tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288Tue, 31 Mar 2026 19:34:52 +0000Zen meditationZenmeditationMindfulnesssuchnessHeart SutraZazenZen practicebuddhismcontentmentdesireshappinesshindrances to meditationsuchness of universewantsEmptinessawarenessclingingeffort in meditationenlightenmentflow with lifegift of Zengood and badimpermanencenirvanano selfpragmatism of emptinesssufferingunderstanding the mindAbhaya SuttaAngulimalaBahiyaBlue Cliff MonasteryBuddhaBuddhist MonasteryChan Master Sheng YenDogenEquanimityFreedomGreedHui NengLife is sufferingMindfulness of speechNew year resolutionPeacefulPine BushPine Bush NYReal renunciationRohatsuSamathaSittingSitting is difficultSitting meditationThich Nhat HanhUniverseVipassanaWhy meditateZen communityZen practice meditation awareness peace contentment wholesome actionZen trainingZendoabsoluteacceptanceaddictionatmanautobiographybeing presentbeyond preferencesblack and whiteboiled peanutsbuddha's view on impermanencechasechinese buddhist monkchintan's blogconditioned mindcontrolcravingdeathdefinitiondual vs non dualdualityegoemotional sufferingenlightened peopleescape sufferingexpectationfacing fearsfamilyfearfirst noble truthfive hindrancesfriendsguilthappiness contentmenthoardinghonor ourselvesidentityimportance of selfinequalityjudgementjust beinglet life live through youletting goliberationlifemantra meditationmatrix moviemeditation and successmental sufferingmoralitynature of mindnature of thingsneedno attainmentno-selfnumb the painoptimismothers have lesspanickpeace contentment wholesome actionpeace of mindperceptionperspectivepessimismphysical sufferingplanningplatform sutrapositive thinkingpracticepreferencespresentrealityrebirthreduce ill willrelaxaionreligionresistancesadnesssearch for answersixth patriarchslacking in meditationsome have moresoulstop violencestresssuchness of human naturethings that cannot be changedthought wihtout supporttolerancetrue happinesstrust in universeunique talentwhat is realitywholesome actionworking mindfullyzen monks and nunszen teachingszombieExperiences of a Zen student who tried various techniques of meditation before setteling on Zazen. The intention is to describe Zen concepts in simple language that can be understood by anyone.http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)Blogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-8440113934733195612Thu, 02 Jun 2011 02:27:00 +00002011-06-01T19:27:59.789-07:00effort in meditationEquanimitynirvanazen teachingsEquanimity - they say that it is the ultimate goal to be reached. We are programmed to feel happy if we get what we want and sad if we don't get what we want or if we lose what we want. This is our natural programming, so how can we attain equanimity!!! Should we even attempt to? Is that not like the lion trying to become vegan? I do not have the mental make up to be able to follow teachings, andhttp://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2011/06/equanimity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-5946714468827287543Sun, 01 May 2011 22:19:00 +00002011-05-01T15:19:49.732-07:00facing fearsoptimismpessimismpositive thinkingZen meditationHi All, It has been a long time since I blogged here. Work got the best of me! I sure hope it never becomes like that again. I am starving..starving for meditation, starving for reading, starving for just sitting. Had to miss the last retreat at my zendo also, which was painful. I do have two consecutive retreat weekends coming up, and sure hope that circumstances will allow me to attend. Beenhttp://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2011/05/positive-thoughts-aka-wholesome.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-2937339074144071834Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:59:00 +00002010-11-01T07:59:45.108-07:00five hindrancesmeditationThey are ill-will, sensual desire, laziness, restlessness and anxiety, and doubt. Usually the one closest to me is restlessness and anxiety, but amazingly lately it has been laziness; may be it is because I am on vacation in India and don't feel like doing much..;-p. Which hindrance you identify most with?http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/11/five-hindrances.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-8413970593643912961Sun, 26 Sep 2010 17:48:00 +00002010-09-26T11:02:16.765-07:00atmanbuddhismrebirthsoulsufferingZenBuddha tells us not to think too much about these questions - how did world come to be, manifestation of karma, if beings exist after death etc, because these do not lead to cessation of suffering. He said he only teaches cause of suffering and cessation of it. Nonetheless, we all think about rebirth, it is a concept that can not be easily ignored. I was raised a Hindu and hence, this concept hashttp://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/09/rebirth-in-buddhism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-1995840629002578999Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:21:00 +00002010-09-12T06:10:43.202-07:00desiresfamilyfriendsnature of mindneedresistancesufferingwantsZenSo, I figured when I started on the Zen path, is that I needed to control my mind. If I got sufficient control over it, it will be in peaceful state all the time. I will have bliss and nirvana, and I have achieved my target. Well, seems like reality is way different! So, the mind is a phenomena, just like anything else, with its inherent nature. If you put water on heat, it will boil because of http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/09/controlling-mind.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-3959496964260967876Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:06:00 +00002010-09-06T05:21:10.433-07:00conditioned mindeffort in meditationmeditation and successtrust in universeZen meditationSo, I like to plan and execute on the plan...if things don't go according to my plan, I get upset and I try hard to bring the plan back on track. My mind is conditioned to believe that it can achieve anything as long as it tried hard enough. If it did not get something, it is because it did not try hard enough. Zen has enabled me to see that if I don't get something, first of all - most of the http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/09/trust-factor-through-zen-practice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-6740260452369059499Sun, 06 Jun 2010 13:51:00 +00002010-06-06T06:52:35.914-07:00Heart SutraimpermanenceMindfulnessno attainmentI am finding it pretty funny and depressing at the same time that the mind that understands is also impermanent!!! I guess that is why heart sutra says - no attainment and no gain?http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/06/height-of-impermanence.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-1197500220660716808Mon, 31 May 2010 02:00:00 +00002010-05-30T19:07:47.590-07:00addictionbeyond preferenceshappinesssadnessZen meditationTo go beyond preferences, I need to drop both what I prefer and what I don't. I tend to cling to what I prefer and want more and more of it. How is this different from any kind of addiction? I am repelled by what I don't prefer and cringe at it. I really don't have that much control over the mental states that arises based upon conditions. If I get something that I like, I am happy or else I am http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/05/beyond-preferences.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-2207453524812232987Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:53:00 +00002010-04-22T18:05:00.986-07:00preferencesZen meditationHow does one practice so as to not to have preferences? I am caught in the world of preferences.http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/04/preferences.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-7811682690475459690Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:06:00 +00002010-02-02T04:10:05.853-08:00inequalityothers have lesssome have moresuchness of universewhy Haiti happens? Why there is inequality in world? Why some have so much that they are throwing it away and others don't have enough to eat? I have tried to reason this 100 different ways and nothing makes sense. If this is the suchness of Universe, it is a very bitter pill to swallow. There are times when this Universe looks so perfect, it won't function if it was not perfect to this degree http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-dont-understand.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-6629692083825553033Fri, 15 Jan 2010 12:17:00 +00002010-01-15T04:23:35.917-08:00perceptionrealitytolerancewhat is realityWe can only perceive based on what input we get from our sense organs (including brain). We process the inputs, create a perception based on it and act upon it. Somewhere along this process, we get strongly attached to this perception and consider it a reality. It is real, but only in the context of our perception. We are co-creators of this reality and it does not exist without us. A simple http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/01/everything-is-perception-be-careful-not.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-6066607706101301037Wed, 06 Jan 2010 02:32:00 +00002010-01-05T18:44:41.598-08:00egogift of Zenimportance of selfunderstanding the mindSo, I have recently changed jobs and at the new place, I am still in training phase, learning the ropes, figuring things out etc etc. I have been given some deliverables but nothing too big. At my previous job, I had lot of responsibility, accountability for various things, reporting status, raising flags, what not. I have been feeling uneasy and uncomfortable but not able to put my finger on it.http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2010/01/how-important-am-i.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-2963811379326416177Sat, 26 Dec 2009 02:14:00 +00002009-12-25T18:25:41.867-08:00let life live through youletting goRohatsuSittingZen meditationI caught myself doing this one day and I have to say that I was mighty pleased - I was letting go of something. It was just some issue at work, I was thinking and thinking as to how to resolve it, I had tried pretty much everything and it was a delicate situation, so any kind of explicit reaction was not called for. While driving home from work, I must have spent good 20 minutes worrying, http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/12/wow-did-this-really-happen-to-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-561578098844470586Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:30:00 +00002009-11-07T14:45:52.932-08:00being presentdeathmeditationZazenZenA bunch of us "jukai(formal precept taking ceremoney in Zen) brothers and sisters", went to visit one of our brothers, who is very sick. He has a terminal illness and might not live long. We sat zazen with him and chanted heart sutra. He is not able to talk any more but he was talking with his eyes. I have never been in presence of a terminally sick person before. It was a first one for me and http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/11/witness-process-of-death.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-1055971349194849410Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:04:00 +00002009-11-03T16:34:16.816-08:00acceptancejust beingpracticeZen meditationOnce again, I am at a point in my practice where I am finding something unusual..so, I figured the more you practice, the more peaceful, patient, nice, kind etc etc you become. And now I am realizing that acceptance is another aspect of practice. I don't constantly have to be in mode of changing myself to become something else. I am good as is and it is a matter of acceptance. Changes will come http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/11/just-being.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-5424294867761369384Sun, 01 Nov 2009 16:53:00 +00002009-11-01T09:01:43.216-08:00hindrances to meditationmeditationslacking in meditationZen practiceLong time, no post! Lots of things were happening and did not have a chance to come to blog site. Actually, did not sit on the cushion much either and saw a clear affect on mental state because of that. Well, at least that made it clear that sitting is important, very important, even if just for 10 minutes a day! I guess I needed to learn that. That is all I want to say today that I have come to http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/11/must-practice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-7325290536432570283Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:58:00 +00002009-09-07T16:30:06.077-07:00dual vs non dualgood and badmatrix movieZen meditationSo, this non-dual vs dual nature of universe has been on my mind lately. The more I look, the more I find good and bad together. Seems like there is a design for some of us to do bad, so that others have a chance to do good. Those who are doing "bad", firmly believe that what they are doing is right, which means from their perspective, they are doing good. It is very clear to me know that there http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/09/balance-equation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-3253358982230169968Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:50:00 +00002009-09-01T19:00:12.984-07:00Dogendualitysuchnesssuchness of universeZen meditationHow could have I not noticed this earlier? I must have read Dogen talk about duality a dozen times but it was not sinking in. Anyhow, it came to my attention that Universe is dual in nature..it is its suchness..there is heat and cold, black and white, summer and winter, happiness and sadness etc etc. One does not come without the other! It is a package deal!!! Oh my my..is that right? It is a http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/09/universe-is-dual.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-2306617611187563548Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:12:00 +00002009-08-23T15:20:54.553-07:00gift of Zenhonor ourselvessuchnessunique talentZen meditationis the understanding that water is water, fire is fire, earth is earth and they don't need to become like each other or for that matter, any one else. Now, this might not be a big thing for someone else, but for me, it was. Being born in a highly competitive social structure, there were often examples sited of other people and how we should become successful like them. I did spend a good part of http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/08/zens-best-gift-to-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-2851832369016370361Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:19:00 +00002009-08-05T02:36:36.860-07:00desiresEmptinessexpectationflow with lifeHeart Sutralifepanickplanningpragmatism of emptinessstresssuchnesswantsZen meditationHere I am, with a perfect opportunity to practice. Mind you it is difficult to do so, at least for me. Lot more easy to chant - "form is emptiness and emptiness is form", much more difficult to do (we are reading Heart Sutra for a class at my Zen Center). I am putting effort in something, something that is necessary for sustenance of this form (body and mind). I am impatient, I want quick resultshttp://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/08/ah-great-expectation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-6116076212444112615Sun, 26 Jul 2009 12:09:00 +00002009-07-26T10:23:56.762-07:00BahiyaBuddhaguiltliberationno-selfZen meditationRight view, right view - what is this right view?,some one asked Buddha. The blessed one said - "It is my dear, the understanding that everything is impermanent and arises because of conditions, nothing exists by itself and in its own right". At another time, Buddha told Bahiya there is "no thing" here - there are just the phenomena like hearing, seeing etc happening. I am not saying at all that http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/07/suffering.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-7465010247243943522Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:10:00 +00002009-07-12T08:18:54.695-07:00buddhismgood and badsuchness of human naturesuchness of universeZen meditationSo..the Universe is such..there is ignorance, the root cause of all suffering. Ignorance about not knowing the real nature of things as impermanent, devoid of self sustainig and self creating cause. This is why we cling, we get greedy and we hurt others mostly because of our greed. BUT this is no one's fault..just like leaves are green and stone is hard, this is the "suchness" of human nature. Wehttp://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/07/cannot-stop-thinking-about-itsuchness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-8471416228400354573Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:43:00 +00002009-07-07T06:21:32.994-07:00buddhismcravinghindrances to meditationnature of thingssuchnessZenWriting after a long time, for one or the other reason, got busy every weekend. Feels good to come back to writing..:). The thought that has been occupying my mind is suchness. For quite some time, I was not sure what suchness is and what is the big deal about it. In my understanding, concept of emptiness directly leads into suchness. Nothing is made of itself and by itself, instead everything ishttp://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/07/suchness-of-universe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-1483266269843168247Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:53:00 +00002009-04-20T17:11:22.160-07:00Angulimalacontentmenthappinesspeace of mindstop violenceAngulimala (literal meaning of this name is garland of fingers) was a bandit who used to cut his victim's pinkie finger and had made a garland for himself. Every one was afraid of him. When Buddha found out, he ventured into Anguliamala's territory by himself. Every one was worried for Buddha's safety. Angulimala saw Buddha moving through his territory and asked Buddha to stop. Buddha kept http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/04/when-will-you-stop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-410413784152867288.post-2200398535151250258Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:51:00 +00002009-04-05T11:56:06.423-07:00Hui Nengplatform sutrasixth patriarchthought wihtout supportZen**** Text and commentary from Platform Sutra translated by Buddhist Text Translation Society *****Sutra:Once a customer bought firewood and ordered itdelivered to his shop. When the delivery had been made,and Hui Neng had received the money, he went outsidethe gate, where he noticed a customer reciting a Sutra.Upon once hearing the words of this Sutra: “One shouldproduce that thought which is http://myzenexperience.blogspot.com/2009/04/thought-without-support-platform-sutra.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (MyoChi)4