Lost Coin Notes, 1/18/2011

Announcements:

Doen will be in Ameland and London for the next few weeks.  He has asked Joan to teach a class on Enneagram and for the group to watch a few videos.
  
Doen wants the group to do a Zen circle eat time we meet.  A “Zen circle” is where the group sits in a circle and for each member to talk.  There will be no cross-talking as this is an exercise in listening and sitting without judgment.  

Doen will be back in person on February 8th.

Talk:

What makes Buddhism different than other religions?  How does it apply today?  Buddhism is not a religion in that it does not include a deity.

What is Buddhism?

Scientific approach to life: we do everything we can to enjoy pleasure and to avoid pain. 

Religious approach: if you do the right things in life you are rewarded in the afterlife.

Materialism: if we have certain possessions, we’ll be happy.

Buddhist option: There are certain states of mind that make us happy.  Look at things, what makes us happy?  Write down what states you go through and how that makes you feel.  Take one day and write down your emotional states throughout the day.  Find the states that make you happy.

The deepest form that you reach that is clear and true is emptiness.  Emptiness is a state that is devoid of all thoughts, concepts, and ideas.  All suffering is just mental forms , i.e. thoughts, concepts, etc.

The idea of death is different than the reality of death.  This is true for everything. Everything we see is a concept.  

Emptiness – emancipation, joy.  When a person is emancipated from the self, they finally have room to think about others.  

There are three types of Buddhism;

1 – Hinayana  - about the self

2 – Mahayana – about others, compassion for all sentient beings

3 – Vajrayana – (We are already emancipated but don’t know it) everything is transcendent and beautiful.

Questions:

Student: Last week’s discussion was about “I” versus “It.” This student was having a hard time separating thoughts and behaviors.  

Doen: By observing states we see what the “I” can become.  He gave the example of a stream.  The “I” is the water, not the rocks and molds of the stream.  Our states are the rocks and molds of the stream.  We are fluid.  We are energy and energy transforms.  We need to see this.

Student: This student is observing things pass, going with the flow.

Doen: Look at Enneagram types as a state – different personality types are drawn to different states.  As you look at your states, you come at it with openness and curiosity.  Don’t have judgment.  Look at yourself as if you’re someone else.  Some of us don’t understand that we’re unhappy or afraid all of the time. 

We have the ability to look at our states for the rest of our lives.  Once clear, everything is wonderful. 

Appreciate your life.