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Anthony Quintiliani, Ph.D, LADC

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January 10, 2021 By Admin

“The Other Shore” to Happiness and Enlightenment

“The Other Shore” to Happiness and Enlightenment

Thich Nhat Hanh’s book, The Other Shore: A New Translation of The Heart Sutra…Berkeley, CA: Palm Leaves Press brings us on an inner journey toward a happier, more peaceful and enlightened life. Wisdom implies that we understand that life is made up of mental formations, no-self (more clarifications later), no birth, no death, no being, and no non-being. In general our journey is about recognition of no separate self, The Four Noble Truths – and suffering. The Truths note there is suffering; suffering has causes and conditions; craving and consumption feed our suffering; cessation of suffering includes happiness – which is available to us by skillful means and such practice will lead to the end of suffering and greater fulfillment.

Avoiding numerous desire and craving traps will help the process along. Note exactly what your happiness is right now in this president moment. Let go of greed, distant goals, and practice for now. Be fully aware of all the things you do have right now that may help you experience happiness. The key practices are: regular daily meditation, concentration, compassion, and shifting our mindset. Take charge of what your mind is doing; recognize what thoughts lead to suffering and what thoughts lead to happiness. Choose happiness! Once you are skilled enough to decide what you will be thinking, you are on the journey to a better life, especially emotionally. Focus on what you do have, including your “precious human life” (The Dalai Lama). We must never forget about our “exquisite human nature”  (Thich Nhat Hanh). Non-attainment is part of the process; grasping, desire, and the never-ending treadmill of “I will be happy when I have ….” are in your way. Then you realize very quickly that you have it and you are still desiring and grasping for the next, and the next thing you want. We do cause some of our own suffering by the way we think and then act. Focus NOT on suffering; focus more on being present and happiness.

Enlightenment, nirvana, happiness and peace are our options. These do require daily practice and skill. Just be with what is (unless dangerous), and allow all experiences to simply arise and fall. Be with it all – the joys as well as the catastrophes. Begin now with this very short meditation and mantra.

  • Relax and breathe calmly – recite the following statements.
  • May I be content with what I have. May I be willing to allow what comes – good and bad. May I be patient with myself and the world. May I recognize that non-craving, non-attachment, regular meditation, deep concentration, and finding the happiness that exists without great effort are all possible. May I be in peace.

Practice!  At some point inquire within as to your level of happiness and suffering, and what you can do to improve your experiences. No gain without daily regular practice.

For more information refer to Thich Nhat Hanh (2017). The Other Shore: A New Translation of The Heart Sutra…Berkely, CA: Palm Leaves Press, pp. 86-95, 98-101, 108-109 etc.

Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC  

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, Vermont and the Home of The Monkton SanghaChiYinYang_EleanorRLiebmanCenter

Author of Mindful Happiness  

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Filed Under: Featured, Meditation, MIndfulness, People, Practices, Self Care, The Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist Tagged With: ENLIGHTENMENT, HAPPINESS, MINDFUL HAPPINESS, THE OTHER SHORE, THICH NHAT HANH

May 18, 2019 By Admin

Egolessness and Zen Buddhist Practices

Zen Buddhist Practices – Egolessness

In our practice we often inquire, and sometimes experience, the no-self and/or egolessness. What is egolessness? Who and what do we think we are? Some say that when we die the essence but not the ego lives on into new experiences. Karma and re-birth are givens in this spiritual view. Our tissue and bones, all our atoms and molecules of body-mind decompose. Eventually we return to the earth as elements, carbon dioxide, and water. The mind is purely a biologically (bio-chemical) function of existence, of being in this world. It cannot be permanent, so neither can we. The mind is a n integration and response to experiences coming into us from our sense-doors. And the ego, well that goes away along with the rest of us. The confusion that sometimes exists about being alive in this contemporary world versus living on an another or other form/s is challenging to many people. The Buddha did not deny that we exist in this samsaric world; he placed greater emphasis, however, on our spiritual, moral, and ethical development. On his death-bed he reportedly noted to his followers that everything is transient, so personal attachment to anything (people, places, things, experiences) is not recommended. This is not nihilism, nor is it some form of adverse nothingness. He called to his followers to know their own true self, and to follow the dharma in all life’s experiences. If all things are impermanent, then so is our pain and suffering. And yes, so is our joy and happiness. When unhelpful thoughts and emotions dominate, take refuge in The Buddha, The Dharma, and The Sangha. So what does this imply in day-to-day challenges of living?  Below I have noted a few Zen Buddhist practices that may be helpful to you – Buddhist or not.

  1. Stay in the present, breathe calmly, and prepare yourself to be present – to do what is required of you.
  2. Use RAIN – Recognize it is happening; Accept it; Investigate why now; and, be as close to no-self and/or egolessness as possible.
  3. Realize that your acceptance is not a passive form of being. It has energy. Energy of your mind, heart, mudra, and hara.
  4. Do your best to let go of I/Me/Mine and exist in the non-duality of it all. You are not alone! You are part of the great universe.
  5. Note to yourself that this moment of crisis or upheaval is simply another great opportunity to practice skillful living here, now.
  6. Once the anguish has passed, rest in and with yourself. Contemplate how these skillful means have helped you. Practice more!
  7. For more information refer to Okawa, R. (2007). The Challenge of Enlightenment. London, UK: Little Brown.

Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, Vermont and the Home of The Monkton SanghaChiYinYang_EleanorRLiebmanCenter

Author of Mindful Happiness  

Mindful Happiness cover designs.indd

New Edition of Mindful Happiness in Production…Coming soon!

Filed Under: ANTHONY QUINTILIANI, Benefits of Meditation, Benefits of Mindfulness, Buddhism, Calming, Egolessness, Featured, Meditation, MIndfulness, Practices, Ryuho Okawa, Self Care, Zen Buddhist Tagged With: EGOLESSNESS, OKAWA, PRACTICE, RAIN, ZEN BUDDHIST

November 28, 2017 By Admin

Zen Buddhist Emptiness and Christian Centering Prayer

Zen Buddhist Emptiness and Christian Centering Prayer

Recently Ken McLeod presented “Freedom of Choice” as a way to differentiate forms of spiritual materialism and emotional escapism from serious Buddhist practice.  He noted The Heart Sutra negations. There is no attainment for bodhisattvas as they pursue the perfection of wisdom. Ultimately, everything is empty. He refers to the illusion of choice as a hindrance to freedom. The more options we have the greater energies, angst, and preferences we experience.  These are ways out of serious, dedicated meditation. When we become safely lost in our soothing practice, we may tend to withdraw from the challenges of everyday life in our chaotic world. Pursuit of preferred options and alternatives may soothe us but it also limits our mind training – purified attention and concentration on one thing in the here and now of presence. Having less options on our personal spiritual paths will ensure that we encounter the painful realities of our own emotional lives. If we succeed in this encounter, we may experience healing. What we need is Suzuki Roshi’s “way-seeking mind.” In such ways the Zen meditation may provide direct experiences of emptiness.

David Frenette’s book, The Path of Centering Prayer, notes many details on this practice. Perfected practice in Centering Prayer may open up greater divine love and allow experiences of emptiness. To maintain open curiosity for readers, I will use the words higher power to replace references to god/God. Centering prayer is part of the long, honored Christian mystical tradition. Simplicity is its core, and this simplicity allows greater and greater connection to higher power. It is the presence of higher power as we sit that influences us positively. Higher power presence allows for a life of improved unity and togetherness with all.  Centering prayer as a daily practice opens us up to positive attitudes about process and allows deeper internal experience. Gentle receptivity of radical acceptance may open up thoughts, emotions even behaviors; when we experience these as interferences, simply go back to effortless, calm breathing and a selected sacred word. Focus on these as your meditation deepens. If we are successful, we will experience a deep connection to higher power and ultimate emptiness of it all. As our skills improve, we will notice sacred experiences in the words we use, in our breath, and in our spirit.  A loving friendship with higher power and self and others may emerge over time. We will use Thomas Keating’s instructions. Recognize he is a priest and a psychologist.

Now we will practice Thomas Keating’s Centering Prayer process on higher power and emptiness. For even more simplicity I have modified a few steps.

  1. Sit quietly with your eyes closed.
  2. Hold an intention to contact higher power and to practice regularly.
  3. Practice counts; there is no perfect way to do this. Just keep practicing.
  4. Select a sacred word (mantra) as your symbol of your spiritual connection with higher power.
  5. As you calm and deepen your breath, say your sacred word over and over again.
  6. When thoughts, emotions, pain, suffering, even behaviors interfere with your practice simply DO NOT engage in story-lines and bring attention back gently to breath and word. Repeat this process over and over again.
  7. Work to let go of your stream of consciousness. Let go of past and future. Stay in the present.
  8. Maintain a friendly, loving attitude to whatever comes up to distract you. Continue to breathe and say your sacred word.
  9. Let go of your false self by misidentifying with ego-self, family, groups, ethnic and racial roots. Be one!
  10. Continue to practice by just be a human being with compassion and love. Let the higher power do its work for you. As you meditate deepen, deepen and deepen.

For more information refer to Keating, T. (1986, 2006). Open-Mind, Open-Heart. St.Benedict’s Monastery/Continuum Books. Frenette, D. (2017). The Path of Centering Prayer. Sounds True. McLeod, K. (2017). “Freedom of Choice.” Tricycle Community. Retrieved 9-21-17. Bourgeault, C. (2016). The Heart of Centering Prayer… Boston,MA: Shambhala Publications.

Anthony R. Quintiliani, PhD., LADC

From the Eleanor R. Liebman Center for Secular Meditation in Monkton, VermontChiYinYang_EleanorRLiebmanCenter

Author of Mindful Happiness  

Mindful Happiness cover designs.indd

New Edition of Mindful Happiness in Production…Coming soon!

Filed Under: Christian Centering Prayer, David Frenette, Featured, Thomas Keating, Zen Buddhist Tagged With: CENTERING PRAYER, THOMAS KEATING, ZEN BUDDIST

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