Translator Notes from Heroes Spell

Sanctity of the language versus clarity in understanding.  There is no mandate for sanctity of  language in traditional Buddhism, so why demand one in the West?  It is ordered by the Buddha himself to adapt to the country in which his Sangha (meaning monastics bhikshu and bhikshuni only) travels to and resides.

It’s a power trip from wrong view.  Those that demand a blind devotion to a language as a vehicle of enlightenment or access to Buddha’s teachings are perverting Buddha dharma.  Devotion to language as ‘official’ to to legitimize a particular sect or teacher limits another being’s access to sutras, esteemed teachings of ancient and modern dharma masters.  Thus stunting their growth and development in the pursuit of enlightenment.

Lack of common language limits successful understanding.  I have seen, heard and read about the constant struggle of laity to achieve success in their own practices because they did not have a common language with a dharma master or wat, vihara, temple or center in which they sought to study and practice Buddha dharma.  I have first hand knowledge of ordained Sangha that do not know their adopted culture or it’s language and are stuck as a servant, living years at a lower level of practice than what they can achieve had they been aware of detailed teachings.

These Westerners and some Asians have little or limited access to their own dharma master’s meetings and teachings due to poor translators or no translators.  Since they do not have any notable level of training they often seek outside of Buddhism to survive in work or in other religious practices or faiths beyond Buddhism, even if they have been a novice of 30 years or fully ordained for 5 years.  If they do not have competancyat least one of these areas:  listening, speaking, writing the temple language or even if they are not pursuing a line of Buddhist study and just seem to be taking up space then it keeps them at the ‘newbie’ level.  They are the same as a tourist would be in their own understanding and ability or lack of ability to teach Buddha dharma with any degree of skill.

This seriously stunts the progress of Western practitioners and students of Buddhism.  It’s a joke on sincere people being perpetuated by repetition and desire for gain or control, the joke can be on you based upon your own limited views and blindsidedness.  You need to support financially qualified Western monastics in their advancement of training rather than send your dollars or euros overseas.  Support the Western monastics improvement in their level of training, ask them how they train, if they have language ability in their own tradition; if that is missing they are not accomplished much except in reading trendy Buddhist books or by their own limitations in their personal practice for they try to fit in somehow to fads, trends and other religions.  The fact is most of the Western monastics have householding duties and very limited monastic training; unless they are trained in these traditions:  Chinese Buddhism, Vietnamese Buddhism, and Korean Buddhism.

The training available to Chinese and Korea is also available to sincere Westerners with competant translators being available but the training  to Westerners in Vietnamese Buddhism is very limited in access to the Sangha and sometimes to access to higher level masters who can speak English and outside of Vietnam as it’s government does not allow Westerners to train in their temples or ordain there.

Western women seeking training must be diligent.  Those going after trendy sects covered in the Buddhist news places like the newly formed Theravada nuns or the Tibetan communities will not find much stability or standard training or even qualified training dharma masters.  Strong patriarchal leanings in Thai, Sri Lankan, and Tibetan culture limit women severely even if they achived the full ordination as bhikshuni.

For women interested in quality well-established training the best is from the training nuns in Taiwan and the training nuns in Korea.  I am noting ‘training nuns’ meaning they are qualified to teach women to be come sramaneri, siksamana, and bhikshuni.  Their level of Vinaya education, understanding of Buddha dharma and skill as teachers are derived from their dedication to serious training from their own time spent training as sramaneri to bhikshuni.

Inspire u? Y u?

Me, Ven Hong Yang, Bhikshuni

Much of what I write is very earthy, sometimes it's not all that easy to accept basic dirt.  So I all I can say is this, living is great as a Sangha.  I am happy and in my element as a bhikshuni.  It has definitely felt like fitting into a glove hand tailored just for me.

I love my robes and respect my tradition, I am grateful for this life that led me to take full ordination as a bhikshuni.  I do not doubt the choice.  I do not feel sad ever about uphold precepts, it's easy.  I do not feel deprived of human affection for I get loads of attention.

I became a bhikshuni in the Chinese Mahayana tradition and that is only because I have an affinity for Chinese culture, have family that is Chinese and long history with families and friends of Chinese origin.  I'm not a commie (geese isn't that obvious!) and didn't magically turn into Chinese like many who on objected to my trying to save Tibetan monks from self-immolation accused me of being (how stupid is that!).  I don't have to respect such monks, all Westerners full of polluted thinking.

My daughter Liz

I am grateful for my choices because I got loads of benefits from getting closer and being around my growing daughter to see her now almost 21 this month, and so happy!  Even though my tonsure temple was not the best for me, it was good that she was allowed to stay with me there and I kept in touch with her loads more than being in Iowa or California. Because of that she grew healthy and strong.  And I saw it.  I am so proud of her! She joined right in and even when it was difficult for her or uncomfortable, she kept happy and got a good grounding in Buddhist life in a temple.

It is always inspiring for me to visit with other Buddhists, I am isolated here in Iowa from my Buddhist community, so I get on Facebook now almost daily.  I love it, I get to visit with monks and nuns from all kinds of traditions in Buddhism. That is so precious to me, it helps me and sustains me while here in Iowa.

Special mention, it's very common for monastics to have pets, mine is Pepper she is a rescued kitten in the first photo, right after having her fixed.  And now a hefty fur ball that purrs when she decides you must sit on the couch so she can lay on or near your legs and snooze. I've promised the shelter she is with me for life, and she will be.  I want her comfy settled and happy every day too.  She snorted when I asked her if she wanted to take refuge in the Buddha and receive 5 precepts, so I took that as a no. Which I have to settle for it is her choice.

Pepper at 4 months old and 5 pounds, just after surgery

Pepper now at 13 pounds and 7 years old

Two Vinaya Mahayana masters talk - A facebook Q&A

Ven Huei Guang’s photo album of his retreat and preparation just before receiving dharma transmission from Ven. Ben Huan in China.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.182828165075325.43405.100000444276511&type=3

於2008年，蒙深圳弘法寺 本換老和尚慈悲親自傳授，禪門正法眼藏，臨濟正宗法脈。此禪門法脈源流源自於釋迦牟尼佛，祖祖印心相傳，直到近代虛雲老和尚→本煥老和尚→慧光 (第45代臨濟正宗傳人）。

2008, I received the transmission of the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye in the Noble Linji Ch'an Dharma Lineage with the compassion of my Master, Ch'an Master Ben Huan, from Shenzhen Hongfa Temple in China. This lineage of Dharma transmission trace all the way back to Sakyamuni Buddha. The ancient Masters have transmitted one after another until recent era to Ch'an Master Hsu Yun. Then the Dharma transmission is from: Venerable Master Hsu Yun→ Venerable Master Ben Huan→ Hueiguang (45th generation lineage holder of the Linji Ch'an).

佛教傳承有三種體系：
（一）剃度系——即初出家時，依剃度師之宗派，給予法號（或稱外號），終生稱呼，並授與沙彌（或沙彌尼）十戒。
（二）授戒系——即求授三壇大戒時，所依之三師七尊為壇上得戒十師，按傳統又會給一個法名（或稱戒名、內號，唯有師父能叫），這為戒的傳承法名。
（三）傳法系——即稟承釋迦世尊歷代相傳之正法眼藏，亦即心心相應，教外別傳之系統。此時又會在給一個法名，這為法的傳承法名。一般得法者，則此後只運用此法名。寫名字時應先寫法名，再寫法號。例如我法名為「常安慧光」。「常安」是我得法法名，而「慧光」則是剃度法號。這種法派，應該代代相傳，不可斷絕。

此體系在習慣上，稱為剃度恩師，得戒本師，傳法尊師。中國佛教傳統上，出家是一回事，受戒是一回事，傳法又是一回事，並非一定都由同一位師父主持。又禪宗重在傳法，得法的人， 即稱為法子。當然在家也可得法，但畢竟是少數。出家得法的，多是已在別的師父那裡剃度及受戒。

In Chinese Buddhist tradition, there are 3 systems of transmission:
1. Tonsure system: a person become tonsured as a novice monastic under the Master's school. He/she is given a Dharma name 法號 at the time of tonsure based on the Master's lineage. This name is also called "the outer name 外號" because it is use by all people to address you. This name is used for life. At the same time, the Master will give the novice sramanera (or sramanerika) ten precepts.
2. Ordination system: a novice will become fully ordained as a Bhikṣu monk/ Bhikṣuni nun with the Triple Platform Ordination (Observing the Śrāmanera, Bhikṣu and Bodhisattva precepts) . This ordination must be presided by 10 monks with at least 10 years of seniority with a pure practice in upholding the monastic precepts. In this ceremony, the 10 Masters represent the Triple Gem accepting the novice into the Sangha. At this time, another Dharma name 法名 is given. This name is also called "precept name 戒名 or inner name 內號" because it is use only by one's Master. This name represents your precept lineage transmission.
3. Dharma transmission system: This system upholds the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye through the generations of transmission. This is the Mind to Mind seal of the Dharma that is beyond the scriptures. At this time, another Dharma name 法名 is given. This is also called "the inner name 內號" and use only by one's Master. This name represents your Dharma lineage transmission. After receiving this name, one will use this name instead of the name received during precept ordination to write one's Dharma name (Inner Name)(Outer Name). For example, my Dharma name is "Chang An Huei Guang 常安慧光", where "Huei Guang" is my name given at tonsure and "Chang An" is given at Dharma transmission.Therefore, these systems of transmission should not be ended.

It is customary to refer to one's own tonsure Master as "Gracious Master", precept Master as "Root Master" and Dharma transmission Master as "Venerable Master." In Chinese Buddhism, these 3 systems are separate and are not performed by the same Masters. Moreover, due to the strong emphasis on the Dharma, when a person receives the Dharma transmission, he/she is recognized as that Ch'an Master's Dharma son/daughter. Of course lay Buddhists may also receive this Dharma transmission, but there are very few incidences. Most of the monk/nun who received the transmission has already been tonsured and ordained by other Masters.
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You, Fasheng Shi, Benny Heng and 30 others like this.

Ven Hong Yang Shi 

Dear Ven. Hueiguang

Would u mind explaining how one gets to hold a lineage? Are there 45th generations of monks and nuns along with you? or just yourself?
forgive my curiousity, I just only have some idea of history from acadmeic studies done way back in 90s.
January 8, 2011 at 10:43pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi And the story of the Ven. Master Hui Neng who I read about in the prelude to the Platform Sutra.
January 8, 2011 at 10:45pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi There are many people who received this title: 45th generation lineage holder. When a Ch'an Master see that his/her disciple has right understanding and practice of the Dharma, he/her will transmit this title to him/her which recognizes this monk/nun/or lay practitioner as a Ch'an Master who is able to teach the correct understandings and practice of Ch'an.
January 8, 2011 at 10:49pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi you know it's very intersting because isn't this different in Japanese tradition? And most academic work I used to read had most of the stories around one lineage holder picking only one other suitible monk. So I suspected it was only partly true.
January 8, 2011 at 10:51pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi As i met more monks and nuns over the years seemed to be disproving the academic myths too. Many had so many rich experiences learning from this or that master while living their monastic lives. But my tonsure master never said about the details of what is actually done in many other places or even idea of how other temples do their things or specialize...etc.
January 8, 2011 at 10:53pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi However, it is not so easy to receive this recognition or transmission. Because the Master will be very careful to give someone this transmission of the Dharma. This carefulness will guarantees that the Dharma taught in the future will not be corrupted and degenerates.
January 8, 2011 at 10:53pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi It's a view I very strongly agree about. I really see that it is important. What I wonder is there very many westerners holding the lineage transmission?
January 8, 2011 at 11:01pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi To become a lineage holder, you must learn under a Ch'an Master and become his/her disciple and allow him/her to guide you in the understanding and practice of Ch'an. You must be a diligent and ardent cultivator. With right understand and practice. The Master will give you this transmission.
January 8, 2011 at 11:04pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi Oh, I see. My tonsure temple was only Pure Land, no meditation and no time for it. I was shocked when arriving there to find nothing I knew from my temporary stay at Hsi Lai Temple. But I stayed as I wanted to learn the liturgy so I would know what the Chinese laity liked and how they benefitted. So one day I can help english speakers to benefit the same way.
January 8, 2011 at 11:07pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi I liked what little I saw of Chan by some Chan masters there. And what I studied on my own.
January 8, 2011 at 11:09pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi Becoming tonsure as a monk/nun and receiving the Dharma transmissions are two different process. One may become a monk/nun and never receive this transmission. This Dharma transmission is the seal of the right Dharma, when a practitioner is recognized as a Master of Ch'an. Otherwise, we do not know if the teaching of a particular Ch'an practitioner who teaches Ch'an (or Zen) is authentic and in accordance with the Buddha's Enlightenment and teachings.
January 8, 2011 at 11:16pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi I do undestand that. I learned only a little about it from Buddhist history class but it wasn't detailed enough. I think it's important for western people to understand this difference and learn to recognize who they learn Chan from
January 8, 2011 at 11:19pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi Its very important to have this Transmission before teaching any one Ch'an. Otherwise, it is like the blind leading the blind. As of now, there is only Japanese transmission of the Zen to the west. Some westerners who are good practitioners have received the authentic transmission. But many just study under some Masters for a while or never even study under any Masters and never received this transmission. However, they still give teaching to people on Ch'an Dharma as if they had received this transmission and are Ch'an Masters. It is very misleading and confusing. Therefore, it become harder a student to find a good teacher who possesses cultivated inner virtue and wisdom and practice under him/her as a disciple.
January 8, 2011 at 11:31pm • Like • 2

Ven Hong Yang Shi I absolute believe the same thing. It's easy to see this living here in the states. The chan masters who are real aren't authentic enough for those americans faddist who just show up once in a while or a month and then are gone
January 8, 2011 at 11:35pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi hahaha.......
January 8, 2011 at 11:38pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi spiritual materialism.......practicing the Dharma or Ch'an becomes a fashion.....hahaha
January 8, 2011 at 11:41pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi It's really shameful to see that behavior after I had such fortunate luck to have early meditation training from my first teacher (a proper trained shaolin layman who learned from a chan master who lived in the mountains. But now even years back he said I could teach students but I didn't because I was ready to leave home and become a nun.
January 8, 2011 at 11:41pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi Sadhu! Sadhu!
January 8, 2011 at 11:44pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi It wasn't much better these past years people here commented that my robes should be pink...why I asked? It was because they wanted monks and nuns to support breast cancer awareness...then I asked what does the red robe mean to you? Proudly they said heart disease. Yellow? lost or missing people. These were not kids but university professors and construction bosses.
January 8, 2011 at 11:44pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi They do not know what the robe represents. That is why they have their own ideas.
January 8, 2011 at 11:49pm • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi One wanted to buy a sky blue haiqing...cuz it was better color than black. I didn't try after that cuz I got the distinct idea that they were going to wear for fashion or streetwear.
January 8, 2011 at 11:56pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi hahaha.....
January 8, 2011 at 11:57pm • Like

Shaoke Zhang congratulations, Chang'An Shi.:-)
January 31, 2011 at 4:26pm • Like

駱觀靜 我可以使用師父的法照在msn上嗎
June 15, 2011 at 9:58am • Like

Hueiguang Shi 可以！
June 15, 2011 at 10:05am • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi what is the 字號? My tonsure master picked my 法名 and it's the top one in my ordination book, he uses that one and I use it too but he also wrote the 字號 and that's another name which for now I don't use. He gave no instruction on this. Any ideas?
June 15, 2011 at 1:45pm • Like

Hueiguang Shi 法名 is our Dharma name or 內號 inner name that our ordination Master has given us. This name is called by our master and it tells us which school of transmission that you belong to. 字號 or literal name, I think is the 外號 outer name that a monk or nun is usually refer to by others in the community.
June 21, 2011 at 2:36am • Like

Ven Hong Yang Shi Thank you, my tonsure master chose the names but uses the 法名 rather than the 字號. In his small temple everyone uses it too. From what you say is the outer name to be used by everyone else. I think that's better.
June 21, 2011 at 11:38am • Like

Defending Dharma in Social Media a Sangha warning

Bhikshuni page on Facebook original posting 7/30/12
Defending dharma while in social media. 
A recent posting by a Buddhist who left the path left many shocked at a nude picture of two women and further insult the FB member decided to label it "Buddha field 2012".  This defamation of the Triple Jewel did cause Ven. Hong Yang to take notice and request it to be privated or removed as the Facebook member had only posted dharma material and appropriate content before that time. The request was not well received and what issued is what I now understand is flaming. What abhorrent behavior for someone claiming to be Buddhist to afflict upon a Sangha member! Since it wasn't privated Ven. Hong Yang decided to report it to Facebook as it was nude photo showing everything and she has friended many youth relatives and young Buddhists around the world. Thank you Facebook for your speedy response!

Sangha members are defenders of the Buddha dharma, it is our duty to correct Buddhists and non Buddhists who post inappropriate content here on Facebook and elsewhere in internet and social media. 

• Befriending Sangha members and being friended by Sangha members entails a certain amount of responsibility for content in excess of FB guidelines meaning that you are not exempt from the temple that guides you concerning social media content, nor from the precepts you have taken and you must observe the 8 fold path guidelines while on social media, nor from abandoning your practices while on FB and elsewhere, in fact dubious content is a reason for admonishment by Sangha that you friend. 
• You should take it with appropriate appreciation and grace being respectful and learn something from your mistake. Nobody is asking you for unreasonable actions beyond Facebook policy like privating posts that are offensive and show nudity and graphic violence to those who know you and like that sort of crap.

It is sad that not one other Sangha member became involved beyond the FB members own previously affiliation with a non-Vinaya order of Buddhists well known for their efforts in dharma talks and upholding their precepts.

A warning to all Sangha who are active in public places and in social media:

Sangha with my deepest respects to you all and to all elders on my friends list and in community, you need to get on the ball! Start speaking out! Just because you're on Facebook for any reason and I don't care what for does not exempt you from teaching, upholding and admonishing while on this public platform!

It is just pitiful that you stayed silent on matters that you know are wrong view regarding Buddha dharma and by your lack of involvement allow a situation specifically regarding Triple Jewels or any part of it like something so new to me as flaming a Sangha member to go on even for a day!

I know you all saw those posts and conversations... soo from now on get more involved, please, otherwise by your silence you do approve and that results in mis-leading information and a deterioration of public images of Sangha in media such as this one and affects so many Sangha and laity here even many more non Buddhists viewing our news feed and profiles.

From now on instead of being silent speak out, that is your right as Sangha members and it's a duty you should not ignore anymore.

捍衛佛法而在社交媒體。

離開該路徑的佛教最近張貼留下許多震驚于兩個女人的裸體圖片，並進一步侮辱 FB 成員決定它貼上標籤"佛場 2012"。此誹謗的三重珠寶並造成的通風條件香港楊，特此通知，要求它必須民營化，或刪除隨著 Facebook 會員只發了佛法材料和適當的內容在該時間之前。不好收到請求，併發出什麼我現在明白燃燒。有人自稱佛教僧隊員折磨什麼令人憎惡的行為 ！因為它不是民營化的通風條件香港楊決定向 Facebook 報告，這是裸體照片顯示一切都和她有好友許多青年親屬和世界各地的青年佛教徒。感謝您您迅速反應 Facebook ！

僧成員是佛佛法的捍衛者，這是我們正確的佛教徒與非佛教徒張貼在這裡不合適的內容，在 Facebook 上和其他地區互聯網和社交媒體的責任。

認識僧成員和被好友僧成員需要一定數量的超過 FB 指引意義你不豁免從殿，將指導您關於社交媒體內容，也沒有從你採取的訓詞，雖然對社交媒體，也沒有放棄您的做法，雖然 FB 和其他地方，你必須遵守的 8 折路徑指引的內容負責、 可疑內容其實是有原因的訓誡的僧你的朋友。

你應該隨身攜帶的適當升值恩典被尊重和從你的錯誤中學習的東西。沒有人要求你的 Facebook 政策之外的不合理行動像是進攻性的 privating 個職位和顯示裸體和圖形暴力到那些知道你和喜歡那樣的廢話。

這是可悲的沒有一個其他僧成員成為涉及超越 FB 成員自己以前的佛教徒非毗尼順序與隸屬關係眾所周知在佛法會談和維護其戒律的努力。

對那些處於活動狀態，在公眾地方和社交媒體的所有僧的警告：

用我最深的敬意，向你都和我的朋友清單和在社區中的所有長者的僧，您需要得到球 ！開始說出來吧 ！只是因為你在 Facebook 上因任何理由，我不在乎什麼並不免除您從教學、 堅持與諫雖然對此公共的平臺 ！

這是你呆沉默你知道是佛佛法的錯了意見，並由你缺乏參與允許三珠寶或其任何部分它喜歡一樣東西對我作為燃燒僧成員繼續下去，甚至為一天的新的具體情況的事宜，只是少得可憐 ！

我知道你們都看到了所以從今以後更多參與，請這些職位和交談 ... ...，否則為您做批准由你的沉默，在 mis-leading 的資訊和公眾中的形象僧的媒體，如這一惡化的結果和影響這麼多僧及平信徒在這裡查看我們的新聞和設定檔的更多更多非佛教徒。

從今以後不再是沉默說出來，這是你的權利為僧成員和你再也不應忽視的天職就是。

Ven. Hong Yang Bhikshuni 釋宏揚，比丘尼

Sanitizing Buddhism and the erasing Sangha in America by Elitists

This is a re-post of my blog "buddhafolk" on wordpress.com  I feel it is important enough to re-peat elsewhere.   I'm gonna comment on what I wrote in it.

original link:  http://buddhafolk.wordpress.com/2012/06/22/sanitizing-of-buddhism-buddhists-and-erasing-sangha-in-america-by-elitists/

2,555 years ago Buddha passed away leaving the disciples and the rest of the Sangha to remember his teachings and pass them along to the next generations.  Very little has changed in the Sangha who carefully follows the Vinaya which are his guidelines of monastic conduct and instructed in his last bequest.  They carried Buddha's teachings (the Dharma) to various countries teaching and forming practice places for generations with a great deal of sacrifice and effort. 

Comment:  To ignore this well documented and academically sound declared bit of history is ridiculous and childish.  It is a horrible reflection of what passes for elitism and worse yet those who try to claim they are still Buddhist at all when all the while their books, films, websites and centers promote themselves as the experts of what is and is not Buddhist or proper practice.  Is this not a sign of a CULT?

Recently in media by Buddhist orientated sites online and in print through Tricycle, Buddhadharma, and Shambala Sun much has been made about the national form that Buddhist followers should or as they assume will eventually take in the USA.

Comment:  see for  yourself on their websites: http://www.tricycle.com it also has a blog where much is discussed concerning this and it's self-declared only source for Buddhist practitioners the  http://www.buddhdharma.com.  This is the link for another one http://www.shambalasun.com.  All have blogs or blog links.

Their Protestantism of Buddhism or rather a sanitizing or erasing/rewriting of Buddha's history and rejection of what they identify as irrelevant to modern Americans today.  This means all the ethnic Buddhists from Thailand, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Korea, India, Tibet, Nepal, Indonesia, Phillipines, Malaysia or other American countries or Europe are to be cleansed and shunned from Americans or American Buddhists as it starts with white men who are protestants who already rejected the catholics because they have monks and nuns... or maybe they are jewish who didn't like christians at all and or even those who prefer to embrace every oddball newly created religion and market it.

They are trying to dummy-down traditional Buddhism because they couldn't figure out  how to make it work for themselves.  Now they are trying to keep it elite and promoting a new version or a rather a odd form of Japanese Buddhism; Wow, even to do that is to disparage the efforts of the Japanese Buddhists in our American history.  But a recent picture in a news article features Japanese robed zen married clergy,  a couple (women are nuns only in Japanese Buddhist tradition and not to hold priest roles like the men can opt for marriage or monk's life)  in a zendo.  The writer asks "What's an American Buddhist?  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/whats-an-american-buddhist/2012/06/17/gJQAJCQrjV_blog.html

Well, it's a circular article first stripping away the Triple Jewel.  No Sangha, no ethnic trappings as they are not considered true or authentic enough to be Buddhist or relevant.  Then at the very end it says careful least 900 years later the adherents reject the efforts of the fabled American Buddhists who magically created a new world order of Buddhists here.

One way to look at this question is through the example of practice. When done correctly, what Buddhist meditators refer to as “sitting”–whether following the vipassana or zazen (or other) approaches to sitting meditation–does not rely on ceremonial chanting and recitations and actions that typically surround collective meditation sessions. This is not to say such ceremonial activities normally performed in an ancient or modern Eastern language are not useful or helpful. This is only to say they are not a necessity for the gradual expansion of consciousness that is the result of regular meditation. If one accepts this basic premise, which can be supported by the sutras attributed to the Buddha, then the conclusion that North Americans could conceivably develop their own Buddhist tradition some day is perfectly rational, if not probable.

This is based on opinion and not on reality, meditation has always been taught as a method but not the exclusive one, the first thing Buddhists do worldwide is to take the Triple Refuge and 5 Precepts.  The next thing they do is join in services that always recite sutras and repeat the Triple Jewel in refuge and action, join in volunteer work in the community and when it's time and there is an opportunity they choose or not to sit on a cushion with the goal of being enlightened eventually.  This provides the stable framework necessary before one sits on the cushions.

2,555 years the core of Buddhist practice has always been formed from the Triple Jewel, being carried and protected by the Sangha who observes the Vinaya.  Also because people who come to Buddhism from new countries took the time to study Buddhism in it's traditional form and upheld it, so the Buddhist culture developed as the Buddha instructed us Sangha who traveled to adapt to the countries conditions and culture with lots of variations in languages, practices and kept the core that is the Triple Jewel.  

The problem in the USA and in many parts of the world is that there is no one identified unified culture.  We are a global society in the USA in reality, much of the myth the elitist create is not real and not reflecting the reality of the people in the USA. There is no one culture.  There can be no one form of Buddhism defining the United States and that is really ok.  The myth is there must be one form of Buddhism for each country, that's the fakery being created by these elitists.

North American Buddhists are likely to create their own traditions and schools of thought, but they should do so with the awareness that they are forging a new Buddhist culture, not the ‘true’ Buddhist culture.

This is so strange that it is very insulting to North American Buddhists anywhere.  There is no need to forge a new Buddhist culture at all.  It does not work.  People in history have tried and when they diverge from the Triple Jewel they are not Buddhist at all, their movements become perverted and vanish.

The worst kind of approach a Westerner would take is to accept wholeheartedly without question any practice offered from any teacher without investigating and studying the history and knowing the standard teachings of Buddha and his disciples.  So 'wholesale acceptance' of Buddhism from the East is not likely the problem here.  It is lack of acceptance and adaptability. Just the last two. 

Comment:  and we can throw in lack of effort to read or study.

Also they seem to have a need to make their own piss in the snow, a male pre-occupation.  That last bit is sadly the reason there is an effort by rags that call themselves the voice of American Buddhists or rather trying right now to lead the Buddhist movement with their money and media forming a horrific laughable council of teachers that fell on it's face and nobody paid attention to it other than to point them out.  Led by the protestant versions of Japanese Buddhism and fringe trend setting teachers and all their writers who make them money... virtually ignoring the Sangha ""(they had one show Bhikkhu Bodhi who got rightfully upset with them and whom they posted as somehow he misunderstood..or he mis-heard them and gee wasn't that embarrassing for him to explode on them during the conference type post on their blog) on whose back they cruelly stepped on to reach their goal as King of the Mountain, they virtually stood and pissed on the the living Jewels, all the while laughing in the faces of those who donate and sacrifice to make Buddhist temples and monasteries in the Americas.  This is soooo christian and not worthy of what is American today.

Comment:  Here is some blogs and with very snerky comments regarding that... starts first with the host of the fabled council of teachers....

http://www.garrisoninstitute.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=923&Itemid=1434

http://theendlessfurther.com/?tag=2011-buddhist-teachers-council

http://notwoo.wordpress.com/2011/06/07/the-new-improved-buddhist-council-now-with-more-enzymes-lather-and-added-vitamins/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/14/america-buddhism_n_876577.html

http://meaningness.wordpress.com/2011/06/09/brad-warner-vs-the-maha-teachers/

OH MY! OUR GOVT RESEARCHERS ARE GETTING INTO THE FRAY:

http://www.neh.gov/humanities/2010/marchapril/feature/american-zenophilia

an onward:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/owen-flanagan-phd/do-american-buddhists-miss-the-point-of-buddhism_b_964188.html

This sanitizing of Buddhism is wrong.  It is a symptom of lack of effort and study of Buddha dharma.  It's rote repetition of wrong teachings based on fear of loss of their own leadership due to aging and somehow they must keep their flame alive and make a historical memory so their efforts don't seem wasted to others.  The fact of the matter is the hippies are old and their start into Buddhism was filled with false intentions, most are failed monks and they are damn mad that people did not support them when they were innocents in robes, so they formed their careers by damning the robes and those that wear them.  All of them... look up the writers for yourself in the rags, tricycle, shambala sun, buddha dharma, the big 3 have featured all white... and all secular people claiming to be experts and leaders of Americans 'cuz they failed to be monks.

Comment:  Kornfield among many others comes to mind with his large spirit rock center, was told by his staff that only a specific Theravada monk,  just one is their chosen one, so I was only welcome if I could be a temporary short-term volunteer... geese don't think it was exactly what I had in mind... I declined.

They said they failed to be monks because they failed to get enough dana to do as they want to do (and become hits in their homelands).  Instead they were ignored perhaps bored in their robes, fearing poverty and they lacked the balls to stick it out they left their robes because there is no money in them.  Then these ex-monks damned repeatedly the very people who had virtuous roots that helped them succeed and go forth and being accepted.

Playing king of the mountain pushing off their competitors.  They promoted themselves as experts saying they have really represented Americans cuz they can have sex and create families... and they want their kids to be able to participate fully in their activities in the zendo cuz they don't feel welcome anyplace but where they want to go and meditate while they ignore how bored their kids are waiting for them and let their kids run around doing things unsupervised while they zone out in hippie bliss or their mental version of it.

I'm sorry this is not how Americans do things, they do things by hard work, patience and sticking things out enduring because they know what really works. This fad by elitists is misleading and harmful and it does NOT meet the needs of common folk and it's common folk that need proper Triple Jewels not fads.  They aren't looking for trends while they work on the line or pack boxes into a truck, they are looking for a community that is stable, intelligent, active in the town, around the corner or even in the grocery.... but not at the expense of their own minds.  

That's where traditional Vinaya Buddhism excels, it's stable it has lots of variety and enough well trained Sangha of monks and nuns to be able to endure and offer Buddha dharma as requested without all the bangs and whistles of slick rags or media blitz... and we will be long enduring whether the elites want to come to us while we are busy meeting the needs of the community where we live and reside in the Americas in and out of temples. 

At my estimate we are well over 10,000 Sangha living in the USA alone and not all of us are ethnic imports from overseas but created, born and raised right here from every ethnic group that can be thought of here.  

Here are some Iowas some Califnornians, some Nova Scotians, some Germans, some Chinese, a few Texans, some Burmese, and a majority of whom are Midwestern people as common as you can get and their shenanigans while enjoying and some indeed being those participating in traditional Buddhist offerings.

Practice and our best efforts

There is sometimes less to be said and more to be done.  Buddhists are really action oriented. We don't talk a lot we do.  All these are truisms.  Some of us aspire to Buddhahood not sainthood.  If you are not seeking enlightenment then you need to check your intent in practicing Buddhism.  Compassion begins with you, if you are cussing up someone then that is a signal you failed big time, reboot and start over.

We have to make our best efforts every moment.  No time to think about it, wish for it or plan for it.  Life is fleeting and we do not have much of it left.  I like real stuff not triteness or quotes from Buddha's teachings to battle with another over who is right and who is wrong.  There is neither, individual's karma and their efforts in this life matter only to them in treading the Path.

I do not mind reading about other's journey's for it can serve as dharma teaching and another's life lessons can inspire and support Buddha's teachings. I do mind when writers put down any of the Triple Jewels which are the Buddha, the Dharma (his teachings) and the Sangha (past and present living Sangha).  Most of the failed monks and nuns have become famous writers based upon their slamming of the Sangha.

And that's just not the way to be, refuting your former life as a monk is understandably your own situation for it didn't work for you but it really is too much to read that we don't need Sangha or that they have outlived their usefulness or are a part of an ancient unfair out of touch system of living.  All these failed monks should be shivering in their bones out of fear of karmic retribution over their slander.  For they are committing the worst kind of offense.  Being failed monks they chose to become experts and speak for Buddhism in the West.  After 20-30 years of doing just that all the while slandering the Triple Jewel to an unsuspecting readership they have set forth wrong dharma in print and in word and now on YouTube!

Practice as best you can and keep your faith in the Triple Jewel for it will support your practice.  I do see people progress in a less rigid, less self-imposed puritanical standards and embrace their own efforts to learn a sutra or master some dharma method that they enjoy while others see their practice deepen and mature.  Enjoy your practice don't dread it, if it's not enjoyable just try something else that would interest you.  Buddhism is not boring there are 84,000 dharma doors to enter through!

Keep to those practices that uphold the Triple Jewel and walk away and throw away anything that does not! Do be aware of the standard teachings to avoid fakes and money grubbers.    Buddhanet  has all the traditions and some really good comparison charts in their study section.  That's a good place to start to be familiar with what is universally accepted in Buddhism today.

dharma studio wishmaking

Recently observing some disatisfaction over my undone projects, meaning the space taking ones.  I have longed for more space, specifically a studio and living space separately.  I have lots of Buddhist art projects to prepare and it just doesn't work much in my one room anymore.  Wishing for a solution like an invitation to larger sangha community that would allow me studio space.  I'd still be translating and adding my artistic bent and education background in a unified effort to make more dharma accessible in english.