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buddhism
January 2008 
Practice House on the Prairie
Posted on Mar 8th, 2007
by 
Gwen
Gwen
The students in Patrick's Buddhist Studies course suggested he put the podcasts we created together up on iTunes. So he did, and now we're "new and notable" somehow. Go figure. That's the latest on the Buddhist front. Oh, that, and this kick-ass article about Big Mind that Brad Warner wrote.
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We created the house at Maxwell & 7th to be a Practice House. There are lots of ways we can interpret that, so I thought it might be helpful to clarify some of the things that we're doing to elevate this from a group house to a practice house.
We meet weekly, on Sunday evenings, to talk about what's happening in the house. What's going on for the three of us, things that we would like to address with all members of the house mindful and present. We set the budget (for which we've set up a separate bank account and keep receipts). We talk about our schedules for the week coming up. It's like a weekly review (if you're practicing GTD).
At least one person, and usually two people, practice daily in the house, in the mornings, every day of the week. Then, on Tuesday and Thursday, all three of us sit together from 7:30-8am. We could use a bell to sound the beginning, middle and end, so if you have one you're not using, feel free to pass it on to the house. You're welcome to join us.
When we eat together, which is most evenings, we talk about our day, practicing mindful listening and sharing about our day. Sometimes, like last night, we talk late into the night and usually it's about something related to practice, to living a mindful life.
We have the Zen Peacemaker Vows up on the fridge and they remind us about why we're practicing.
This is what I'm up to these days. It may not sound like a lot of work, but if you've ever lived in a group situation, you may know that simply living with others is work enough. Living in a practice-themed house is really just elevating the mundane, which is something the three of us are practiced at and enjoy doing. Yay for practice!
--------------
We created the house at Maxwell & 7th to be a Practice House. There are lots of ways we can interpret that, so I thought it might be helpful to clarify some of the things that we're doing to elevate this from a group house to a practice house.
We meet weekly, on Sunday evenings, to talk about what's happening in the house. What's going on for the three of us, things that we would like to address with all members of the house mindful and present. We set the budget (for which we've set up a separate bank account and keep receipts). We talk about our schedules for the week coming up. It's like a weekly review (if you're practicing GTD).
At least one person, and usually two people, practice daily in the house, in the mornings, every day of the week. Then, on Tuesday and Thursday, all three of us sit together from 7:30-8am. We could use a bell to sound the beginning, middle and end, so if you have one you're not using, feel free to pass it on to the house. You're welcome to join us.
When we eat together, which is most evenings, we talk about our day, practicing mindful listening and sharing about our day. Sometimes, like last night, we talk late into the night and usually it's about something related to practice, to living a mindful life.
We have the Zen Peacemaker Vows up on the fridge and they remind us about why we're practicing.
This is what I'm up to these days. It may not sound like a lot of work, but if you've ever lived in a group situation, you may know that simply living with others is work enough. Living in a practice-themed house is really just elevating the mundane, which is something the three of us are practiced at and enjoy doing. Yay for practice!
Access: Public
Yay roommates! “Practice House on the Prairie”, lol!
I'm jealous! Of course I live in a co-op house with 13 other people, but it is not as explicitly practice-oriented.
I'm so glad you three are living consciously together. Can't wait for your party!
wow …. thats excellent practice. you should turn that into a reality show and maybe include a bad ass slob in the mix to really test your practice :-)
I checked that article out that you linked. First off, I hope you realize before you sit down and chat up Stu that Stu is practioner of Big Mind and very much a champion of Genpo Roshi. You might already know that though. I found the artlcle to very much bullshit itself. This Warner guy hasn't sat through one of Roshi's Big Mind seminars, I have. I mean the first thing Roshi says is to get the notion of enlightenment out of your head, contrary to what Warner claims. I found Big Mind to be interesting, though I haven't given it enough time to draw a conclusion. I guess I was just curious as to why you thought the article was kick-ass?
Jason, hey,
Thanks for your questions & for coming out last night. Hope you're feeling better.
I think it probably would have been more accurate for me to have said “ass kicking” article, as that is what happened…Brad doesn't mince words when it comes to people getting a cheap enlightenment experience. Genpo Roshi calls it kensho and in the video from the ILP kit that I watched he says, “My purpose is to help you have an experience of the “transcendent.” I'm not trying to make you a healthier person. Maybe happier, but not healthier.”
I didn't hear Genpo, on this particular video, say that he was going to help anyone have an enlightenment experience. (When I checked Zen Eye, etc. out, I didnt see him making any claims to that end, either, so…) I also like that he encourages the group to come to it with “beginner's mind.” That's cool. I don't know enough about it to speak from a position of authority, but I do think that the debate, conversation and question-asking that came from Brad's post makes it worth linking and ruminating on.
Hey Gwen and Jason,
Sorry I could not make the party, but Kate sent me a link to this to watch the video. I hope you had a great time and it looks as though you did. While I was here I saw the “article” by Brad Warner. Now, I've sat for only 13 years, and some long, silent retreats, but I don't have a corner on Buddhism. I do not define Buddhism, so take all that I say in this comment with a grain of salt. In no way am I painting myself as some kind of expert. And, ultimately, the state of zazen cannot be represented in a blog, my comment on it, or any concept, but let's just play the game, shall we?
I don't have a problem with hardcore debates (you should see Tibetans monks debate Buddhism in the school yards). I don't have a problem with rebellion, and, there is a long history of such rebellion in the Zen tradition (not that I need that).
But I do think some of his statements about the “hard work of Zen” are incomplete. Brad “should know the one that is not hard at it.” (a koan, which he may be familiar with). Both the Soto and Rinzai school acknowledge (and even advocate) that enlightenment is available in any moment. In fact, zen is the school of sudden enlightenment. Brad mentions that enlightenment “involves maturation over time,” and that you can't “develop biceps like Arnold in an afternoon.” Of course, he is right. But kensho (an experience of dropped off body/mind) is not any of these things, and it can come suddenly. These examples occur within time and space. Enlightenment does not. Further, enlightenment is not a product of anything. It is certainly not some place you arrive. Again, all those kinds of thoughts about enlightenment occur with time, space, and place, and enlightenment does not.
Now, if you want to use Wilber's model (which many don't) the person experiencing enlightenment evolves.
But it does seem curious to me that he hasn't tried this and writes so much about it, and then advocates his way is the way. If, according to Brad, it is the long hard road, then how can he claim the real zazen happens where he sits? How long and hard of a road has he walked down?
You are very brave. I could never vow to not be greedy, speak ill of myself, or angry. I am one jealous, self-loathing, uproariously upset individual (periodically speaking).
kidding, kidding.
but seriously, though..
wow, if that house is in Boulder, and I still lived two blocks away, I'd totally come practice with you guys. but I'm 2,000 miles away. the house sounds awesome. great neighborhood!
and…paul is my favorite slob/random drunk friend on the living room couch the next morning…so you guys are set up on that front!
do you stil need a bell?