Zen Buddhism with Alan Watts (Sunday radio)

Roy (of Hollywood) Tuckman, KPFK FM, Pacifica Radio, Wisdom Quarterly

The Book by Alan Watts is a stunning essay on “the taboo against knowing who you are.” In particular, he offers a devastating critique for any looking to “change the world” (Illustration: Randal Roberts/Ianmack.com).

What's the meaning of American music and life? (More)

Alan Watts Sundays, 8:00 am PST, 11:00 am EST
KPFK (90.7 FM), Los Angeles or listen worldwide
For more than 40 years Alan Watts has earned a reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of Zen and Eastern philosophies for the West. Listen free online.

Beginning at the age of 16, when he wrote essay for the journal of the Buddhist Lodge in London, he developed an audience of millions who were enriched through his books, recordings, and lectures on radio, television, and in public appearances.

In all, Watts has written more than 25 books and recorded hundreds of lectures and seminars, all building toward a personal philosophy he shares candidly and joyfully with his and listeners throughout the world.

His overall works have presented a model of individuality and self-expression that can be matched by few philosophers. The three main sources for Alan Watts tapes and information are:

• Pacifica Radio Archives (800) 735-0230, pacificaradioarchives.org
• MEA (866) 492-8446, wattstapes.com
• Electronic University (800) 96-WATTS, alanwatts.com
  

More can also be found at: alanwatts.net and alanwatts.com

• Message from the Interim Program Director about Tuckman
  

SHAOLIN: Zen Kung-Fu Buddhist Monks (video)

(HopscotchFilmsEnt)

China is plunged into strife as feuding warlords try to expand their power by warring over neighboring lands. Fueled by his success on the battlefield, young and arrogant Hao Jie sneers at Shaolin's Zen masters when he beats one of them in a duel.

When his family is wiped out by a rival warlord, Hao is forced to take refuge with the Buddhist monks. As the civil unrest spreads and the people suffer, Hao and the Shaolin masters are forced to take a fiery stand against the evil warlords. They launch a daring plan of rescue and escape.

Not since the legendary kung fu film "Shaolin Temple" stormed the world in the 1970's has a movie been given permission to film in the actual Shaolin Temple of legend. The honor was bestowed on this lavish modern production, starring Andy Lau and Jackie Chan. This movie is one of Asia's most eagerly anticipated film events.

The Real Shaolin

(therealshaolin)

"The Real Shaolin" a moving, poetic, action-packed documentary feature about two Chinese and two Westerners who journey to China's Shaolin Temple inspired by the legends portrayed in kung fu movies with Bruce Lee and Jet Li. In the course of excruciating martial arts training, their fantasies to become kung fu warriors collide with harsh reality. Shaolin Temple is the ultimate test for martial artists from all over the world. Will they achieve their goal of living the Shaolin dream?

Shaolin Temple Secret: Dragon Herbs

Ron Teaguarden (DragonHerbs.com), Wisdom Quarterly edit


American herbalist Ron Teaguarden and Buddhist monks strolling at the Shaolin Temple.

Inside the Shaolin Temple’s Herbal Tradition

Last summer (2010) master herbalist Ron Teaguarden spent some quality time in China. He took this trip to identify, qualify, and purchase herbs in person for our "Dragon Herbs" products. We meet up with growers, collectors, processors, scientists, teachers, masters, and experts that make tonic herbalism so remarkably great.

He also got to meet up with the great China crew. These are things done every year. But this trip had a wonderful, special bonus. I took a truly exotic excursion to the mystical Song Shan Mountains, Henan Provence, China’s heartland, and visited the world famous, 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple.

Monk Wang Hui and Ron at the Reishi mural in the Shaolin Temple inner sanctum

Many people know that the Shaolin Temple is the iconic birthplace and incubator of kung fu. Shaolin kung fu is extreme, extraordinary, and steeped in spiritual practices.

Indeed, kung fu is a fundamental part of the Buddhist monks’ daily routine. It is a path to enlightenment. As a result, the Shaolin monks who practice kung fu are known as “warrior monks.”

There are also monks at the Shaolin Temple who do not practice kung fu. They focus on Buddhist meditation or the healing arts.

They are therefore known as “meditating monks” and “healing monks.” As awesome and popular as this kung fu legacy is, the Shaolin Temple has an even greater historic legacy: It is the temple where Zen Buddhism was first conceived and where it developed into one of the most famous and important spiritual practices in the world.

These days, in the west in particular, people think of Zen as a Japanese path. But the Japanese were not the originators of Zen. For centuries before Zen was adapted into Japanese Zen Buddhism, it was practiced and developed in China.

In China, the practice is “Chan” (禪). Zen is simply the Japanese pronunciation of the foreign Chinese word Chan. [The original Indian-Buddhist word is jhana, from the ancient Sanskrit word dhyana.] Actually, Chan Buddhism spread first from China to Vietnam (Thien), then to Korea (Seon), and then on to Japan (Zen). From Japan, it has spread throughout the world. More

TODAY: Thich Nhat Hanh in Los Angeles

TNHtour.org

"On the Road with Thich Nhat Hanh" from Max Pugh

The North America tour stops in Pasadena, the American Varanasi. Zen master "Thay" (Thich Nhat Hanh) will wow the devoted crowd with long pauses and few words. He continues his peace activism, engaged Buddhism, and efforts at establishing Buddhist mindfulness meditation communities in California and elsewhere, making him the second most popular Buddhist figure in the world, behind a famous Tibetan activist. His reputation is well deserved. He is the embodiment of the peace he advocates.

• Tickets for Los Angeles (Pasadena) event
• Thay in 5,000 seat Hometown Pasadena
  
  

CALIFORNIA EVENTS

September 3, 2011 :: Public Talk :: Pasadena, CA

September 4, 2011 :: Day of Mindfulness :: Deer Park Monastery

September 6 - 11, 2011 :: Mindfulness Retreat in English :: Deer Park Monastery

September 16 - 20, 2011 :: Mindfulness Retreat in Vietnamese :: Deer Park Monastery

September 25, 2011 :: Day of Mindfulness :: Deer Park Monastery More

Dragon's Breath: Right Speech

Zensquared (BeZen.wordpress.com, 8-31-11, edited for clarity by Wisdom Quarterly)

Breathe. Follow your breath. The practice is easy (bezen.wordpress.com).

Watch what you say. Sounds so simple, doesn’t it?

After right view and right intention, which concern wisdom, the next three factors in the Noble Eightfold Path are right speech, right action, and right livelihood -- all of which concern moral discipline.

In his text about the Noble Eightfold Path, [American Buddhist scholar-monk] Bhikkhu Bodhi points out that this “morality” is not so much “Thou shalt not...” as it is a mental purification we undertake.

Instead of uttering harmful words, we should keep [nobly] silent. When we speak, we speak to help others. We speak to spread happiness. We speak to comfort. We speak kindly.

Buddhism, with its nontheistic framework, grounds its ethics not on the notion of obedience, but on that of harmony.

Being mindful about the words we say becomes a practice that benefits others -- as well as keeping one out of trouble.

Bhikkhu Bodhi further points out that right speech has two sides -- avoidance and performance. So while we work to avoid false speech, at the same time we are also working to perform correct speech.

What is “correct”? Here Bhikkhu Bodhi uses the familiar English word wholesome. The Buddhist use of this word steers clear of a moral judgment in favor of emphasizing something that is healthy, not sick.

When the opposite word is used -- unwholesome -- it refers to something that will make us ill. Buddhism [recognizes many gradients exactly in accord with the heart's intention, but it often sounds] somewhat [like a] black-and-white view of good and ill: If it’s going to harm anyone, it’s probably unwholesome. And that’s sick.

The Buddha divides right speech into four components, abstaining from: false speech, slanderous [divisive] speech, harsh speech, and idle [useless] chatter.

No lying. No dividing. No cruel words. No mindless gossip. That sounds like “Thou shalt not,” doesn’t it? No, says Bhikkhu Bodhi.

He quotes the Numerical Discourses of the Buddha, stating that it’s really about being honest, being devoted to the truth, being reliable, and being worthy of confidence.

The determinative factor behind the transgression is the intention to deceive. If one speaks something false believing it to be true, there is no breach of the precept as the intention to deceive is absent. Though the deceptive intention is common to all cases of false speech, lies can appear in different guises depending on the motivating root, be it greed, hatred, or delusion.

The venerable monk goes on to explain how lies corrupt and injure the liar, and how

the commitment to truth has a significance transcending the domain of ethics and even mental purification, taking us to the domains of knowledge and being. More

Thich Nhat Hanh tours US (video)

TNHtour.org

"On the Road with Thich Nhat Hanh" from Max Pugh

Organizers are very happy to announce a 2011 North American Teaching Tour for Zen master "Thay" (Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh). His continuing peace activism and efforts at establishing Buddhist mindfulness meditation communities in France, California, Vietnam, and elsewhere have made him the second most popular Buddhist figure in the world, just behind a certain Lama. His reputation is well deserved, for he is an embodiment of the peace he advocates. Neither intellectual or dynamic as a speaker -- in our opinion -- he is nevertheless a powerful for of integrity and authenticity to behold. His devoted followers are themselves an amazing bunch of engaged Buddhists who make attendance at his events half the experience.

• Tickets for Los Angeles (Pasadena) event
  
  

CALIFORNIA EVENTS

September 3, 2011 :: Public Talk :: Pasadena, CA

September 4, 2011 :: Day of Mindfulness :: Deer Park Monastery

September 6 - 11, 2011 :: Mindfulness Retreat in English :: Deer Park Monastery

September 16 - 20, 2011 :: Mindfulness Retreat in Vietnamese :: Deer Park Monastery

September 25, 2011 :: Day of Mindfulness :: Deer Park Monastery

MISSISSIPPI EVENTS

September 28 - October 2, 2011 :: Mindfulness Retreat :: Magnolia Grove Monastery

October 2, 2011 :: Day of Mindfulness :: Magnolia Grove Monastery

NEW YORK EVENTS

October 5 - 10, 2011 :: Mindfulness Retreat :: Blue Cliff Monastery

October 14, 2011 :: Public Talk :: New York City, NY

October 15, 2011 :: Day of Mindfulness :: New York City, NY

October 16, 2011 :: Day of Mindfulness :: Blue Cliff Monastery

WASHINGTON DC EVENTS

October 25, 2011 :: Public Talk :: Washington DC

Zen tourism takes shape in Vietnam

English.vietnamnet.vn, edited by Wisdom Quarterly

With a 2,500-year Buddhist history and over 10 million Buddhists at present and a hundred pagodas (ornate reliquaries), Vietnam can become an attractive destination for Zen tourism.

Zen is a school of Mahāyāna ("Larger Vehicle") Buddhism that is most famous in Japan. Zen emphasizes experiential wisdom in the attainment of enlightenment. As such, at least in legend (legend contradicted by the Western scholar and former Zen Buddhist monk Prof. Robert Buswell, UCLA) Zen de-emphasizes theoretical knowledge in favor of direct self-realization.


Sitting Zen in Vietnam in front of image of Bodhidharma (phathoc.net)

Realization (satori, minor awakening or "epiphany") comes through meditation and Dharma practice. The teachings of Zen include various sources of Mahāyāna thought, including the "Perfection of Wisdom" (Prajñāpāramitā) literature, particularly the Heart Sutra, and the teachings of the Yogācāra and Tathāgatagarbha schools.

The emergence of Zen as a distinct school of Buddhism was first documented in China in the 7th century ACE. From China, Zen spread south to Vietnam very early, around 580. It developed strongly under the Ly -- Tran and Trinh -- Nguyen (pronounced "Win") dynasties.

As a result, Vietnamese culture and lifestyle has been influenced by Zen philosophy, particularly its most famous advocate, Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh.


A senior Vietnamese Buddhist monk, previously detained in an alleged plot to finance disorder against the communist regime, is in custody again (Rev. Danny Fisher).

Zen tourism has been developed in Vietnam with tours to pagodas (ornate reliquaries) and pagoda festivals, which enable tourists to visit Buddhist architectural works, observe and participate in the activities of Buddhist priests, monks, and nuns, as well as enjoy and admire characteristics of Zen arts like flower arranging, the tea ceremony, bonsai tree cultivation, and vegetarian food.

There are about 120 pagodas available for Zen tourism in Vietnam, including popular names such as Dau in northern Bac Ninh Province; Ba Da and Tran Quoc in Hanoi; Truc Lam Tay Thien in northern Vinh Phuc Province; Tu Dam, Thien Mu, and Tu Hieu in central Thua Thien-Hue Province; and Tu An, Giac Lam, and Giac Vien in Ho Chi Minh City. Source