Interview with Zen Master Bon Soeng

[Teller3448]

The founder of Buddhism wanted to release himself from the wheel of OWWWEEE...not by leaving, but by not coming back. In other words...by attrition, according to the doctrine of dependant origination.

While the zen man wants to live in its moments.

Two fingers...two moons.

[JQ108]

@Teller3448 Even if the Buddha was on your own back, he could not help you. Your eyes are locked on your own finger.

[Teller3448]

@JQ108 As soon as he was dead his followers started ignoring the founder of Buddhism. He wanted to establish a path of aligning certain aspects of one's life with the principle of 'rightness'...right speech, action, livelihood, effort, and so on. Is there a right ritual in there? Right bowing, or right worship???

Of course not...but thats what Buddhism has become...to say nothing of those who think enlightenment is a practice.

[Teller3448]

How is this 'not knowing' different from what Buddha called 'ignorance'?

[emptygatezen]

@Teller3448 "Not knowing" is the point before all concepts and ideas of this world, who we are, etc. Ignorance is having preconceived concepts and ideas about this world, who we are etc.

[Teller3448]

@emptygatezen Whats the difference between having ideas/concepts and knowing facts and figures? The founder of Buddhism most certainly had what could be called ideas about the world...human life, etc.

[emptygatezen]

@Teller3448 It is said that before practicing, Buddha was attached to name and form. After sitting under the Bodhi tree and attaining his true self, he was no longer attached to name and form. Then he got up from under the tree, and used name and form for 49 years to help others.

[Teller3448]

@emptygatezen If a person feels physical pain when a bowling ball is dropped on their foot...does that mean they are still attached to form?

[emptygatezen]

@Teller3448 OWWWWWEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

[Teller3448]

@emptygatezen Whats the difference between your OWWWWEEEE and a blind dog's OWWWWWEEEE?

[emptygatezen]

@Teller3448 Now you are a like a fish caught in the net.

[Teller3448]

@emptygatezen Whats the difference between what you call 'true self' and Buddha's 'anatta'?

[emptygatezen]

@Teller3448 Outside the sun is shining....inside the lamp is bright. So....like two fingers pointing the moon.

[Teller3448]

@emptygatezen Are you sure its the same moon?

[emptygatezen]

@Teller3448 You want more?

[Teller3448]

@emptygatezen My questions are not koans.

[emptygatezen]

@Teller3448 Neither are the responses.

[Teller3448]

@emptygatezen So...if the moment is all OWWWEEEEE...do you still want to live in it?

[Teller3448]

Buddhism is not about WHO you are...its about HOW you are.

[emptygatezen]

@Teller3448 So....HOW are you?

[Teller3448]

@emptygatezen It depends a great deal on what I've been eating for the last week or so. Also, stretching exercises have an enormous impact. I've learned some respect for fasting...according to the Peter Glickman plan. I'll be doing a serious fast for several days as soon the break for the holidays.

[emptygatezen]

@YallDontEvenKnow

[bezelbub2010]

August Turak talks about the red hot cannon of zen. Is his karma missing?

[emptygatezen]

@bezelbub2010 The red hot cannon of Zen already killed you.

[bezelbub2010]

August Turak talks of the red hot cannon of zen. Is his karma missing?

[claudia19991000]

Zen shows the inner beauty man ;-D

[dlow365]

We say" We come and go"

but really we are always here..

[SpeakZen]

He who speaks does not know... He who knows does not speak

[emptygatezen]

@SpeakZen So do you know or not know?

[SpeakZen]

@emptygatezen Only, don't know (Suzuki rides again). I wish I knew. Sometimes I think I know and then it all vanishes into the background noise of life. That is the blessing of living outside in the world, I suppose. It's been like this since an unexpected kensho back in the 80's. Only, don't know... for now Gassho :-)

[dharmaseed]

@emptygatezen Ooh, a koan in response to the Tao!!:)

[fl260]

@SpeakZen You're so right; I mean, look at you.

[SpeakZen]

@fl260 Yes, i wish i could (see myself). But, if i do see something... it's only a memory. It vanishes as each moment passes. The person i was just 10 seconds ago really does not exist... he's dead and a new memory begins. Scary stuff... Gotta be careful... Zen disease is real... Better to just enjoy life and be "aware" of all it's fascinating convolutions and screen memory displays. OK, that really sounds like someone on LSD, or psychotic, doesn't it? So, be careful and just enjoy life!

[fl260]

@SpeakZen You said "be careful" two times, so we sure must agree more then I thought at first! ;)

[SpeakZen]

@fl260 What was intended by "being careful" was a warning to "all" that may want to try Zen without a qualified master to monitor progress. Check out the word, "Kundalini". It is an energy that has been around since we appeared on this earth. Kundalini resides in everyone's body. It is stored in the lower spine. By breath control (Zen?) it can rise up the spine and be a form of ecstasy or absolute hell to the participant. So, "be careful" means just that! I have experienced it first hand.

[fl260]

@SpeakZen Then again, thanks for explaining it carefully. As a french boy, I sometimes have problem understanding what I read!

[Algernon3]

@SpeakZen See 4:20

[lwswbfgxfa4437]

NEW;`;IPAD2;''ＦＲＥＥ;'`SITES':;;­:`

ＷＷＷ.ＹＥＳＩＰＡＤ２Ｓ.ＴＫ

COPY SITE & PASTE

[justkarmatoo]

Beautiful. Don't forget to not know. Thanks for sharing

[BuddhistZenDave]

What if being with your Zen Teacher makes you feel like an asshole?

[emptygatezen]

@BuddhistZenDave What is "it" that feels like an asshole?

[BuddhistZenDave]

@emptygatezen too zen

[emptygatezen]

@BuddhistZenDave Why do you make that "zen"? You are human like anyone else yeah?

[BuddhistZenDave]

@emptygatezen well I know that, but I was referring to your answer

[emptygatezen]

@BuddhistZenDave So was I......

[mmunis]

What the precious things you said! Thank you very much! Gassho! _/\_

[emptygatezen]

@mmunis _/l\_

[etphonehome2915]

Mr. Soeng thank you for this clip. Can you tell me of the lineage compared to the other zen schools? Is it connected to Dogen and Suzuki? I think you have a great concept when you mix therapy and meditation.

[emptygatezen]

@etphonehome2915 Our lineage comes from Korea. The founding teacher of the Kwan Um School of Zen was Zen Master Seung Sahn. _/l\_

[etphonehome2915]

Thank you very much. Very impressive. Your center will help many many people. Very important work to teach people about them selves and how to end suffering. Be like children, the Bible says, which is exactly like "beginners mind". Wisdom is universal. I think zen is outstanding in one major aspect compared to other "systems": the foundation of the teachings will in the end conquer what mankind is suffering from: anger, hate, ignorance, desire and selfish actions. Blessed are the poor in spirit

[emptygatezen]

@etphonehome2915 _/l\_

[ruzickaw]

@etphonehome2915 If there were no suffering humanity will not progress anymore. If you will not feel any anger anymore you will be boring.

[etphonehome2915]

That is true. Very good argument - everything is good :). We need to learn we need to understand we need to learn the path to compassion and help eachother. My statement was about helping those in need.

Best regards.

[ruzickaw]

@etphonehome2915 Who says , that we need to understand? Understand what? Learn what path? There is no path, just the moment. Nature is without compassion . Who does not help himself, will not be helped, and should not be helped.. Too much helping makes people lazy. Or you do something or you die.

Have a look at Afrika. They produce children without having the means to feet them. And now they always wait for help from the West. Nature does not allow that.

[etphonehome2915]

Im not here to start a discussion on ideas and concepts. Choose your path. Peace.

[ruzickaw]

@etphonehome2915 Yes, avoid any discussion so you can keep your peace and don´t have to question your concepts.

[T1Brit]

Yeah this is like fresh air. You know it is right.

[Aivopiirakka]

I really would like to recommend a book called: "Zen mind, Beginner's mind" for all of you. It is a collection of what Shunryu Suzuki spoke to his pupils and has a lot of pure joy in its pages!

Culture, that is all about material values and rising in the social hierarchy is a scary environment to live, although here's all the basic needs. I live in Finland and have found all this around me. That's why I would like to hear about zen from people living in this kind of environment. Any hints?

[emptygatezen]

@Aivopiirakka Use your karma, your situation to help others.

[dlow265]

I thought I was alone. This guy took the words right out of my mouth. Thank you, sir

[emptygatezen]

@dlow265 Your welcome!

[kiriakos2012]

This man has spiritual joy , it's obvious that

[BillKiernan]

and how do we know this guy is a "master?" because other people in the religion say he is. and how do we know they are masters and qualified to say such things? because OTHER people in the religion vouch for them.

[mujaku]

@BillKiernan The Zen lineage is a fabrication. The Buddha never had a successor according to Ananda (Gopakamoggallana Sutta [M.iii.7]). The only thing transmitted is pure Mind—and you can realize this Mind on your own (which isn't easy). If Zen Master Bon Soeng lacks the awakened Mind why bother with him?

[LEVRAIVRAIZEN]

zazen is fucking bullshit : it proceed from self and thinkings and make self stronger ! you can sit or not, masturbate or not, drink or not, go to the church or not, this is the same ! all these things proceed from Self, from thinkings. The only diference is YOU THINK church, temple, zazen, nice thinkings....are more spiritual ! but SPIRITUAL THINGS ARE MADE BY THINKINGS TOO. You are fucked but you don't anderstand that ....lol !

[atari67]

@LEVRAIVRAIZEN - you so totally have missed the point.

[LEVRAIVRAIZEN]

@atari67 zazen is bullshit and not, when you active zazen, zazen is not bullshit. What did I miss ?

[LEVRAIVRAIZEN]

@atari67 buddha pictures is bullshit and not, when you active buddha picture you can transcend time and space. When somebody live the symbol, the symbol begin to live.

[atari67]

@LEVRAIVRAIZEN - It's obvious to me that English is not your first language, and that's making this argument difficult to have.

[LEVRAIVRAIZEN]

@atari67 yes, the Problem is language !

[LEVRAIVRAIZEN]

@atari67 no I was just joking, the problem is not the language so what is this ?

[Amirmourad]

@LEVRAIVRAIZEN

Meditation has nothing whatsoever to do with going to church, or a temple. You may go to church, temple, or gather libaries worth of knowledge into your memory bank and yet remain as unconscious and asleep as you have always been. Meditation is a very direct, straightforward, and scientific entry into your own being to come to know yourself, through and through. And unless you know yourself, suffering is inevitable. Because one is living just like a machine, a mechanism.

[douglasmacjames]

@Amirmourad man, i think you are projecting your good words on meditation because you like meditation and dislike church, but somepeople enter into their own being too with church and bible etc...

You are free of catholic chuch, good. But you still need to be free the meditation, the zen way. Don't lie to yourself this is YOUR church !

[douglasmacjames]

@Amirmourad oh...and by the way : suffering is good ! it' can makes you stronger if you want to

[noskatermag]

Nice and grounded, great ordinary stuff.

[Calminmind]

way chilled

[andy11215]

very amazing person