Brett Robson <jet_boy@deja.com> wrote in message news:<c09si302gtv@drn.newsguy.com>...
> On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 12:30:12 +0900, Eric Takabayashi  ...
> >
> >Brett Robson wrote:
> >
> >> On 8 Feb 2004 04:21:48 -0800, Brett Robson  ...
> >> >
> >> >I have studied Buddhism in Nepal and Thailand and most recently in Takaoka
> >> >(Japan). What passes for Buddhism here bears little resemblance to Buddhism.
> >>
> >> Although by "study" I don't mean I was a monk or a Dr Buddhist.
> >
> >I met a woman with a shaved head who called herself a monk, who had come back
> >from South Korea where she studied "real Buddhism".
> 
> Well it is closer to India so it is /more/ real.
> 
> 
> >
> >As for her own Japanese sect, she said one could become a priest after a one
> >week training session in Kyoto.
> >
> 
> Staring at the floor crosslegged does take a while to get right.
> 
> I've talked to a few people and several of us have achieved flashes of
> enlightenment. One friend was washing dishes (at a monastery in Thailand) when
> he became transfixed on his duty.  I achieved something similar in Nepal but I
> think it was altitude sickness.
> 

I met a very mystical woman who told me that in zen meditation you
must sit very quietly while your knees are killing you and your brain
is screaming hundreds of random thoughts.  You must bear this and
eventually you won't feel your knees and your brain will stop
screaming.  The most difficult part is learning to let go of your
sense of self.  Once you can do that everything becomes clear.  The
woman said that our sense of self blocks us from seeing what is really
there.  She had such a strong presence that I find it hard to doubt
her.  She was really funny, too.  And great at snowboarding.  She also
told me to not give in anger because that will lead to the dark side.

Since tomorrow's a holiday she's probably at the Bamboo Bar tonight. 
Well, I think I'll go some more mystical consultation.

Live long and prosper, w