tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post1950020176540703716..comments2023-09-21T09:49:28.326-07:00Comments on Fierce Dandelions: I-Sanghas, Twangas, and Playing the CongasNathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-86541398545113474272009-11-13T06:22:49.164-08:002009-11-13T06:22:49.164-08:00I've enjoyed the comments you all have made. I...I've enjoyed the comments you all have made. I totally agree, Nella Lou, that the whole question about isangha vs. "real life" sangha is a red herring. <br /><br />Glad you liked the photo Carole. I saw that sign and had to take a pic of it. <br /><br />I do think some of this discussion occurs because of a lack of, or willing suspension of memory of, the history of Buddhism in AsiaNathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-6999267976122961522009-11-12T22:50:21.452-08:002009-11-12T22:50:21.452-08:00As an addendum on I-Sangha.
I get called on my cr...As an addendum on I-Sangha.<br /><br />I get called on my crap way more often on the Internet than in person. Sometimes it's valid and sometimes not but it does give one a shake. That's one of the reasons I put it out there.<br /><br />Reality testing in this and other ways are the most useful methods for breaking down delusion. That is what a good teacher will be able to assist with. ButNellaLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07247769132258539996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-80950626496156427022009-11-12T21:50:32.100-08:002009-11-12T21:50:32.100-08:00Have been following this discussion for a while an...Have been following this discussion for a while and really enjoying it. On Loden Jinpa's blog he had a post about Socially Engaged Buddhism in which he pointed out this dichotomy you also point to. <br /><br />It is a lack of understanding of interdependence. We can make nice with ourselves all we want and that may affect some aspects of our lives but to disregard the often deliberately NellaLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07247769132258539996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-7333598651681389122009-11-12T17:26:24.295-08:002009-11-12T17:26:24.295-08:00@ Zendotstudio - I agree with everyone is saying. ...@ Zendotstudio - I agree with everyone is saying. It is the quality of the practice and not the venue or medium that it is coming from.<br /><br />Can you give Brad a hug for me?<br /><br />@Nathan - Great post! One point I liketo bring up is that many, many lay-persons and monastics communicated through letters and correspondance in days when travel was a great difficulty and online was Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-17515740780906651052009-11-12T12:12:29.699-08:002009-11-12T12:12:29.699-08:00Love your photo (I'll be the toad) and great p...Love your photo (I'll be the toad) and great post. Interesting thoughts. I think the question that comes to me as important in all of this, is, are we being honest with ourselves in whatever practice we are doing. A good teacher can call us on our stuff, when we're not quite willing or able to see (ah so many blind spots!). And teachers are of course human and that can get tangled tooZenDotStudiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06051368546505731081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-741227658356358863.post-7552229511359323982009-11-12T10:10:44.679-08:002009-11-12T10:10:44.679-08:00I think whether in person or online a person is go...I think whether in person or online a person is going to commit to a spiritual practice at whatever level he or she chooses. You might have someone who practices online who wants to devote himself fully and so seeks out knowledge everywhere he can find it. You might find someone who has an "in person" teacher who is fully devoted when attending sessions with teachers and peers but spldbchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05505641654468777964noreply@blogger.com