Comments on: Zen in the Virtual Age

By: The Best of What’s Around, #24 - The 2.0 Life

The Best of What’s Around, #24 - The 2.0 Life — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:45:11 +0000

[...] Lost Coin Zen – "Zen in the Virtual Age" [...]

By: tawni

tawni — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:13:34 +0000

I’ve loved how the internet has helped cement the feeling that “the world is my sangha,” and now it’s made it possible for me to feel even closer to my friends in the Lost Coin group who are across the country or overseas. And it’s exciting to have Mary Jaksch Roshi, who I’ve been reading for about a year, post on our blog now too!

Just tonight I was reading Daido Loori Roshi’s new book, Bringing the Sacred to Life, and found a comment that reminded me of this post and the comments on it. Daido Loori writes about person-to-person transmission of the teachings, and that only this type of teaching is truly alive. “If the teaching does not take the shape of the vessel that contains it, it is dead teaching. . . . The truth has not changed, the basic questions have not changed, the basic problem has not changed. What has changed is the skillful means by which we come to realize ourselves.”

I am grateful that Doen Sensei and others are using the omnipresent internet and other technology as a skillful means of sharing the dharma, person-to-person, in a way that makes sense for our modern, technology-influenced lives.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:11:30 +0000

At first, I was a little sceptic about it, but after reading Mary Jaksch Roshi’s post, the idea of a virtual retreat seems really attractive. It is amazing that she brought 400 people from all over the world together. When I sit, I find myself wondering very often if some of you might be sitting right in that moment on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The idea always makes me feels connected. In a virtual retreat, we could share more than sitting. I think it might help to integrate Zen practice directly into our daily lives. Doing this together, in all these different lives, and in all these different parts of the world, would be a great opportunity to act as one and as many at the same time.

By: Daniel Doen Silberberg

Daniel Doen Silberberg — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:28:03 +0000

*Daphne

Thanks for your kind comments. Please come see us and contribute your perspective. Many of us are collaborating to develop this blog into something I hope is creative and useful. Join us.

Thank you

Daniel

By: Daphne

Daphne — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:39:08 +0000

Hi Daniel,

I found your blog via Sherri at Serene Journey. Love the title and layout, and I enjoyed this post.

Mary Jaksch,

This was an interesting post. Any tradition has to keep up with the times and I think Zen is robust enough to do so. Sounds like your retreats were amazing!

By: Sterling

Sterling — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:41:28 +0000

@Mary Jaksch Roshi – Thank you for this post. The participants’ experiences in your virtual retreat was inspiring. I love the reminder that practicing Zen is about changing the way we live our lives.

@Annette – You were one of the first to participate on this blog, so I would never guess that you had a resistance to computers. It’s so wonderful to see you, Philip, & Volker here. Helps me feel connected to you all.

By: Sue

Sue — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:02:18 +0000

My mentor once advised me to use every moment to help lead others to the truth. I will consider “the Upaya of Blog” more from now on. I think it is the space between the words and lines where the message truly speaks.

I love the chance to share and learn from others about common interests in belief, faith and life from around the world.

Thanks! Great website.

By: Volker Jikiju Jung

Volker Jikiju Jung — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:21:57 +0000

I think during it’s migration from west to east buddhism had always shown it’s essence through the actual cultural, political, philosophical, etc. live at that time and place where it arrived. And now we have the great opportunity to let Zen into our lives, e-mails, PC’s, etc. This is wonderful. No separation between my Zen practice and my daily live! Feels great!

I am so grateful to be connected by PC and internet with so wonderful people in USA, GB and elsewhere in the world which is an deep inspiration for me. And I am so grateful to have met a teacher who gives me the opportunity to practice my live in the very centre of my live.

By: Daniel Doen Silberberg

Daniel Doen Silberberg — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:04:58 +0000

Thank you all for your responses.I am very pleased to hear that you are embracing these new forms of communication. Being one with the world we live it, creating with it and growing with it is central to Lost Coin.

Collaboration is also, I believe, very important. I hope we continue to live in a growing collaborative environment. By posting your comments you support this idea and add to it personally. Please keep it up.

Mary Jaksch’s post also speaks to this. I love her idea of virtual retreats. What do you all think?

By: Philip

Philip — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:46:25 +0000

There is no way of getting around the internet. We use it daily – for business, for information and for keeping in touch. It is really nothing but a logical consequence to use modern information technology for all things spiritual as well. If we truly aim to spread the word of Zen these days we have to be online – it is amazing how easily one can contact fellow students on different continents. My teacher lives 5,000 miles away from me and I can talk to him in person once a week. I am most grateful for this opportunity.
This blog site elucidates Doen Sensei’s holistic approach and is a continuation of his teachings.