Comments for Celestial Drum Tendai Buddhist Sangha http://adirondacktendai.org Buddhist Practice and Teachings in the Adirondack Mountains Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:35:17 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Three Offerings on September 11 by seishin http://adirondacktendai.org/2011/09/11/three-offerings-on-september-11/#comment-410 seishin Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:35:17 +0000 http://adirondacktendai.org/?p=173#comment-410 Thank you Thank you

]]> Comment on Three Offerings on September 11 by Levente Bakos http://adirondacktendai.org/2011/09/11/three-offerings-on-september-11/#comment-404 Levente Bakos Wed, 11 Jan 2012 10:22:44 +0000 http://adirondacktendai.org/?p=173#comment-404 Beautiful calligraphy!! Beautiful calligraphy!!

]]> Comment on The Lotus Sutra – Chapter Three – Parable by seishin http://adirondacktendai.org/the-lotus-sutra/the-lotus-sutra-chapter-three-parable/#comment-167 seishin Wed, 12 Oct 2011 01:27:54 +0000 http://adirondacktendai.org/#comment-167 Hi Emile--Condescension has more to do with the attitude of the teacher rather than the content of what the teacher says. The teacher of any subject must be able to meet the student at the student's level of understanding. A piano teacher may find fulfillment in playing Beethoven sonatas, but the beginning student needs first to learn to read music and where the corresponding notes are on the keyboard. A skillful teacher will inspire enthusiasm and joy in the first steps of the beginner as he begins to play halting, simple tunes and encourage him in his practice so he may continue to improve and learn more. There is no delusion here. The teacher realizes what the student will find useful to aid her in her learning and presents just that. A condescending teacher, on the other hand, may present the same material, but it is presented with an attitude that communicates to the student an air of disdain for her lack of ability. Such an unskillful teacher may even flood the student with too much information for which she is unprepared. In presenting the Dharma as illustrated in the parable of the burning house, the Buddha (represented by the father) is acting the role of the skillful teacher. The parable says that he tried to convince his children to leave by directly warning them of the danger they were in, but the warnings and the danger were not comprehended by the children, so he used their own desire to lure them from the burning house by offering them the three carts they had yearned for. In doing so, the Buddha did not himself revert to the delusion that one can be free of suffering through the fulfillment of desire any more than the piano teacher will revert to thinking that one has mastered the piano by playing a simple tune. We'll see a further explanation of this sort of 'provisional teaching' in the parable of magic city in chapter 7. By having the student's best interests at heart, and by having no thought of one's own, the teacher remains free from condescension. Gassho, Seishin Hi Emile–Condescension has more to do with the attitude of the teacher rather than the content of what the teacher says. The teacher of any subject must be able to meet the student at the student’s level of understanding. A piano teacher may find fulfillment in playing Beethoven sonatas, but the beginning student needs first to learn to read music and where the corresponding notes are on the keyboard. A skillful teacher will inspire enthusiasm and joy in the first steps of the beginner as he begins to play halting, simple tunes and encourage him in his practice so he may continue to improve and learn more. There is no delusion here. The teacher realizes what the student will find useful to aid her in her learning and presents just that. A condescending teacher, on the other hand, may present the same material, but it is presented with an attitude that communicates to the student an air of disdain for her lack of ability. Such an unskillful teacher may even flood the student with too much information for which she is unprepared.

In presenting the Dharma as illustrated in the parable of the burning house, the Buddha (represented by the father) is acting the role of the skillful teacher. The parable says that he tried to convince his children to leave by directly warning them of the danger they were in, but the warnings and the danger were not comprehended by the children, so he used their own desire to lure them from the burning house by offering them the three carts they had yearned for. In doing so, the Buddha did not himself revert to the delusion that one can be free of suffering through the fulfillment of desire any more than the piano teacher will revert to thinking that one has mastered the piano by playing a simple tune. We’ll see a further explanation of this sort of ‘provisional teaching’ in the parable of magic city in chapter 7. By having the student’s best interests at heart, and by having no thought of one’s own, the teacher remains free from condescension.
Gassho,
Seishin

]]> Comment on The Lotus Sutra – Chapter Three – Parable by Emile Sorger http://adirondacktendai.org/the-lotus-sutra/the-lotus-sutra-chapter-three-parable/#comment-166 Emile Sorger Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:04:03 +0000 http://adirondacktendai.org/#comment-166 The parable of the burning house brings up a challenging dynamic for me. One of the effects of continuous practice is that after a time the practitioner begins to see some of the illusions that surround him. With those who practice and have similar levels of realization a conversation can be had about these illusions however a conversation with someone who has not had parallel experiences cannot employ the same type of language. By using the language of his children the father was able to lure them out of the burning house. I appreciate the ideal of a teacher being able to use many languages to reach many people however I am challenged by the practice of using another language without reverting to the implied delusions associated with it. Is the ability to do so merely another skill to be learned? Does doing so not involve a necessary degree of condescendence? Peace The parable of the burning house brings up a challenging dynamic for me. One of the effects of continuous practice is that after a time the practitioner begins to see some of the illusions that surround him. With those who practice and have similar levels of realization a conversation can be had about these illusions however a conversation with someone who has not had parallel experiences cannot employ the same type of language. By using the language of his children the father was able to lure them out of the burning house. I appreciate the ideal of a teacher being able to use many languages to reach many people however I am challenged by the practice of using another language without reverting to the implied delusions associated with it. Is the ability to do so merely another skill to be learned? Does doing so not involve a necessary degree of condescendence?

Peace

]]> Comment on Thirty Monks from Japan come to Tendai Buddhist Institute to perform Soryo Tokudo (ordination) ceremony by koin http://adirondacktendai.org/2010/10/28/soryo-tokudo/#comment-104 koin Fri, 05 Aug 2011 13:37:59 +0000 http://adirondacktendai.org/?p=105#comment-104 seishin, i was just looking at the shingi and checking out the sanghas. i had to leave the day of the ceremony, before your masterful address. reading your words today confirmed for me what remarkable teacher you are. thank you for that speech, i can't assign any adjective to describe the beauty, wisdom and grace you presented that day and i am sorry i missed it's delivery in your resonant voice. all the best to you, taff and daichi as you spread the dharma in the heavenly adirondacks. with love, appreciation and admiration gassho koin seishin,

i was just looking at the shingi and checking out the sanghas. i had to leave the day of the ceremony, before your masterful address. reading your words today confirmed for me what remarkable teacher you are. thank you for that speech, i can’t assign any adjective to describe the beauty, wisdom and grace you presented that day and i am sorry i missed it’s delivery in your resonant voice.
all the best to you, taff and daichi as you spread the dharma in the heavenly adirondacks.
with love, appreciation and admiration
gassho
koin

]]> Comment on Thirty Monks from Japan come to Tendai Buddhist Institute to perform Soryo Tokudo (ordination) ceremony by Doko http://adirondacktendai.org/2010/10/28/soryo-tokudo/#comment-61 Doko Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:57:53 +0000 http://adirondacktendai.org/?p=105#comment-61 I just read this for the first time. It is a very beautiful expression of gratitude and humility. Congratulations to you all! Gassho . . . Doko I just read this for the first time. It is a very beautiful expression of gratitude and humility. Congratulations to you all!

Gassho . . .
Doko

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