I am here, are you?

[Guest VioletDharma]

Hello,

I am new to the forum (though I've been lurking for some time) and I just noticed this forum. Sadly, all of the posts are old!

So I just thought I would say hello!

I am a buddhist and would be happy to connect with other buddhists out there (or anyone else for that matter!)

Violet

[Charlize]

Hi Violet and glad you posted here. I sat zen while i was at university but married and had a family rather than pursue a monastic life. My practice now consists of reading and some meditation. The koan i was given those years ago still rattles and calms a still busy mind.

Hugs,

Charlize

[tracy_j]

Hi Violet

Hello and welcome

Nice to meet you

Tracy x

[Guest Kayla Grace]

Hi Violet and welcome to the Playground. I'm glad you decided to join us

Violet is such a pretty name, btw.

We're all here, and we all care. Come share some experiences, ask questions. Grow and Learn

I can be one of those other's you speak of. Tell us a bit more about yourself, so we can learn a bit more about you. It'll also promote us to share a bit of our personal lives with you.

Again, welcome.

God Bless

Natalya <3

[Guest VioletDharma]

Hi!

I guess for the sake of the topic, I've been a zen buddhist now for some 20 years, though my attendance at zen centers has been varied as I've moved around quite a bit. I've been to a few zen retreats but no lengthy sesshins.

My practice has been invaluable in helping me through to where I am now in life. I first started studying when I was in high school at a time when I was really suffering a mental breakdown (without exaggeration!) Looking back, it was clearly the dysphoria but at the time, I was convinced it was everything but that. So I hit the metaphorical road to seek an understanding that would set it all right and allow me to live with this ball of unknown suffering.

I'm ever grateful that this teaching came to me at just the right time, when things could have gone far worse. Early on, I was very much focused on koan practice and after several years of that I mainly focused on just siting. In the past few years, I've been studying the sutras, precepts and other buddhist concepts.

Violet

[StephanieVikingGirl]

Hi Violet,

Pretty name! In my previous life, I was an accomplished martial artist, and reached deep into the spiritual level. So while I am not a Buddhist per se (I am a devout Heathen, as in Norse Neo-Paganism), but I do practice some Buddhist ways. Hail and Welcome.

hugs,

Stephanie

[Guest VioletDharma]

Funny, it started for through karate that I some 30 years ago. That and watching Bruce Lee movies! But it rubbed off on me and here I am!

Thanks for the compliments on the name. Sort of trying it out right now.

[Guest VioletDharma]

I love how you put it!

Never witnessed dharma combat except on video, though I have been around when spontaneous exchanges came up between practitioners. Never a dull moment when you have nothing else to do but to pay attention!