteries to undergo the undoing of what you made up. Actually the world is the best place to undo by watching what is coming your way to undo it by finding it inside you. Once undone
the world disappears and kingdom of Heaven kicks in. It is within you and it’s not of this world. Incomparable to any appearances.
I wonder...
@@zenconfidential25 🎵
What’s the point of making fun of someone’s name?
I ... don't think it's their real name
you mean Samadhi is a fake name, like, oh, I don't know, Shozan ?@@zenconfidential25
Hey, leave Shazam Jack Hauberk alone. @zenconfidential25
well, yeah
This is hilarious
I find the idea of enlightened vs enlightened people pretty repulsive in itself. It also makes a mokery of the whole idea of nonduality in teh first place. I don't want to walk around thinking I am wiser than people, "special". urgh.
Samadhi is meant to become permanant
Hmm...
@@zenconfidential25 its all about becomming more awake as u said
But can we ever become permanently awake? Who is it that would be there to become permanently awake?
my view is, enlightenment is not something you get, it's something that happens to "you".
Someone told me there are no enlightened people, there are only enlightened experiences.
Some might think that Johnny Salami is the master, but he is nothing compared to Johnny Pastrami.
And what about...Toni Minestrone?
Thank you. However I don't think that it is compassionate to mock Johnny's name.
I mock with love. I mock ...with love.
Think of it as a verbal kyosaku.
Is your teacher awake to reality?
Whose teacher?
@@zenconfidential25 the zen teacher u had me i go in and out of Samadhi each day like rigth now no one is even writing this go in and out each day yet i have no teacher so may need help to finish the process
good luck!
If you only need 5 seconds to meditate properly, why do the zen masters meditate for so long? Does that mean they dont know what they are doing or are talking shite... a bit like why one would leave a monestary because..... they realise what a load of rubbish their lives are..
It's more of a repeated 5 seconds letting go in daily life. No need to even do the lotus seat.
That could be.
@@guido3771 that's it, being able to relax for a bit.. theres the secret 😁
(Easier said than done these days🙄)
I really want salami now!
And in fact that was MY AIM in making this video!! ;)
@@zenconfidential25 haha!
I suppose It’s important to remember that zen practice isn’t really about “me”. Sure it is in the beginning. But the more time you practice, weather as a monk or lay practitioner…the emphasis should begin to shift. It’s not about “me” but about how I can let go of my self obsessed thoughts and desires, and be of service to whatever life is dishing up. And if it’s dishing up salami, so be it!
Covid unleashed the Beast😁 So I guess there's not much point to transcranial magnetic stimulation 🙃
Well, there's ALWAYS a point to transcranial magnetic stimulation, I'D say.
Only dogs can become enlightened.
Finally, a comment on this channel that I can fully agree with!!
After Awakening, it's not you having to manifest 'enlightenment' every day. It's effortless noticing every day.
Johnny Salami is a pretty werid guy. If he is the guy who goes by the same name in other social media, then he is like a Theravada fundamentalist, believes that most Mahayana schools aren't real Buddhism, and many times he makes this confidently incorrect statements about Buddhism and Buddhist practice.
Some people got mad at me for calling him Johnny salami. Alas… I am doomed to offend. I have noticed from one of his other comments on Brad’s page that he seemed to maybe have a different perspective than the Zen perspective. Anyway, Johnny salami? If you’re out there? We love you!
@@zenconfidential25 Hahaha, yes. Yes, I think the guy sometimes makes gross generalizations based in Theravada, as if all Buddhist schools had the same paradigms and criteria.
You are not kind
Maybe yes, maybe no, but definitely genuine!
As I asked on Brad's video: "Can monks become enlightened (at all)?". If so, why haven't any monks advanced Zen theory in light of scientific advances? Why is the realization of the absolute nature of reality not explicitly related to the scientific nature of reality by enlightened monks who should know better? I attained full "enlightenment" (realization of the absolute) the very first time I meditated, in a matter of minutes, so nobody can hookwink me on these issues. I've also been able to relate my experience in purely scientific terms, which no monks have managed to do.
You're mixing apples and oranges.
@@zenconfidential25 You can't hoodwink the likes of me, and I wouldn't bother trying to argue either. Censorship is your only play.