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Poll!	[Feb. 1st, 2012\|10:42 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
I am collecting data about starting a Buddhist travel company.Would people be willing to answer some questions for me?For this example: an intimate two week tour of the Buddhist sites in India and Nepal (ie. Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Rajgriha, Vaishali, Sravasti, Nalanda, Varanasi) limited to 10-14 people. Mid-range hotels, partial private transportation and partial train transportation.1.) Have you ever been to India?2.) Would you like to go on the Great Pilgrimage, but are hesitant to go to India on your own?3.) Have you ever considered going on a tour/ would you ever consider going on such a tour?4.) If you did not go, what prevented you?5.) What would entice you to do a tour like this?6.) Would it make a difference if the tour company was a Buddhist run company?7.) What do you think is a reasonable cost for such a pilgrimage not including airfare? (Airfare usually runs ~$1200 from the US.)Similar tours run 4500to4500 to 4500to7500 USD.This example tour would run about $3000 USD.8.) Any further comments?Thank you so much for participating!!If you know anyone who would answer this poll, please let them know!Comments will be anonymous (hopefully!)CROSSPOSTED
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[Feb. 1st, 2012|10:42 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community

I am collecting data about starting a Buddhist travel company.Would people be willing to answer some questions for me?For this example: an intimate two week tour of the Buddhist sites in India and Nepal (ie. Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar, Rajgriha, Vaishali, Sravasti, Nalanda, Varanasi) limited to 10-14 people. Mid-range hotels, partial private transportation and partial train transportation.1.) Have you ever been to India?2.) Would you like to go on the Great Pilgrimage, but are hesitant to go to India on your own?3.) Have you ever considered going on a tour/ would you ever consider going on such a tour?4.) If you did not go, what prevented you?5.) What would entice you to do a tour like this?6.) Would it make a difference if the tour company was a Buddhist run company?7.) What do you think is a reasonable cost for such a pilgrimage not including airfare? (Airfare usually runs ~$1200 from the US.)Similar tours run 4500to4500 to 4500to7500 USD.This example tour would run about $3000 USD.8.) Any further comments?Thank you so much for participating!!If you know anyone who would answer this poll, please let them know!Comments will be anonymous (hopefully!)*CROSSPOSTED*

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(no subject)	[Feb. 13th, 2011\|06:07 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
Might anyone know where I might find a good EPUB version of What The Buddha Taught?
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Relisted: 26 Tantra Book Lot	[Nov. 24th, 2009\|06:27 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
Hi all- I relisted the big lot of Tantra/Taoist/Sex/Occult books on eBay for a really reduced buy-it-now price (bidding is open as well, lowered reserve price). This is the last time I'll list the auction. It's a huge collection- worth hundreds, a great addition to your library.*Taoist, Tantra, Sex, Massage book lotBuy or place bid here! ( Full Title List Collapse )
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Sit	[May. 28th, 2009\|03:08 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
For months now, I've been fighting with my meditation practice. Recently it had gotten so bad, I wasn't even sitting anymore. Somehow, I had turned it into the most onerous of tasks. Considering that sitting meditation is a big part of our practice, mine was pretty screwed. I couldn't ask for advice because I was already getting too much and it was making things worse. Then I decided I was going to stop fighting. A couple of nights ago, with the breath as companion, I sat on the bank of the endless river of thoughts and calmly watched it all flow by. I didn't own any of it, none of it owned me. We were just peacefully abiding together. It was an utterly delightful experience and one of the best sits I've ever had. Now the cushion and I are friends again. In the future, there will be more problems, but there will also be patience and resolution. And after each round, a little more insight.
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Sit

[May. 28th, 2009|03:08 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community

For months now, I've been fighting with my meditation practice. Recently it had gotten so bad, I wasn't even sitting anymore. Somehow, I had turned it into the most onerous of tasks. Considering that sitting meditation is a big part of our practice, mine was pretty screwed. I couldn't ask for advice because I was already getting too much and it was making things worse. Then I decided I was going to stop fighting. A couple of nights ago, with the breath as companion, I sat on the bank of the endless river of thoughts and calmly watched it all flow by. I didn't own any of it, none of it owned me. We were just peacefully abiding together. It was an utterly delightful experience and one of the best sits I've ever had. Now the cushion and I are friends again. In the future, there will be more problems, but there will also be patience and resolution. And after each round, a little more insight.

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other possibilities	[Mar. 31st, 2009\|10:02 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
"There may be a time when a country will have to wake up from a vision of happiness, when they have to realize that theirs is not the perfect idea, that there are many aspects that do not correspond to the reality of what is there, the real need and aspirations of the people." "The moment they release that notion of happiness, the country will again have another chance. But if people do not learn from the suffering of the past, they will repeat exactly the same mistake and adopt another notion of happiness. And we don't know how long they will keep this new notion of happiness. So a notion is always something dangerous."-from Going Home Jesus and Buddha as Brothers by Thich Nhat Hanh
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other possibilities

[Mar. 31st, 2009|10:02 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community

"There may be a time when a country will have to wake up from a vision of happiness, when they have to realize that theirs is not the perfect idea, that there are many aspects that do not correspond to the reality of what is there, the real need and aspirations of the people." "The moment they release that notion of happiness, the country will again have another chance. But if people do not learn from the suffering of the past, they will repeat exactly the same mistake and adopt another notion of happiness. And we don't know how long they will keep this new notion of happiness. So a notion is always something dangerous."-from Going Home Jesus and Buddha as Brothers by Thich Nhat Hanh

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(no subject)	[Sep. 2nd, 2008\|09:57 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
[mood \|calm]I am very aware of the causes of my sufferings. Even when they are happening. I can point it out. But I give into my habits anyway. It's like, I have the recipe for happiness right in front of my face- but I CHOOSE to turn the other chedk. I can't help but feel like this makes me less wise then a person totally ignorant of the roots of their sufferings. Anyone in the same boat?
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Buddhism in everyday life? ;-)	[Jul. 13th, 2008\|12:15 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
copyright Tom Meyer SF ChronicleIf you can't read it, click on the image to make it larger, then click on "full size" when the window comes up.
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Will Tassajara be spared?	[Jul. 9th, 2008\|11:51 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
It's been another week of hot and smoky. Chris has been setting up water for the birds. They sit on the fences with droopy wings and open mouths. But our problems are small compared to some folks. The zen monastery at Tassajara is getting a bit too close to harm's way. Click here for the update page.May they make it through this safely.
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Some things that are relevant to me today, and maybe to you, too...	[Jun. 17th, 2008\|04:15 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
"Nuns are people, too!!!" -- Bishop Len BrennonWritten by a Buddhist nun, Thubten Chodron...When we have a sense of being a victim, we also have a sense of depending on others for happiness. Initially, we may feel vulnerable if we let go of the 'protective' shield of anger, as if this is tantamount to admitting the other person was right in their wrongful actions. We may feel self-dignity by hanging onto the anger, which is a false sense of power. Genuine self-confidence is open and lacks defensiveness. Its based on knowing our own potential, not on others acting in any particular way.Inside of us is a prosecutor, judge, and jury, and they all agree that the other person is wrong and we are right. This internal courtroom is happy to work overtime. It goes on hour after hour prosecuting the people who have wronged us. In addition to this internal courtroom, all our friends may agree that other people may have overstepped their boundaries. Despite all this sympathy, we are still miserable. Why? Because being right has nothing to do with being happy, even with an apology. To be happy, we have to give up wanting to prove our case, give up needing to have the last word, give up craving to be vindicated. Seeing the need to be right is simply a button that others can push.When others, out of jealousy,Mistreat me with abuse, slander and so on,I will practice accepting defeatAnd offering the victory to them.This means that we contract our over-sensitive buttons, and allow ourselves to be happy.
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Some things that are relevant to me today, and maybe to you, too...

[Jun. 17th, 2008|04:15 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community

"Nuns are people, too!!!" -- Bishop Len BrennonWritten by a Buddhist nun, Thubten Chodron...When we have a sense of being a victim, we also have a sense of depending on others for happiness. Initially, we may feel vulnerable if we let go of the 'protective' shield of anger, as if this is tantamount to admitting the other person was right in their wrongful actions. We may feel self-dignity by hanging onto the anger, which is a false sense of power. Genuine self-confidence is open and lacks defensiveness. Its based on knowing our own potential, not on others acting in any particular way.Inside of us is a prosecutor, judge, and jury, and they all agree that the other person is wrong and we are right. This internal courtroom is happy to work overtime. It goes on hour after hour prosecuting the people who have wronged us. In addition to this internal courtroom, all our friends may agree that other people may have overstepped their boundaries. Despite all this sympathy, we are still miserable. Why? Because being right has nothing to do with being happy, even with an apology. To be happy, we have to give up wanting to prove our case, give up needing to have the last word, give up craving to be vindicated. Seeing the need to be right is simply a button that others can push.When others, out of jealousy,Mistreat me with abuse, slander and so on,I will practice accepting defeatAnd offering the victory to them.This means that we contract our over-sensitive buttons, and allow ourselves to be happy.

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wesak	[May. 18th, 2008\|03:30 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
One of my sangha mates whose spouse is Thai invited us to a Wesak observance at a local temple. It was an educational experience for an American who is used to lots of meditation and little ritual. We had a chance to offer alms to the resident monks and support for the temple. We prayed and after, we ate. May any merit we have gained today benefit all beings everywhere.
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(no subject)	[Sep. 2nd, 2008\|09:57 pm]Livejournal Buddhist Community
[mood \|calm]I am very aware of the causes of my sufferings. Even when they are happening. I can point it out. But I give into my habits anyway. It's like, I have the recipe for happiness right in front of my face- but I CHOOSE to turn the other chedk. I can't help but feel like this makes me less wise then a person totally ignorant of the roots of their sufferings. Anyone in the same boat?
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