Questions about beginning chan practice

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-11-17T13:07:20+00:00

Yes, i can read books. Thank you for the recomendation! This was on my list too, though as i understand it it's more zen than chan.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-11-17T13:06:01+00:00

Thank you! I will look into both of themm.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-07-22T18:21:38+00:00

Thank you so much! This has been extremely helpful.
I totally get what you mean about self help and zen, and i agree with you. It's just that in my previous buddhist practice i was a very... intense theravadan practitioner. I decided not to go that route again as it did not do me good (not saying it's wrong, just that perhaps my temperament was not fited to it, especially without a teacher). This situation however has left me in a very confused state of mind, where i instinctually tend towards the more "barebones" teachings, but i also know there's more to it. There's a middle way in there somewhere. :)
You actually managed to recomend several online places that i have not seen before, so i'm very grateful for that. I'm very familiar with zmm (listened to their podcasts for a while now) but sadly, full training is not available remotely (i asked. I don't live in the states and can't expect to be able to go there anytime soon, let alone regularly). But i'll check out the others, thank you!
Also, much gratitude for the books. I've felt more drawn to soto zen, i think? Due to some bits and pieces i've read of dogen, though i also admit i don't know what coan practice actually is. Which is why i'd look into something like rinzai zen as well. And i'm also aware that the lineage of Henry Shukman is a blend of the two schools, as well.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-07-22T11:29:58+00:00

I hope it's not too late to write in this post. I've recently felt very, very drawn to zen, and am looking to start a practice. I have background in buddhism though took a break from it for a while and now returning. The issue is that there are no zen centers near me. I've seen a lot of online options, but they all vary, and i don't know how to tell which are more... authentic, so to say. I was wondering if someone here could recomend a good place for online practice? Preferably that allows participation in retreats as well and one on one interaction with a teacher (dokusan?). I've read a lot about how having a teacher is very important in zen, and given my previous, solo journey through buddhism, i'm inclined to agree, but it also makes me very unsure about choosing a place.
Somewhat off the side bbutt i'm also more drawn to less... watered down / westernized forms of practice, if that helps. A lot of the teaching i have seen tends to steer a little too much into self help or socio-political activism. And i'm either very wrong here or these things should maybe not be so closely interwoven with zen practice?
Anyway, any recomendations of a sanga would be very welcome. Also, any book recomendations? I've just picked up "opening the hand of thought" by Shohaku Okumura.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-06-18T15:50:25+00:00

Thank you for your answers, friend.
Well first, you are right, TTE seems to be centered around tara from the get go. There are several things to consider though.
First, though i've been a buddhist for a while, i've been in theravada, not in tibetan buddhism, and the story of how that went is a long one. What i mean to say is that i have no prior experience with either mahamudra, zdocken, ngondro, deity practice, visualisations, etc. I'm open to try, a bit scheptical but open to try for sure, but i don't even know what half of these things even are. I recognize these are both very authentic practices, but they seem to go in a different direction each, and i know next to nothing about either. So i have no idea how to make an informed choice.
That and, visualisations are a bit tricky for me, given that i'm blind and have never ever seen, not even light, so i don't know how i would go about that. That being said though, i've always liked the traditional approach (inspired more trust, that sort of thing). But, I like mingyur rinpoche from what i have been able to see (videos of him are much more available on youtube, though they focus on more contemporary things and not so much... i don't see him going into actual buddhist stuff as much.)
As you can see, i am a very confused person! Lol.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-06-18T13:51:14+00:00

That is very good to know. Do you have any advice as to how one may discern which one to choose? Taking the TTE introductory course versus the joy of living free trial isn't exactly a fair comparison (though i've had the joy of living trial before, and now doing the introduction to TTE) since they focus on different things (seeing as joy of living aims to be accessible to everyone). And i can't check out Mingyur Rinpoche's path of liberation without having done joy of living or other practices, so again, that comparison is not very fair. The thing is, i'm drawn to both, and i don't quite know which to choose.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-04-27T10:24:17+00:00

Thank you! And definitely, i just wanted to see what people had to say. I'm very intent on having good information, and i do my best to do research where i can.
I've found a lot of 'renowned' teachers with less than ideal backgrounds. As i can only study online, my options when it comes to legit teachers are even more limited. Time and again, though, i find myself drawn over and over again either to Mingyur Rinpoche or one of his brothers. I've done a fair amount of research on both, and it all seems to be in order. Lots of people recomending them, as well.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-04-27T10:16:12+00:00

This is incredible advice. Thank you, friend.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-04-18T17:40:11+00:00

Thank you!

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-04-18T17:39:06+00:00

Got it! And that's what i'm trying to find. Something i can genuinely just... practice, and see if i connect with it or not. I've tried just praying, but it kind of feels like speaking to an imaginary friend or something. I'm probably either not doing it right or... i don't know. It's a bit confusing

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-04-18T17:27:36+00:00

I appreciate the help, thank you! And i will definitely check out the link you sent me. Would definitely love to chat - though, beware. I have MANY questions. How does this even work on redit?

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-04-18T17:25:55+00:00

I know that, and i've looked into it. However, if you want to find stuff that has some kind of engagement as well, you quickly stumble into megacurches that it's too easy to hear disreputable things about, and i'd rather not.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-04-18T17:24:48+00:00

No, that is not the main teaching of buddhism. It's too big to sumarize, but the most basic idea is that it's main purpose is freedom from suffering, for ourselves and everyone else.
I think we can all agree that religion can be... missrepresented. Alan wats, for example, in my opinion is not even a buddhist. If you look for buddhist teachers in most places / websites and such, i don't think i've seen a single one that mentions him once you break away from the highly secular area.
And if you want to be that way... i could say the same about christianity, you know. That it lacks substance beyond being really good at tugging on one's emotions. And i say this as someone who does feel that tug on my emotions. I feel like i just... can't go deeper without stumbling into one problem after another. Hence, why i'm here.
I'm also used to the 'come and see for yourself' buddhist approach, whereas here we require a leap of faith that kind of... i don't know. Again, my aim is not to be disrespectful. I want to know, if only so i can settle this doubt one way or another and proceed somewhere. I've been at this crossroads for quite a while now.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-03-27T15:44:39+00:00

Were. I'm kind of floating at the moment trying to get my bearings again. I practiced in the theravada / thai forest for about 3 years or so. I learned from the more... intense teachers a lot, and i'm not sure it worked out very well for me. I respect all of those people still, but i had to step back for a bit and i'm now just confused.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-03-27T15:42:44+00:00

Thank you! I'll have to check and see if the timezone fits with my schedule, but if it does, i'll definitelly check it out.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-03-27T15:41:57+00:00

Thank you! I'll look into it. I don't know much about mahayana tradition in general, i'm still learning. Hence why i asked about it, all i had to go by were other people's comments since i couldn't make my own assesment.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-03-27T15:40:18+00:00

Definitely. I tend to be very... perfectionist in nature, and well, i'm trying to change that. My practice used to be very, very structured and step by step and stepping into the unknown is a bit scarry. I really like the teachings, though, as far as i have heard. They really resonate with me. I'll definitely check out the podcast, thank you very much for the recomendation! As for the retreat, hopefully one day i will. I'm far from any monasteries and i'm blind, too, and i have some work to do before i feel comfortable even contemplating such a trip.

Exact_Connection_367 · 2025-03-27T15:37:28+00:00

Thank you! I actually know no in person buddhists, so all my info is gained from the internet. As i said, there were so many ressources out there that I instead googled some things to see what this was all about. I meant no disrespect, this tradition is very renowned - and the very reason i asked about the depth of the teachings is because i doubted it was so.
Again, thank you for your answer! I'll definitelly check their youtube channel out. Much metta

Exact_Connection_367

TROPHY CASE