I got done chanting, then I had dizziness and anxiety, any reason why? I thought it was supposed to help.

I tried Master Yong Hua, but I don't really resonate well with him. I've watched several of his videos, and all he ever seems to do, is just judge other people, I never feel like I ever learned anything. Are there any other good teachers in Pureland, that will actually talk about the Dharma, Sutras, and so on? I appreciate any information or links provided thank you.

But mindfulness alone is not enough, neither being reborn in the Pure Land or awakening here and now through Zen practice. Those zen practitioners that assert there is no Pure Land in the West cannot be said to have attained Right View, even if they have achieved Right Concentration. In turn, Pure Landers that have not established some degree of samatha through their cultivating mindfulness of Buddha are not able to grow their lotus seeds adequately, and will be unable to progress in their practice, relying too heavily on Amitabha Buddha and not realizing that Amitabha empowers us through our own efforts to recognize him within our own Buddha-nature.

Thus the Chan and Pure Land dharma gates are most effectively cultivated in tandem, supporting one another, and both emanating from the foundational practice of mindfulness.

Nam mô A di đà Phật 🙏🏼

At some point, I know that I will need to find a dharma teacher. Cultivating the Buddhist path inevitably brings along challenges that those who have gone before me have already subdued and who can advise me as to how I might do the same. In the interim, I have only Reddit as my Sangha, and I'm hoping that someone here will be able to help me.

The other day, I ran into an obstacle in my chanting practice that I cannot easily explain. Because I have not yet attached myself to an offline sangha, I take virtually all of my practice cues from whatever reputable resources I find online or through published works. My daily cultivation comes from an ordained monk, the Venerable Shi Wuling, via her text "In One Lifetime: Pure Land Buddhism." In it, she provides very accessible routines that can be easily undertaken by a novice like me.

I began this most recent session in a manner no different than any time before. First, I filled up a small bowl with clean water and placed it before a small statue of Amitabha Buddha. I then lit two sticks of incense, touched them to my forehead, and placed them standing in a small bowl of sand just in front of the water bowl. Next, I proceeded with a bow, followed by three prostrations, and another bow before verbally paying homage to Shakyamuni Buddha (our original teacher) followed by Amitabha. Then, came the actual chanting practice.

Sitting cross-legged atop a cushion, I intoned the nianfo for about 15 minutes in a slow, even tone. I brought the session to a close by bringing my attention to my navel and collecting my focus/energy there before standing up, paying homage to Avalokieshvara, Mahasthamaprapta, and the vast sea of bodhisattvas. Finally, I blew out the candles upon my altar and went about the rest of my day.

Here's where things got weird. About an hour after my practice session concluded, I was stricken with the most extreme fatigue I'd ever felt whenever I thought about Amitabha or mentally recited the nianfo. It was truly a torpor like no other. I found that my body had become completely uncoordinated and that I suffered from a very uncharacteristic clumsiness. My thoughts were horribly sluggish as though passing through a thick cloud. It was all I could do to sit up straight! In reading this, you may think that I'm exaggerating, but rest assured I'm not. It genuinely felt at times like I was on the verge of fainting.

I checked and eliminated as many physical causes as I could. Hunger and thirst were sated. Blood pressure and blood sugar were within normal ranges. I'd had excellent sleep the night before, so I wasn't suffering from any rest deprivation. No allergies or environmental factors that would rob my body of so much of its energy.

I'll admit that the fear got the better of me, and, at a loss for what to do, I began to pray to Christ. Almost immediately, the fatigue began to lift, and I felt like my old self again. All of the other symptoms that I described before also left me.

Never before have I had such a strong reaction to recitation practice. Has anyone with greater experience than me ever been through or witnessed something like what I described? If so, what was the cause, and how can I prevent it from occurring in the future? Could this be an example of karmic creditors seeking to disturb my path?

Your help is greatly appreciated.

The 10,000 Buddha Relics Collection Exhibit

February, 2024 brings Wei Mountain Temple and Dharma Treasury Temple public display of The 10,000 Buddha Relics Collection.

This free exhibit will be open Saturday, February 10 to Sunday, February 18 from 10am-7pm. In addition, special times to meditate with the relics will be held from, 9-10am & 7-8pm.

These additional times have been designated for meditation; the exhibit hall will maintain a quiet atmosphere conducive to meditation and prayer. Newcomers to meditation, as well as experienced meditators, are welcome to join. Meditation instruction will also be available on request.

The 10,000 Buddha Relics Collection features thousands of gem-like relics of Shakyamuni Buddha, the historical founder of Buddhism, as well as his family members and close disciples. These precious crystals are found in the ashes of enlightened sages after they are cremated. This special exhibit was featured in Season 5, Episode 10 of the History Channel series "The UnXplained" with William Shatner.

This is the largest collection of relics in the United States and has attracted thousands of visitors since 2013. Many report that they can sense the energy of the relics and feel peaceful and blissful when in their presence. The Buddha's relics thus provide the ideal atmosphere for meditation. Meditation is a powerful tool for self-healing that allows us to recover from the stress that is so prevalent in our world today.

Time:Saturday, February 11 - Sunday, February 18, 2024 from 10am to 7pm - Meditation 9-10am & 7-8pm at both Location: San Francisco, CA Cost: FREE

Please RSVP https://www.mahastupa.org for more info.

I consider myself a Zen Buddhist, focusing more on the present moment and meditation rather than on faith alone. But the more I learn about Pure Land the more I feel connected to it which I know could be because of a karmic connection. Although I believe in the Pure Land and Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, I still want to reach enlightenment in this lifetime not after rebirth. So what is the practice like for Zen/ Chan Pure Land? Can I still reach enlightenment in this lifetime if I practice it? Would I still recite Namo Amituofo? Thank you 🙏

Gold Buddha Monastery is going to host an Introduction of the Avatamsaka Sutra and the Shurangama Sutra online course. If you are interested, please register at https://gbm.drba.org/ or with QR code. Details below.

Gold Buddha Monastery

http://www.gbm-online.com/

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Date: November 11, 2023

Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm (EST)

Embark on a spiritual odyssey as Zen Master Tan Gong (José Ramírez) and Roshi Ellen Birx guide you through the harmonious intersection of Christian and Buddhist contemplative practices. This unique retreat, held online, invites Christians and Buddhists alike to explore the transformative power of meditation and prayer, seamlessly weaving the wisdom of both traditions into the fabric of everyday life.

Key Highlights:

- Sitting and Walking Meditation: Immerse yourself in the tranquility of contemplative prayer and meditation, discovering the shared essence of these ancient practices.

- Engaging Talks and Discussions: Roshi Ellen Birx, Professor Emerita at Radford University, brings her wealth of knowledge, exploring the profound interplay between Zen and Christianity.

- Inclusive for Beginners: No prior experience is necessary! This retreat warmly welcomes beginners, offering a supportive environment for all to deepen their spiritual journey.

Meet Your Guides:

Roshi Ellen Birx:

- Professor Emerita at Radford University.

- Dharma transmission in 1998, Inka in 2014.

- Co-founder of New River Zen Community.

- Author of "Embracing the Inconceivable" and "Selfless Love."

Zen Master Tan Gong (José Ramírez):

- C0-Guiding Teacher of the Providence Zen Center.

- Inka received in April 2009, Transmission in 2023.

- Holds degrees in mathematics and statistics.

- Bridging spirituality and daily life as an industrial statistician.

Registration:

Secure your spot for this enlightening experience at [Providence Zen Center](https://providencezen.org/event/online-christian-buddhist-retreat-10). Open your heart and mind to the shared wisdom of Christian and Buddhist traditions, creating a space for inner peace and interconnected spirituality.

Embrace the union of two profound paths and join us in this transformative Online Christian-Buddhist Retreat. Let the teachings of Zen and Christianity guide you toward a deeper, more harmonious existence.

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I've posted now a couple times on r/Buddhism and r/sangha. I'm looking for a relatively close temple where I can go to start seriously practicing Buddhism, and Mahayana is, from the research I've done, the branch that speaks most to me. A very helpful user sent me here to ask if a certain temple is "legit", as I am afraid, I don't want to go somewhere presenting as Buddhist that is disingenuous, I strongly desire to walk this path and I don't want to start by being lead astray.

The temple in question is "Goddess of Mercy Temple" it is located in Amsterdam, NY.

Now, I know this is a simple question, but I do want to know. (My sect is Linji btw)

I'd like to point everyone to a great resource, which I've briefly mentioned before, Thich Nu Gioi Huong's Commentary on Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, link is PDF. You can buy a paperback copy here.

This is a companion piece to the commentary I posted earlier, Rebirth Views in the Surangama Sutra, however I am finding the translation and formatting work here to be far superior and much more polished for an English-reading audience. What results is maybe the best English-language resource available on the dual practice traditions that focus on Guanyin, and among one of the better English dual-practice resources in general.

It covers some doctrinal history of Guanyin, why she is worshipped, the powers of her vows, her past life conduct and relationship to other Buddhas and bodhisattvas. It also elucidates the manner and method of practice, beginning with the chanting of her name, up to the turning toward the hearing faculty and realization of its emptiness.

I've been asked quite a few times if I'm able to provide any resources in English specifically on Guanyin-focused Chan-Pure Land dual practice, and I've not been able to provide much other than some high-level descriptions, but this is it. Both theory and practice contained in a relatively short commentary. I hope this is helpful to you. Or, if nothing else, provides an interesting outlook into another aspect of the Pure Land traditions.

Here is a free/no-cost link to the guided meditations that accompany the book "Peaceful Death, Joyful Rebirth" by Tulku Thondup. You do not have to have any knowledge of the book to practice the meditations, as they are not directly connected to any passages in the book. The meditations are guided meditations of Sukhavati and Amitabha. Tulku Thondup leads us in praying to Amitabha, receiving his blessings, and visualizing him and his Pure Land.

This is one of the most uplifting set of meditations that I've ever used, and I think that people who haven't experienced this tape may find a lot of benefit and inspiration from it. As I listened to this tape, I could really feel Tulku Thondup's genuine wish that this would be of benefit to others:

https://www.shambhala.com/peacefuldeathjoyfulrebirth/

Dear dharma brothers and sisters, I received some news that the subreddit was not working for some people. I realised that the subreddit may have been switched to 'restricted' by accident. I have switched the mode back to 'public' for posting again. Please let me know if there are any issues. Thank you.

I’ve been practicing Soto Zen for several months, and I wonder if Shikantaza can be suitable with Namo Amitabha recitation. I know in Chan it’s a way for reaching samadhi, but in the book “Hoofprint of the Ox” it is said that since in Chan there is no attachment to anything, believing in the Pure land it’s not suggested etc. thank you in advance!

It’s a long shot I’m sure but does anyone here attend FGS in Manchester UK? It’s one of the nearest Buddhist centres to me even though it’s still an hour away. I’m just wondering is it suitable for non Chinese speakers? Is there meditation/Dharma classes etc? Where can I learn more about Fo Guang Shan? Any advice is greatly appreciated

I've just stumbled across this insane and massive 400-page (plus 300 pages of appendices) bilingual PDF that is effectively an encyclopedia of dual practice sources from across China, Japan and Vietnam, structured in a pretty straight-forward manner (the last section detailing many of the available practice methods). The English translation is pretty good, although some sections repeat themselves a little needlessly.

It was released just at the end of February, it seems, with the explicit goal of teaching dual practice to Vietnamese Buddhist beginners in diaspora. But another thing we've ended up with I think is one of the most thorough texts available in English for beginners to approach dual practice cultivation as well as to see the scriptural and commentarial sources that have defended and brought together the two practice traditions into one.