Path: shell.portal.com!svc.portal.com!uunet!in2.uu.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!swrinde!tank.news.pipex.net!pipex!lade.news.pipex.net!pipex!tube.news.pipex.net!pipex!dish.news.pipex.net!pipex!dircon!usenet From: dreamer@dircon.co.uk (John Agapiou) Newsgroups: alt.philosophy.zen,alt.zen,alt.magick.tyagi,alt.religion,alt.religion.buddhism,talk.religion.buddhism,alt.consciousness,alt.philosophy.taoism Subject: Re: Bodhidharma: Re SOsburne....... Date: Mon, 08 Apr 1996 19:34:29 GMT Organization: Direct Connection Lines: 38 Message-ID: <4kbpn5$ad9@newsgate.dircon.co.uk> References: NNTP-Posting-Host: gw4-178.pool.dircon.co.uk X-Newsreader: Forte Free Agent 1.0.82 Xref: shell.portal.com alt.philosophy.zen:6955 alt.zen:28830 alt.magick.tyagi:7547 alt.religion:2149 alt.religion.buddhism:259 talk.religion.buddhism:19284 alt.consciousness:25698 alt.philosophy.taoism:3339 Bodhidharma wrote: >Dhyana Buddhism, brought to China (Zen's birthplace) by Bodhidharma, is a >"general name for all schools of Buddhism that place particular emphasis >on the practice of meditation as the way to enlightenment" (_Encyclopedia >of Eastern Religion and Philosophy_). In my understanding, while >meditation is certainly an integral part of Theravada Buddhism (Right >Mindfulness is one step on the Noble Eightfold Path), it does not hold >the central place it does in Zen; in fact, I have read that it generally >is relegated to secondary status when compared to the "moralistic" >elements of the Path. Can anyone verify this? Yes. From my visit to Amaravati (a Theravada monastery) it seemed to me that meditation did indeed take second place to things such as the learning of the pali cannon. The emphasis appears to be more on the social importance of the sangha (the buddhist community). I don't know about other monasteries but there was a harsh set of rules other than the usual precepts (e.g. no music at all!). Most of the monks time is divided amongst work about the monastery, cooking, cleaning etc. With a main meal before midday, after which there are no further meals until the following morning which consists of gruel and a cuppa. There are regular meetings where the monks pray, meditate, chant and in the evening there is a discourse. Also some monks (and nuns, it is a mixed monastery) run workgroups including meditation. Spare time can be spent as you choose, the library there is impressive with a whole bookcase dedicated to Taoism, more than I have found in any public library! It is possible to visit when the monks are not in retreat and you will be expected to lend a hand in the workings of the monastery. If you go I recommend that you take an offering to the monks, preferably food, (they cannot accept money) and obviously not meat! Also keep the precepts, there is no pressure to do this but it does give you a better insight into their lives. Sorry I don't know any contact address, but it's in great/little Gadston, Hertfordshire.