Entering The "Buddhism" Class

What are you getting yourself into?

 

Entering The "BUDDHISM" CLASS for Meditation & Dharma Study Buddha ~ The Joyous Iconoclast   Buddhism Without Any 'Beliefs' Whatsoever   Please PERUSE THIS WHOLE SECTION ~ thanks • How to Attend for the FIRST TIME. • Have You a Deep Love of Learning? • There’s A Very Eccentric-Edge’ to this Odd Class ! • The 'Nature' of the Student that just might benefit • BE WELCOME FOR A ONE TIME VISIT & SEE ... • Beginner's COMMITMENT - Six Weeks of Class   a steady student attendance - a sincere, solid, start • C a u t i o n: for 'The Spiritually Sensitive' • What Consistently Motivates Us? – the poet Rilke   said .. "To Love the Questions Themselves! " •  “IF” ~ a mindfulness poem by Rudyard Kipling •  'Darkness' - no matter how ominous & intimidating        To read Here just begin to SCROLL ▼DOWN

                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

More BiG Important DETAILS & Logistics are at Table of Contents #13

our sincere thanks in advance to you for reading all these myriad details.

At least, these ‘logistics’ to steer the body-mind are here if ya' need 'em...

This section here (#3) is about 'Intent' towards undertaking a practice...

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FYI: Current Date & Time & Event UPDATES are at our BUDDHA-BLOG

          http://BuddhistMindfulnessMeditation.blogspot.com/

 

But the really good reading is still right here in this site you're in now

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Be Open to a truly Liberated Present Moment of an Infinite 'Now' ! ~ Alan Watts

 

~ BUDDHA ~

The JOYOUS ICONOCLAST

 

Buddhism Without Any 'Beliefs' Whatsoever

 

" Do not accept my teachings simply because I am called The Buddha "

 

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“ What is accepted by the majority of people ~ does not mean it is Real ”

~ Gautama The Buddha ~

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~ currently ~

please always phone to confirm

the current OPEN Class Evening of the week

 

The “BUDDHISM” Class

Vipassana Insight Meditation

“The PATH OF NO EXPECTATIONS”

A Path of Abundant ‘Practice Opportunities’

• OPEN Weekly Evening Class with Akasa Levi

• LIMITED Study-Group Nite for core-students

7:30 - 9:30 PM • Santa Monica • 310-450-2268

Best phone times – on any day – Noon to 6pm

• Join our OPEN Ongoing Classes at Any Time •

So ... please be very most welcome to inquire

 

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Beginners may wish to plan to come at 7:10 pm

the first couple of weeks for extra instruction & sitting tips

 

A Typical Evening at Laughing Buddha Sangha includes

7:30 pm Brief Guided Instruction with 35-40 minute Silent Meditation

Dharma Talk or Text Study, Satsang-Discussion-Dialogue with Q&A,

and an Inspiring Metta-style 'Loving-Kindness' Meditation

or sacred poetry or mini-ritual to conclude at 9:30 pm

 

 

 

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A View of The Class  ________________________________________________________________________________________________

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The Main Idea Here .:. Have you a Deep Love of Learning ?

 

The Laughing BUDDHA SANGHA offers a very ‘eclectic’ Western-blend of traditional

and very contemporary Buddhist Mindfulness Inquiry into the 'Self' and Meditation Practices

for consciously evolving, highly inquisitive, spiritual women & men who genuinely seek a much

more intelligent challenge & clarity to experiencing the ever-present Reality.

 

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“Class-commitment-minded” new learners are always encouraged !

. . . So are you a naturally curious person with a Deep Love of Learning ?

 

 

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There is a noticeable ‘Eccentric-Edge’ to this Odd Class

that Alerts the Innate 'Nature' of the Student that might truly benefit.

What kinda' student comes to do this?  An emerging Iconoclast*

 

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You do not have to be 'book-smart' or very intellectual to 'get' it !

Just really like to ask lots of questions . . . or just enjoy listening in

 

CLASSES: "The JOYOUS ICONOCLAST"  

'Buddhism' Without Any 'Beliefs' Whatsoever

 

is an informal Study-Series that definitely offers a much more Outside-the-Box-Buddhism !

Heart-filled 'Heresy' for a more Maverick Spirited Inner-Quest - for nourishing an evolving

"Iconoclast Intelligence" – as Wisdom joins Kindness in ‘Compassionate Critical Thinking’.

Lovingly de-constructionist & fully de-mystifying - with a Tender, Warm Caring Heart.

Refreshing, yet risky, even 'radical' new spiritual considerations of Reality –

as you fuel the Awakening of your own Dharma 'Informed' Mind and Heart.

Silent Sitting in Stillness with a developing Dharma-Mind does all the rest !

 

* For a Clearer Definition of ICONOCLAST maybe later,                                   

         go see Section # 9 on the Table of Contents.

 

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BUDDHIST SATSANG CLASS' CONVERSATIONS' on AWAKEN.MENT

Discussion begins right after the Mindfulness Insight Meditation sitting practice

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Deep eclectic, ongoing ‘Conversations’ into the Dharma, Truth,
 Wisdom, Empathy, Reality, and your OWN Awakening process.
"Inquiry into Self" Practice - combining the cool, calm sobriety
and observation approach of traditional Vipassana Mindfulness
with the 'crazy wisdom' irrationality of Zen Non-Duality – which
short-circuits the obsessive self-involved, self-identified mind.

 

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Who comes as a ‘seeker-student’ to do this sort of practice?

A naturally inquisitive person with a very deep love of learning,

has a curious, progressive, unflappable, non-mainstream sensibility –

Really relishing the abstract, obscure, intangible, even the absurd –

with a genuine taste for the elusive, indefinable "Existential" stuff.

 

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You do not have to be 'book-smart' or very intellectual to 'get' it !

Even if you are only a little bit philosophical-minded, but really

like to ask lots of questions - enjoy showing up for classes,

enjoy psychology, history, poetry, humanity and laughing –

and are willing to give class a hefty good try.

You'll fit in quite fine.

 

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The BiG Important DETAILS & Logistics are at Table of Contents #13

our sincere thanks in advance to you for reading all these myriad details -

at least, these ‘logistics’ to steer the body-mind are here if ya' need 'em...

~ This is the place to go for Major Details ~

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FYI: Current Date & Time & Event UPDATES are at our BUDDHA-BLOG

http://BuddhistMindfulnessMeditation.blogspot.com/

 

But the really good reading is still right here in this site you're in now

 

 

◊

Rumi says ...

 

"Learning your Spirit all Anew ~ well, at first –

almost everyone else must be bound and dragged here.

Only a very few rare ones, really do come entirely on their own"

 

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"Arriving with 'The Gift of Good Intent' toward your own Success"

  ~ Old Irish Blessing

 

♦ IMPORTANT – for the motivated beginner for a sturdy, strong start,

a Once Weekly Beginner's “Practice Class-Commitment” of 6 Weeks –

that’s not a lot – for a reasonable, steady 'CONSISTENCY' of Practice is Sincerely Requested.

For you and everyone to get a hold of the ‘feel’ & ‘sense’ of this meditation – it's something new.

Meditation: at first it's an 'acquired' skill. Meditation: at first we're swimming against the stream.

 

Of course, you are warmly welcome ! Come for a One-Time Visit. Attend One Class.

Then after a first visit - You decide if this ‘growth-setting’ - this challenging, off-beat, unorthodox

Buddhist meditation class is possibly even for you.  This Weekly Class is a small, salon-style,

intimate, in-depth Buddhist meditation and Dharma study group. Just come & see if you like it.

 

A Six Week Class – for a new sincere 'Beginner' that's quite reasonable to request –

AND, we understand that occasionally, you may miss your class due to other important plans.

You can easily make it up: Meditation Class and the teacher are always here ~

 

" You don't have to see the whole staircase – just take the first step in faith "  ~ M.L.King

 

 

Beginners - Sorry, but for a first go, this can not be just a drop-in meditation group for you. 

But AFTER your 'beginner-status' is over – you are most welcome and certainly may want

to continue to sit meditation with us at Any Time thereafter – purely on your own terms.

No class commitment.  The door is simply open to you – you come when you want.

 

 

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So Please – do not feel intimidated or ‘shudder’ at the mere mention of 'commitment' –

Some people struggle with the difficulty of ‘commitment’. Others simply relax & just hang-easy.

We wish to maintain maximum 'attendee-continuity' – at it's best optimum-level of learning.

~ We Thank You ...

 

"Tradition should be a guide, not a jailer."

~ W. Somerset Maugham “The Razor’s Edge” 1931

 

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More Experienced Meditators who are now seeking to do a much deeper questioning into

the False-Belief in a 'Self' - a de-mystifying, open-minded, caring 'conversation' into Wisdom,

Empathy & Spiritual Reality in our Western life-style + some poetry & laughing!   Meditators

with already more consistent 'sitting experience' - and some background in a teacher-led

practice, actual retreats, etc. - are always welcome to come sit & join in with us at anytime.

 

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"While one person hesitates because they 'feel' inferior & ‘think’ insecure thoughts –
  the other is just busy making mistakes  a p l e n t y  - and becoming quite superior"  ~ The Tao

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♦ "I generally have a 'commitment-problem' with self-improvement classes"

So do you need more encouragement?  We can offer some . . . .   

You may find help to review this issue a bit further for yourself at Commitment on Archive List.

“Commitment”- It’s a Difficult, Big Loaded Word . . . it affects everything we do as human beings

be it a real ‘relationship’, or to an art, or to your life’s-work, or to yoga or fitness, or to music lessons.

 

 

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" Eighty percent of success is just showing up! "

 

~ Woody Allen

 

" The Greatest Risk Is Not Taking One "

 

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" If you are irritated by every little rub,

how will you ever be polished ? "

 

~ Rumi

 

S u p r e m e  C a u t i o n

S u p r e m e  C a u t i o n:

for 'The Spiritually Sensitive'

These Unorthodox Buddhist Classes

 

Will Offer Some Challenging, Refreshing, Risky,

even 'Radical' Spiritual Considerations of Reality !

 

Sorry, we are sorta’ playing 'Spiritual Hardball' here,

but  with lots n’ lots of compassionate tender Heart

to soften, loosen & unhinge the tenacious grip

of the illusory false "belief" in an ego-self -

and its obsessive demands for 'reasons',

un-examined 'antidotes' & comfort-zones

for the ego's mentally 'imagined' soul.

Instead of taking a ‘position’,

as an alternative path –

we offer some ancient,

sophisticated concepts

pointing ►the way towards

the poetic insights of simple,

liberated, pure Awareness.

 

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"Good timber
does not grow with ease.
The stronger the wind ~

the stronger the trees."

 

~  Williard Marriott

 

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The Spiritual Warrior always weilding The Question

 

What's "Motivating" Me?

 

since Buddhist Practice is all about mindfulness of 'Intention' & 'Motivation'

 

Below is quoted Rilke: a core major influence on

The Laughing Buddha Sangha’s perennial Life-Practice Philosophy

of 'Inner-Inquiry'.  Inspired-ideas that we constantly encourage to surround us

& 'Inform' us. In today's media-world we can still rub shoulders with profundity! 

 

It's all available! You may wish to copy/paste & send the Rilke quote below to

people you personally know – an offering of very good wisdom.  His are some

of the wisest words you'll ever read – one of the most frank, intelligent pieces

of sage advice any of us can – or will ever absorb and put to use. We 'Practice'

as the renown European 'existential' poet Rainer Rilke suggested back in 1908 –

 

"To Love the ‘Questions’ Themselves! "

 

Not being just the Seeker 'searching' as just another spiritual-market 'consumer'.

Not naively praying or merely paying for shallow, soothing, 'spiritual' feel-good

comforts, or nice n' easy, pre-packaged programs & self-'satisfying' answers.

 

“A Spiritual Warrior chooses 'A Path with Heart' and follows it.  He 'knows',

because he 'sees' – he sees that his life will be over altogether too soon.

He really knows that nothing is more important than anything else is.   

A path is only a 'path' - and there is no affront, to oneself or to others,

in dropping it - if that is what your heart tells you. Look at every path

closely and deliberately. Try it as many times as you think necessary.

  Then ask yourself, and yourself alone, this one question –

  Does this Path have a Heart?  If it does, the path is good –

  If it doesn't – It is of no use.

 

   ~ Carlos Castaneda

 

 

Rilke . . .   “Be very patient toward all that is  unsolved in your own heart.    Try to love the 'Questions' themselves,  like locked rooms and like books  that are written in a foreign language.    Do not, just right now, go ‘seeking’  for the elusive ‘Answers’.    The 'Answers' which cannot just be  given over & handed to you -  because then you would not be able  to actually ‘live’ them yourself.    And the point is to ‘live’ everything –  experiencing everything yourself.    At present, you in particular, need  to live the Questions themselves.    Perhaps you will then gradually,  without even noticing it, live along  some day into the true Answer.  Your answer.”      ~ Rainer Rilke's "Letters to a Young Poet"  Paris 1908     Again, traveller, you have come a long way led by that star. But “The ‘Kingdom of The Wish” is at the other end of the night. May you fare well, companero – let us journey together joyfully, Living on catastrophe, eating the pure light.   ~ Thomas McGrath  “Epitaph” 1916-1990

if . . mindful skillful-means If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you But make allowance for their doubting too. If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, but don't deal in lies, Or being hated, but don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise.   If you can dream – and not make dreams your master, If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim. If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same. If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools – Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools.   If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss. If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says: "Hold on!"   If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch. If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you - but none too much. If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run – Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And –which is more– you'll be a Man, my son !   ~ Rudyard Kipling  1865-1936 was awarded the first Nobel Prize in Literature in the English language     in memory of Albert Joseph Levy 1915-2005 a requisite from every Father to every Son –   who first read it to me before my "Bar Mitzvah rite of passage" initiation ritual into Adulthood.

 

"Excuse me, I have one more Question for yer’. . ." ~ Peter Falk as Columbo, who always had one more Question.

 

 “Whatever the Question ~ Love & Kindness is always the Answer!”

       

     ~ The 14^th Dalai Lama

 

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"One does not become enlightened

by naively 'imagining' images of light,

but by making the mind's darkness conscious."

 

"The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable, and therefore not popular."

 

~ Carl Jung

 

'Darkness' - no matter how ominous and intimidating -

 

Darkness is not a 'thing' or a 'force' – it is merely the absence of Light.

Darkness is the concealment of the Goodness / God-ness

 

So 'Light' need not combat and overpower

darkness in order to displace it.

Simply, where Light is, darkness is not.

A thimbleful of Light will therefore

banish a roomful of darkness.

Bring in your Light !

 

One need not go 'defeat' the 'Darkness' in the world –

One need only bring to Light its potential for Goodness

 

~ The Luba'vitcher Rebbe

 

 

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"Our deepest fears are like dragons

guarding our deepest treasure."

 

~ Rainier Rilke

 

 

" Nothing in life is to be feared – it is only to be understood "

 

~ Marie Curie

 

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"If one's thoughts towards 'spirituality'

were of the same passionate intensity

as those of a couple falling in 'love' –

one would become a Buddha right now,

in this very body, in this very life."

 

~ from The Love Poems of the Sixth Dalai Lama ( 1703 AD )

 

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]

“La vraie generosite envers l'avenir consiste a tout donner au present.”

“True ‘generosity’ towards the Future - is to give everything to the Present.”

 

~ Albert Camus

 

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please also try n' peruse section . . .

 

( 13 ) for Fuller DETAILS on Classes & Retreats

 

Classes, Programs & Retreats • Please READ THIS WHOLE SECTION • OPEN Beginner's Evening INSTRUCTION • DA' HOUSE RULES & Housekeeping   • WHAT to BRING • CLASS FEE  • CLASS DATES • 6-Week Beginner's Class-Commitment: details    • BOOK - "A PATH WITH HEART" by Jack Kornfield • BIG HUGE QUESTIONS ? or HESITATIONS ? • About BRINGING an INTERESTED FRIEND   • LOCATION DIRECTIONS • About RETREATS     To read Here just begin to SCROLL ▼DOWN     Don't just drink by the waters edge Throw yourself in Become the water. . . Only then will your thirst end  ~ Rumi

~ currently ~   please always phone to confirm which OPEN Class Evening of the week it is?   The “BUDDHISM” Class Vipassana Insight Meditation “The PATH OF NO EXPECTATIONS” A Path of Abundant ‘Practice Opportunities’ • OPEN Weekly Evening Class with Akasa Levi • LIMITED Study-Group Nite for core students 7:30 - 9:30 PM • Santa Monica • 310-450-2268 Best phone times – on any day – Noon to 6pm • Join our OPEN Ongoing Classes at Any Time •     Mindfulness meditation is 'practicing' how to experience being in the present moment.

 

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