Hi there, thank you for your comment. "Practice being a body" is such a helpful reminder throughout the day, for sure! The condor is not trying to accomplish anything, just soaring on the thermals, doing its condor thing, and trying to avoid telephone wires and such to survive. Patience is a paramita that I continue to practice with. Thanks for subscribing. And you're always welcome to email me privately if you'd like. Bowing from San Fran. Peace.
Greetings old friend. I wish you good luck and many bows for your teaching career.
Thich Nhat Hanh says in his book The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings that the mark of suffering should be replaced with the mark of nirvana. This is bc suffering is an aspect of conditioned existence while the other two marks refer to the unconditioned, as does nirvana.
I don’t know if this is the right forum but it’s a sincere question I’ve had for many years because I agree. What do you think?
Hi Jason, thank you for this question. My initial thought is that I can see why TNH would use "nirvana" instead of "suffering" given what you've articulated. Also, my view of TNH's teaching he focused on the relief of suffering or the promise of well being (as he restates the Four Noble Truths in terms of "well being is possible." For me, especially when I first began practicing, hearing that "nirvana" was a mark of conditioned existence probably would have confused me. Many people like myself come to Buddhism because we're suffering, not because we're experiencing nirvana :>) When I learned the FNT and the 3 Marks, I found these teachings encouraging because I no longer felt that something was wrong with me because of suffering, and just as important, knowing that there was a way out of suffering was a huge motivator for me. In another vein, you could say that even though "not-self" and "impermanence" refer to the unconditioned, we experience them in conditioned existence, of course. And the embodied realization of the these marks (over and over, not just once) alleviates suffering, which was Buddha's goal. Would love to hear what you think. Bows from SF
I think you’re right that some teachings are good for beginners. I never thought telling people in meditation instruction that no gaining idea was the way to practice. Everyone comes bc they hope they can gain something, stress reduction, enlightenment, nirvana, etc. That kind of seeking is the impetus for practice.
But I dislike the way Therevada focus on the suffering mark of existence. They remind themselves of it over and over again. And I don’t think that’s what should be stressed. It’s liberation we seek.
I think nirvana sends us in that direction. I do admit that some of these terms are still mysterious to me. But there have been many concepts that were once incomprehensible to me that now are a major part of my practice.
TNH has a new book all about nirvana. He says it’s not some mystical state, but “our daily business”.
Thanks for reminding me to practice being a body. It’s not my body that needs to be productive and accomplish bunch of things in order to feel good!
Hi there, thank you for your comment. "Practice being a body" is such a helpful reminder throughout the day, for sure! The condor is not trying to accomplish anything, just soaring on the thermals, doing its condor thing, and trying to avoid telephone wires and such to survive. Patience is a paramita that I continue to practice with. Thanks for subscribing. And you're always welcome to email me privately if you'd like. Bowing from San Fran. Peace.
Greetings old friend. I wish you good luck and many bows for your teaching career.
Thich Nhat Hanh says in his book The Heart of the Buddha’s Teachings that the mark of suffering should be replaced with the mark of nirvana. This is bc suffering is an aspect of conditioned existence while the other two marks refer to the unconditioned, as does nirvana.
I don’t know if this is the right forum but it’s a sincere question I’ve had for many years because I agree. What do you think?
Hi Jason, thank you for this question. My initial thought is that I can see why TNH would use "nirvana" instead of "suffering" given what you've articulated. Also, my view of TNH's teaching he focused on the relief of suffering or the promise of well being (as he restates the Four Noble Truths in terms of "well being is possible." For me, especially when I first began practicing, hearing that "nirvana" was a mark of conditioned existence probably would have confused me. Many people like myself come to Buddhism because we're suffering, not because we're experiencing nirvana :>) When I learned the FNT and the 3 Marks, I found these teachings encouraging because I no longer felt that something was wrong with me because of suffering, and just as important, knowing that there was a way out of suffering was a huge motivator for me. In another vein, you could say that even though "not-self" and "impermanence" refer to the unconditioned, we experience them in conditioned existence, of course. And the embodied realization of the these marks (over and over, not just once) alleviates suffering, which was Buddha's goal. Would love to hear what you think. Bows from SF
I think you’re right that some teachings are good for beginners. I never thought telling people in meditation instruction that no gaining idea was the way to practice. Everyone comes bc they hope they can gain something, stress reduction, enlightenment, nirvana, etc. That kind of seeking is the impetus for practice.
But I dislike the way Therevada focus on the suffering mark of existence. They remind themselves of it over and over again. And I don’t think that’s what should be stressed. It’s liberation we seek.
I think nirvana sends us in that direction. I do admit that some of these terms are still mysterious to me. But there have been many concepts that were once incomprehensible to me that now are a major part of my practice.
TNH has a new book all about nirvana. He says it’s not some mystical state, but “our daily business”.
Thank you for your reply and practice. 🙏
..and much appreciation for you!
and to you too! thanks for being part of the community and for your wholehearted practice. bows.
Much appreciation for the wisdom
Thank you, Rebecca, for diving head first into the ocean of online practice. Bows.