Comments on: The Zen of a Good Sh*t. ~ via John Pappas http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/ daily blog, videos, e-newsletter & magazine on yoga + organics + green living + non-new agey spirituality + ecofashion + conscious consumerism=it's about the mindful life. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:37:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Four More Habits for Highly Effective People. ~ Angela Raines | elephant journal http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-431625 Four More Habits for Highly Effective People. ~ Angela Raines | elephant journal Mon, 13 Dec 2010 23:49:38 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-431625 [...] growth. I came here to bike, do yoga, laugh with friends, and sit. Yes, to sit. Just sitting, or zazen (Zen meditation) has been massively rewarding and transformative for me (my teacher being the [...] [...] growth. I came here to bike, do yoga, laugh with friends, and sit. Yes, to sit. Just sitting, or zazen (Zen meditation) has been massively rewarding and transformative for me (my teacher being the [...]

]]> By: Bob Weisenberg http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-26404 Bob Weisenberg Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:36:27 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-26404 It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with! But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog. Thanks again for a great discussion. Bob Weisenberg <a href="http://YogaDemystified.com" target="_blank">http://YogaDemystified.com</a> It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with!

But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog.

Thanks again for a great discussion.

Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com

]]> By: Bob Weisenberg http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-26407 Bob Weisenberg Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:36:27 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-26407 It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with! But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog. Thanks again for a great discussion. Bob Weisenberg <a href="http://YogaDemystified.com" target="_blank">http://YogaDemystified.com</a> It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with!

But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog.

Thanks again for a great discussion.

Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com

]]> By: Bob Weisenberg http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-26408 Bob Weisenberg Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:36:27 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-26408 It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with! But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog. Thanks again for a great discussion. Bob Weisenberg <a href="http://YogaDemystified.com" target="_blank">http://YogaDemystified.com</a> It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with!

But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog.

Thanks again for a great discussion.

Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com

]]> By: Bob Weisenberg http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-26416 Bob Weisenberg Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:36:27 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-26416 It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with! But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog. Thanks again for a great discussion. Bob Weisenberg <a href="http://YogaDemystified.com" target="_blank">http://YogaDemystified.com</a> It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with!

But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog.

Thanks again for a great discussion.

Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com

]]> By: Bob Weisenberg http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-26417 Bob Weisenberg Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:36:27 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-26417 It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with! But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog. Thanks again for a great discussion. Bob Weisenberg <a href="http://YogaDemystified.com" target="_blank">http://YogaDemystified.com</a> It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with!

But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog.

Thanks again for a great discussion.

Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com

]]> By: Bob Weisenberg http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-26424 Bob Weisenberg Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:36:27 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-26424 It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with! But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog. Thanks again for a great discussion. Bob Weisenberg <a href="http://YogaDemystified.com" target="_blank">http://YogaDemystified.com</a> It's a good quote, John, and Trungpa, by all accounts, certainly had plenty of his own shit to deal with!

But respectfully, I still don't buy that taking a shit is a very good metaphor for the spiritual experience as a whole, as you suggest at the end of your original blog.

Thanks again for a great discussion.

Bob Weisenberg
http://YogaDemystified.com

]]> By: John http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-26402 John Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:53:21 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-26402 Oh I just found a great quote that relates to this post from Chogyam Tungpa: Many people try to find a spiritual path where they do not have to face themselves, but where they can still liberate themselves. In truth, that is impossible. We cannot do that. We have to be honest. We have to see our gut, our real shit, our most undesirable parts. We have to see that. Cheers and thanks to <a href="http://www.oxherding.com" target="_blank">www.oxherding.com</a> for bringing to light this quote! John Oh I just found a great quote that relates to this post from Chogyam Tungpa:

Many people try to find a spiritual path where they do not have to face themselves, but where they can still liberate themselves.

In truth, that is impossible. We cannot do that. We have to be honest. We have to see our gut, our real shit, our most undesirable parts. We have to see that.

Cheers and thanks to http://www.oxherding.com for bringing to light this quote!

John

]]> By: Intrinsic Happiness and Zen; Yoga and “Horsey-Rides” « Sweep the dust, Push the dirt http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-25413 Intrinsic Happiness and Zen; Yoga and “Horsey-Rides” « Sweep the dust, Push the dirt Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:39:19 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-25413 [...] event brought back to mind comments from an earlier post on the elephant journal: My feeling is that, at least in Zen and Tibetan Buddhism (the tradition I [...] [...] event brought back to mind comments from an earlier post on the elephant journal: My feeling is that, at least in Zen and Tibetan Buddhism (the tradition I [...]

]]> By: Yoga Spy http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/10/the-zen-of-a-good-sht-via-john-pappas/comment-page-2/#comment-25134 Yoga Spy Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:22:13 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/?p=30361#comment-25134 Bob W: I am no expert on Zen Buddhism, but I did sit experiment with sitting in zazen, studying with Reb Anderson of Green Gulch, and reading a book or two. I myself wouldn't use the sh*t analogy, but it emphasizes what I consider a key element of the practice/philosophy: you can find "enlightenment" (that sublime resonance with the whole world) in day-to-day life. In fact, that mind-state can be present not only in zazen, but in everyday activities (the stuff of life), like washing dishes, walking, and, well, those toilet activities common to all living beings. In a way, it makes the concept of samadhi or nirvana more accessible. In Zen, just sitting, just being present (as if that's so easy!) is enough. If you can fully be in the moment just sitting, you can expand that mind state to the rest of your life. To your interactions with others. To moments of crisis. To the moment of death. So, while I am not crazy about that analogy myself, I can see the point... Missing you in my neck of the blogosphere! Yoga Spy <a href="http://www.yogaspy.wordpress.com" target="_blank">www.yogaspy.wordpress.com</a> Bob W:

I am no expert on Zen Buddhism, but I did sit experiment with sitting in zazen, studying with Reb Anderson of Green Gulch, and reading a book or two. I myself wouldn't use the sh*t analogy, but it emphasizes what I consider a key element of the practice/philosophy: you can find "enlightenment" (that sublime resonance with the whole world) in day-to-day life. In fact, that mind-state can be present not only in zazen, but in everyday activities (the stuff of life), like washing dishes, walking, and, well, those toilet activities common to all living beings.

In a way, it makes the concept of samadhi or nirvana more accessible. In Zen, just sitting, just being present (as if that's so easy!) is enough. If you can fully be in the moment just sitting, you can expand that mind state to the rest of your life. To your interactions with others. To moments of crisis. To the moment of death.

So, while I am not crazy about that analogy myself, I can see the point…

Missing you in my neck of the blogosphere!

Yoga Spy
http://www.yogaspy.wordpress.com

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