2010.08.26 01:00 - Viewers, Retreats, Centers and Traditions

The Guardian for this meeting was Zen Arado. The comments are by Zen Arado. Present were Archmage Atlantis, Strannik Zipper and myself.

Viewer problems:

Zen Arado: Hi Strannik
Strannik Zipper: greetiongs
Zen Arado: how are you?
Strannik Zipper: laggy
Zen Arado: me too
Strannik Zipper: how are you?
Zen Arado: I switched to Linden viewer from Emerald and it seems slow
Strannik Zipper: yep
Strannik Zipper: But I love the advanced media on a prim
Zen Arado: emerald is supposed to have viruses or something they say
Strannik Zipper: Emerald is good
Strannik Zipper: SLV2 is the future, but it will take time to work it ut
Zen Arado: I'm not used to SL viewer
Strannik Zipper: out
Strannik Zipper: I can run web apps in my virtual office
Zen Arado: what's 'advancd media on a prim'?
Strannik Zipper: SL Viewer 2 has a complete web kit. You can put any web page enabled app on any prim
Strannik Zipper: I made a working computer so I could work on google docs
Strannik Zipper: its good for youtube, etc. as well
Zen Arado: I'm getting behind with this stuff :)
Strannik Zipper: You do Shikantaza in SF?
Zen Arado: a computer in SL?
Zen Arado: SF?
Strannik Zipper: I can have a biz conference and have a shared whiteboard
Strannik Zipper: San Francisco

Zen in San Francisco and N.Ireland:

Zen Arado: I do shikantaza but I live in N.Ireland
Strannik Zipper: ah! transmission from SF, but in Ulster - my family is from Portstewart
Zen Arado: ah amazing!
Zen Arado: I have a friend lives there
 Strannik Zipper: I was there in 2003, after having not bee there since 1971 - boy did it change!
Zen Arado: I live in a seaside town called Carrickfergus
Strannik Zipper: I think I went through there
Zen Arado: yes - lots of tourists go to see the Castle
Zen Arado: were you born in Ulster?
Strannik Zipper: Not me - my grandfather
Strannik Zipper: came here in 1925
Zen Arado: Hi Arch :)
Strannik Zipper: (San Francisco Bay area)
Archmage Atlantis: Hi, Zen :)
Strannik Zipper: Hi Arch
Archmage Atlantis: Hello, Strannik
Zen Arado: my teacher is abbot of SFZC
Zen Arado: Paul Haller - you know him?
Strannik Zipper: I don't - but I've heard of him
Strannik Zipper: Its funny - I was just quoting Suzuki Roshi tonight
Zen Arado: he comes here twice a year because he was born and raised in Belfast
Strannik Zipper: In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's mind there are few.
Zen Arado: yes - his famous book
Zen Arado: Paul is here at the moment
Strannik Zipper: Cool
Zen Arado: I am going to do a 5 day retreat with him next week
Strannik Zipper: sounds wonderful
Zen Arado: difficult too though
Strannik Zipper: It would be wonderful if he would come on SL and give a Teisho
Zen Arado: yes - but I don't think he is into SL and computers much
Strannik Zipper: understandable
Zen Arado: I told him about it one time but don't think he was impressed
Zen Arado: you know Michael O'Keefe?
Strannik Zipper: no
Zen Arado: he is a movie/TV actor and Zen priest
Strannik Zipper: interesting - what is he in?
Zen Arado: he often comes with Paul when he comes here
Zen Arado: he plays bit parts mostly
Strannik Zipper: I'll have to look him up
Zen Arado: he was in a movie with George Clooney recently
Strannik Zipper: "The American"?
Zen Arado: was a judge or something
Zen Arado: I forget
Zen Arado: Paul teaches 'mindfulness meditation' to health professionals also when he comes here
Strannik Zipper: cool
Strannik Zipper: Ulster has changed a lot since my Grandfather left!
Zen Arado: it seems to be catching on with the health profession here
Zen Arado: but still a lot of religious bigotry exists unfortunately
Strannik Zipper: Its very big here as well
Strannik Zipper: mindfulness, that is
Zen Arado: it is good for relieving stress
Strannik Zipper: that is how most people seem to gravitate to it nowadays
Zen Arado: but I like Zen practice best
Zen Arado: it is more complete if you see what I mean
Strannik Zipper: right
Zen Arado: you ok Arch?

Diversion about old sayings :)

Strannik Zipper: he has an endangered species on his shoulder
Zen Arado: :)
Zen Arado: better than a chip anyway :)
Archmage Atlantis: I am fine, ty Zen.....I was just listening
Strannik Zipper: I get as far as bompu Zen
Archmage Atlantis: Yes, white tigers are endangered
Zen Arado: do Americans know that expression about having a chip on your shoulder?
Strannik Zipper: yes
Archmage Atlantis: Yes, it is common in the US
Zen Arado: you the origin of it?
Zen Arado: know *
Strannik Zipper: I'm guessing peat?
Archmage Atlantis: I've read it somewhere, I think, but I can't recall what I read
Zen Arado: it was about some place in England I think where the workers got to take home free planks of wood
Zen Arado: then they reduced the quota to small pieces 'chips' which mad them very resentful
Strannik Zipper: ah!
Archmage Atlantis: The first reference I see is to a practice of putting a chip on the shoulder to indicate a desire to fight......but that is a random net page
Archmage Atlantis: Would require cross reference to confirm
Strannik Zipper: I think the resentfulness reference makes sense
Zen Arado: oh? I heard this on a radio prog a while ago
Zen Arado: but often hard to say - many theories
Archmage Atlantis: Information on the net and in wikipedia only get one into the general area of meaning and origin.......everything requires some cross reference, imo.
Strannik Zipper: context
Archmage Atlantis: Better than having to research the local library, tho
Strannik Zipper: a lot of the library is now on the net as well
Zen Arado: useful though
Archmage Atlantis: True
Archmage Atlantis: to both comments

About a retreat I am attending next week:

Zen Arado: looking forward to this retreat next week
Archmage Atlantis: I was looking up the names of the Zen related individuals as the 2 of you spoke
Zen Arado: over 50 will be at it
Strannik Zipper: wow - where does it take place?
Zen Arado: at an old Servite priory at a small town called Benburb
Zen Arado: it's about 60 mile from where I live
Strannik Zipper: folks bringing their own zafus and such?
Archmage Atlantis: How will you travel there, Zen?....I remember you have some challenges, as do I, in transortation.
Zen Arado: yes though Belfast zen 
Zen Arado: centre supplies some
Archmage Atlantis: Ah, goood
Zen Arado: yes but someone is giving me a lift
Archmage Atlantis: Even better
Zen Arado: I have been there many times before
Strannik Zipper: it looks beautiful
Zen Arado: you can do just the weekend but I am doing the full 5 days
Zen Arado: it an old dilapidated building though :)
Archmage Atlantis: The name sounds like it (be beautiful that is)
Strannik Zipper: like a small sesshin
Zen Arado: well 5 days is quite common time for a sesshin

Benburb and other retreat centers and temples:

Strannik Zipper: http://www.servites-benburb.com/
Strannik Zipper: lots of muscle twitching time!
Zen Arado: ah yes - they have improved the website - it used to be terrible
Zen Arado: there are two old fat dogs hang about the place
Strannik Zipper: are there any monastics in residence?
Zen Arado: but it has nice grounds
Zen Arado: no not nowadays - just a few retired Catholic priests
Strannik Zipper: I went on a tour of old monasteries when I was last in Ireland
Zen Arado: it was supposed to have been turned into a retirement home for priests couple of years ago but they changed their minds
Zen Arado: you saw this plave then?
Strannik Zipper: not that place - I went to Glendalough, Clonmacnoise, Monasterboice, etc.
Zen Arado: you should come here and do a retreat
Strannik Zipper: sounds intense
Zen Arado: but you kinda get into it after the first day
Strannik Zipper: I found out this year that I'm eligibile for Irish citizenship
Strannik Zipper: I can't sit on a zafu anymore, I have to use a chair
Zen Arado: I can have British or Irish citizenship
Zen Arado: lots of people like that Strannik
Zen Arado: I have to use a wheelchair

Accessibility issues:

Strannik Zipper: there was an article about a woman using a wheelchair at the SF Zen Center
Zen Arado: was there - interesting
Zen Arado: I hear it is not too accessible
Zen Arado: and Tassajara completely inacessible
Strannik Zipper: It is on the top of a very steep hill
Strannik Zipper: Green Gulch isn't too accessible either
Zen Arado: yes - many of my friends from Belfast have been there
Zen Arado: otherwise I would love to go there myself
Strannik Zipper: well, you will be getting a "piece" of it soon ;-)
Archmage Atlantis: Odd to hear that in as liberal an area as SF, there would be access issues unaddressed
Strannik Zipper: SF is difficult - lots of old 3-5 story victorian houses
Strannik Zipper: lots of hills and steep stairs
Strannik Zipper: they do try to make it accessible, but it is very costly
Zen Arado: there is another zen priest called Ingen Breen, also from Ireland but trained in SFZV
Zen Arado: yes - it is always a matter of cost
Zen Arado: I can't access the Belfast zen centre
Strannik Zipper: its much harder in the older neighborhoods
Zen Arado: at all because there is a flight of stairs
Archmage Atlantis: That makes sense, Strannick, now you say that
Archmage Atlantis: Florida is flat, and we still have access issues :)
Zen Arado: but they are supposed to make 'reasonable' attempts to provide access here
Zen Arado: I go to retreats in this place sometimes
Zen Arado: http://www.drumalis.co.uk/
Zen Arado: it is accessible
Archmage Atlantis: Same here, Zen........but like you mentioned the other day, someone who has not experienced the difficulties
Zen Arado: I attend a mindfulness meditation group there once a week
Archmage Atlantis: probably doesn't "get it"
Zen Arado: I make sure I remind them of the inaccessibility quite often though :)
Archmage Atlantis: :))
Strannik Zipper: that is good - the squeeky wheel gets the grease!
Zen Arado: DRumalis is a beautiful place too

Temples and Buddhist Centers:

Strannik Zipper: Have you ever been to Iona?
Zen Arado: no
Archmage Atlantis: Is that also a Zen proverb, Strannick :) - (just attempting humor)
Strannik Zipper: Have you heard of the Zen call to action?
Strannik Zipper: "Don't just do something, sit there!"
Archmage Atlantis: No, actually not....tell me
Zen Arado: :)
Archmage Atlantis: :)
Strannik Zipper: Have you ever been to Dzogchen Beara?
Zen Arado: never been there either - have friends who go there
Zen Arado: I have been to Samye Ling place in SCotland
Strannik Zipper: not familiar with that one
Zen Arado: a big Tibetan temple that has been going since the 60's
Strannik Zipper: I have done a retreat with Ngakpa Chogyam
Zen Arado: was there 3 years ago and stayed for a weekend
Archmage Atlantis: Time for me to begin morning chores.......It has been pleasant learning from you both.....Bye for now.
Strannik Zipper: cheers Arch
Zen Arado: bye Arch
Zen Arado: http://www.samyeling.org/
Zen Arado: it's a really big place
Zen Arado: Chogyam TRungpa was there for a while
Strannik Zipper: Oh yes
Strannik Zipper: I have been to his center in Boulder, CO and the Naropa Institute
Zen Arado: I read a lot of Tibetan authors as well as zen
Zen Arado: have read Trungpa's books
Zen Arado: and I love Pema Chodron
Strannik Zipper: She is big here - she just gave a talk here not long ago
Zen Arado: she is a beautiful woman
Zen Arado: I am reading he commentary on Shantideva atm
Strannik Zipper: she is a good writer as well
Zen Arado: her books are very helpful for people with emotional problems I think - very practical
Zen Arado: very down to earth
Zen Arado: would love to do a retreat with her too in Nova Scotia
Strannik Zipper: s;he understands how to create practical applications of difficult ideas for modern people
Strannik Zipper: I spent a fair amount of time at the Nyingma institute as well - which is where I met Pema
Zen Arado: I have a friend who is doing a mindfulness Msc with Samye Ling

Different traditions and reconciliation between them :

Zen Arado: do you prefer Tibetan Buddhism?
Strannik Zipper: It was a stop on my journey, where I learned a lot
Strannik Zipper: but I like the simplicity of Zen
Zen Arado: good way to put it Strannik
Strannik Zipper: There were too many entaglements for me in TB
Zen Arado: yes me too - that;s what I was going to say
Strannik Zipper: er entanglements
Zen Arado: exactly - too many 'add ons'
Strannik Zipper: not that I mind liturgical complexity
Strannik Zipper: I am an Orthodox choir director, and they don't call it the "byzantine rite" for nothing ;-)
Zen Arado: Orthodox?
Strannik Zipper: Orthodox Christian of Russian tradition
Zen Arado: ah yes
Zen Arado: can you reconcile that with Buddhist teachings?
Strannik Zipper: I don't try - reality reconciles itself ;-)
Strannik Zipper: ironically, I'm a better Buddhist now that I'm a Christian than I ever was as a Buddhist
Zen Arado: yes - there is a Jesuit priest who is also a zen teacher who comes here to lead retreats
Strannik Zipper: Have you ever read anything by Hugo Enomiya Lasalle?
Zen Arado: I struggle with how people fit two traditions together like that
Strannik Zipper: A Jesuit priest who was also a Zen master
Zen Arado: no
Strannik Zipper: he has some interesting writings - he was in Japan
Strannik Zipper: I know someone who knew him
Zen Arado: yes Robert Kennedy lived in Japan too
Zen Arado: many like that
Zen Arado: http://www.blackmountainzencentre.org/8.html
Strannik Zipper: Oh yes - I saw a book by him
Zen Arado: it is just my logical mind
Zen Arado: I have one of his books - something about 'Zen Gifts to Christians'
Strannik Zipper: thats it
Zen Arado: maybe I have the idea that there is one truth
Zen Arado: instead of a variety and complexity
Strannik Zipper: I think there is one truth, but my mind is too small to contain it
Strannik Zipper: my eyes are too small to see it
Strannik Zipper: perhaps until there is big mind and big eyes
Zen Arado: yes maybe
Zen Arado: It's because I studied philosophy and am still influenced by ideas of reason and logic
Zen Arado: which can also be a narrow path
Strannik Zipper: reason and logic is good - but it can become a box
Strannik Zipper: sometimes the box falls apart and you see a wider world
Zen Arado: you have to think of these things as stepping stones to something greater I guess
Strannik Zipper: I think of reason as an after-the-fact event, like a reporter making sense of something they just saw
Zen Arado: anyway - I think I'll have to go now Strannik
Strannik Zipper: nice chatting with you - have a great retreat!
Zen Arado: you too
Strannik Zipper: gassho!
Zen Arado: gassho