CONTEST IS OVER, WINNERS HAVE BEEN SELECTED!!
Here at Precious Metal we are running another contest… This time we are giving away two copies of Brad Warner’s new book “Zen Wrapped In Karma Dipped In Chocolate”…
What will it take to win this time? The rules are simple… answer the questions below and the best answers will win. It’s that easy!
The hard part is, you can’t google these answers, I want your opinions!
So here we go…
1. In you practice, do you consider yourself more of an interior Buddhist (you are constantly reflecting inward to change the bad things in your life) or is it more of a cumulative practice where you not only look inward but by looking inward you hope the changes you make will work their way outward and affect others in a positive manner?
2. If you consider it more of an outward practice, how do you carry it through the day?
3. Do you think it’s better to sit and hope things change or do you believe it’s time to get off the cushion and be the change you want to see (quoting Gandhi on the latter part there).
4. How do you think we can all, collectively, bring about that change?
That’s it… start commenting folks, this contest will run until there are enough comments to filter through and pick from.
** Only stipulation is you need to have a valid mailing address in the US in order to receive the book.
Precious Metal: the blog 
Thanks everyone so far for the answers and contributions. I will be announcing the winners by the end of this week.
1.I practice to live my life as fully as possible. Just that. I didn’t start with a change agenda. I have found that my practice has over time resulted in changes that has made my life better. Better in the sense that some of my ways of interacting with others have changed. This of course has had an effect on others.
2.I consider it an allward practice. But, I ;m not a saint and only manage to carry my practice through the day in bits and pieces.
3.My two cents on this one, if there is not an interaction between on and off the cushion look at your practice.
4.Of course we can all collectively bring about change. But what change are you looking for?
Jim
Don’t make inside and outside!
I tend to think of meditation as an inside thing. It’s just the way I think about it, which is already a mistake. Though I have faith in it, I have trouble understanding how that changes the outside world. But any glimpses I have at answers point to: Don’t make inside and outside!
Not long ago, I gave a dharma talk at my Zen Center about the financial crisis and a Marxisrt-oriented friend who took it kind of personally. (If you couldn’t tell already, the Buddhism I practice is Zen-flavor.) One of the senior dharma teachers summed it up: The world is on fire – what can you do?
I love your book contests. Since I won the last time I want to opt out of this one(I am really not htat magnanimous, I already have this one)
I would like to comment on the book. I really liked it. It is not necessarilly Warner’s best but really touched a chord with me:relationship stuff,with his wife and his family(I don’t want her money, for example)…BUT…
I found his criticism of Genpo Roshi hilarious. I have done “Big Mind” several times and I think it has value, but labeling it any kind of shortcut to enlightenment is just a low brow marketing scheme that offends me and I think Warner rightfully criticizes Genpo Roshi.
Warner’s criticism of various various sound technologies was kind of weak. From his “test run” with one product he made a fairly big leap of judgment.
I have used one particular product for the last few years as a complement to regular sitting practice and found it very helpful…it does not replace meditation but it does provide some very useful results. The marketing for that product,for which Warner is rightfully critical, makes outrageous,offensive and cheesy claims that you will be achieving mindstates like”a Zen Master” in no time at all. What disgusting bullshit!!! But, I love the book and Warner is one of my favorites.
1. I try to find ways to help others using what I have found by looking in. I’m currently explaining mindfulness meditation to a friend that really need to relax her mind and herself. I won’t call it “mindfulness meditation” though because she has made it very clear she isn’t looking for a religious experience. She just “Wants to know how to let go and relax.
2. I’m more of a hybrid really. When I see buddhist/zen items on desks of co-workers or hear questions that I can answer with things I have learned from my own study I step in. I don’t search for people or places to share with 24/7. I just take the opportunities when they appear. A programer was hired recently and on his first day he put a little green Buddha on his desk but it was kind of tucked behind the phone. I saw this as I was working on his computer and said “You know, Sid would probably like the view better from under your monitor. He could see you, you could see him and the phone wouldn’t be in his way. I can introduce you to some other Buddhists in the company if you would like.”
3. The view of the Gulf of Mexico is great from the beach, but until you step off the sand and into the water you will never feel it’s power. Find the view – step into the view. Simple.
4. We did bring about change. Obama won. Ok, a real answer. An old zen teaching shows that life is like a river, it’s in a constant state of change. How can we collectively help? Look for the changes in your life. Don’t fight them but find a way to flow with them. Once you learn to see the changes and how to handle them you will find yourself spotting other people struggling with change and you will be able to help them. See a friend or co-worker that obviously needs somebody to talk to but can’t find anybody. Volunteer something that has just gone all kinds of wrong for you recently. Even if you’ve gotten through it already leave them room to offer some advice. You can slowly get them to relax and open up about their problems. Share your change, help with their’s. The world will be a little brighter.
Here’s one for you: Do you ever do something silly or stupid just to make somebody smile? If not, try it.
1. In you practice, do you consider yourself more of an interior Buddhist (you are constantly reflecting inward to change the bad things in your life) or is it more of a cumulative practice where you not only look inward but by looking inward you hope the changes you make will work their way outward and affect others in a positive manner?
I consider myself in the early stages of practice – what I like to call discovery. I hope one day the inward changes will radiate outward as pure compassion – when I can get over myself.
2. If you consider it more of an outward practice, how do you carry it through the day?
I’m not as rude as I used to be.
3. Do you think it’s better to sit and hope things change or do you believe it’s time to get off the cushion and be the change you want to see (quoting Gandhi on the latter part there).
It’s time to get off the couch and out of the house. The modern world doesn’t exist people because were satisfied with the way things were. People were dissatisfied with how others were being treated, how certain aspects of our lives were lived – so they did something to change it; invented something, marched in the streets.
4. How do you think we can all, collectively, bring about that change?
Not just by being the change, but living the change.
1. In you practice, do you consider yourself more of an interior Buddhist (you are constantly reflecting inward to change the bad things in your life) or is it more of a cumulative practice where you not only look inward but by looking inward you hope the changes you make will work their way outward and affect others in a positive manner?
As a grad student in Clinical Psychology with the hope of moving into the helping professions I would have to say that my practice starts internally, observing my affected mind and how unmindful I am, with the hope that my practice will move outward in the world in a positive and mindful way. Relieving suffering wherever I can.
2. If you consider it more of an outward practice, how do you carry it through the day?
Just practicing awareness. work while i’m at work, eat while I eat, help while i help.
3. Do you think it’s better to sit and hope things change or do you believe it’s time to get off the cushion and be the change you want to see (quoting Gandhi on the latter part there).
Engaged in the community as a wannabe Bodhisattva is what I aspire too.
4. How do you think we can all, collectively, bring about that change?
Take a deep breath and take the next indicated step.
Uuhhhhh… I don’t know if I’ve been practicing long enough to know what you’re talking about…Sorry! =-P
Answering your first question, I think it’s both, inward and outward. In fact, I dare say, it would be impossible to have inward changes and not show them outwardly.
Answering your second question, I find that my practice of not only meditation, but development of all three training (virtue, meditation, wisdom) helps me throughout my day, especially when relating to others, and things that use to push my buttons no longer do it.
Answering your third question, I absolutely believe in engaged Buddhism. Since we are all connected and there isn’t any independent self, we can’t but help but be engaged. Anything I do will no doubt effect others, which, I think, causes a cascade effect (Butterfly effect). It’s the illusion of self that would cause someone to think that what they do doesn’t effect others. My simple daily sittings may cause me to react different to someone I encounter, so my practice is in a sense everyone’s practice.
Answering your fourth question, I think the very act of practice, however slight, will make a positive impact, but it is good to be involved in some manner. I don’t mean that we have to all join the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, though it may be a good idea, but if joining some Buddhist group to help bring a positive light to the Dharma for the world to see is a good thing.