I updated my Kuji blog this morning with the first of what will be an ongoing series of miscellaneous thoughts, notes, and observations stemming from my practice of the Kuji-In and Kuji-Kiri.
Today's entry focused on the beneficial effects I have found from just practicing a little Kuji-In right before I go to bed. The crux of my entry this morning is that "I've noticed that when I engage even a little of the Kuji-In practice right before bedtime, I awake the following morning with much greater mental clarity and focus immediately upon awakening, even if I subsequently hit the 'snooze' button on my alarm."
If anyone in the metro DC area would be interested in getting together to discuss or, better yet, practice the Kuji-In, send us an e-mail at either dharmadc@gmail.com or at ninjakuji@gmail.com.
Namaste!
--The Dharma DC Mysterious Mastermind
4:00 p.m., 12.11.08:
Washington Tendai Sangha
We just added another new local group to our listings for Northern Virginia. The Washington Tendai Sangha is a small Sangha of Mahayana Buddhists, practicing Tendai Buddhism in the Mid-Atlantic Region, in affiliation with the Tendai-shu New York Betsuin.
The group generally meets the first through the fourth Tuesday night of each month from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in The Walden Room of The Unitarian Universalist Church of Arlington, located at 4444 Arlington Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22204. The Walden Room is located downstairs.
Tuesday, Dec. 16: (Late) Rohatsu Observance and Sangha Anniversary Service.
Tuesday, Dec. 23: Regular sangha meeting. The group plans to discuss the question, “Can a person be a Buddhist and still celebrate Christmas and be a Christian too?”
Tuesday, Dec. 30: The sangha New Year’s Observance. The group plans to usher the New Year in with a service dedicated to meditation, with Vipassana and Shamatha meditation and incense offerings to the New Year.
Namaste!
--The Dharma DC Mysterious Mastermind
We've updated our new Kuji blog with a brief discussion of some of the potential side effects to the practice of the Kuji-In spiritual technolgy. This follows up on our initial blog entry, which focused on a number of benefits associated with working the Kuji. See below for additional info, or just click here to go right to the blog itself.
And please feel free to participate. That is what blogs are for...
4:13 p.m., 12.05.08:
Get Your Kuji On!
We've set up another new blog -- this one related to the sometimes mysterious spiritual "technology" known as the Kuji-In and the Kuji-Kiri, most commonly associated in pop culture consciousness with the ninja of feudal Japan, but also practiced by Vajrayana-oriented sects of Buddhism, among others.
The first entry in our new blog is entitled, "First Entry: The Benefits of the Kuji-In Practice." Check out The Kuji Blog by clicking here. And if anyone in the metro area is interested in setting up a small, informal practice group, send an e-mail to us at ninjakuji@gmail.com.
Time for Web Site Contact "Plan B" As Some E-Mail Issues Resurface!
As has happened more than once before with our precious Web site, we have discovered an issue that prevented incoming e-mail generated by our automtic contact form on our "about us-contact" page. So instead of messing with the unpredictable nature of the automatic response, we've decided our visitors would probably be best served by just contacting us via e-mail.
So, if you can't find what you're looking for on this site, have information you'd like to submit, or otherwise desire to engage in an intriguing e-mail dialogue with this site's mysterious mastermind, send an e-mail at dharmadc@gmail.com.
If you've recently submitted a request via the automatic contact form, please resend via e-mail. Thank you. Our apologies for any inconvenience or lack of response.
Hey there, Dharma DC Web site visitors. We know you're out there and we know you're interested in what's happening in the local sangha. So if you have some news or an event you'd like to have published online, please zip off an e-mail to us at dharmadc@gmail.com. We'll be happy to post it pronto.
Namaste...
Share the Blogosphere With Us...
You may not be aware of this, but Dharma DC recently entered the blogosphere, all to give you a voice and to help support your practice. Check it out at http://dharmadc.blogspot.com/.
Please do come back and don't hesitate to offer any suggestions for improvement.
Peace.
Other Selected Recent Updates
3:17 p.m., 8.08.08:
We've finished adding an "about us" section to the site, and have posted additional material in our new Ninpo Budo Taijutsu section. More to come...
5:18 p.m., 8.07.08:
Ninpo Budo Taijutsu Section is Live!
We've just gone live with a new section on the Web site on one of the biggest passions of my life, Ninpo Budo Taijutsu. We made room for it in our navigation system by combining our previous "Blog" and "Columns" pages into one. Check out the new material by clicking here or by selecting the Ninpo Budo Taijutsu page from the navigation bar at the left.
Shikin haramitsu daikomyo!
8:25 p.m., 7.31.08:
Just a little tidbit from my zafu and zabuton...
Yesterday during my morning zazen, I suddenly found myself filled with the ENORMITY of mind.
The "little I" and the "little me" and my "little mind" vanished, and I was filled, filled and more filled with just the enormity of mind.
If I didn't HAVE to go to work yesterday, I would have stayed home on my cushion and explored that territory a bit. But then again, it's in my best interests to avoid attaching to anything...
If you're interested in posting a comment, you're invited to do so on our blog here.
6:37 p.m., 7.08.08:
Today's Daily Buddhist Wisdom, from Beliefnet.com
"There are thousands upon thousands of students who have practiced meditation and obtained its fruits. Do not doubt its possibilities because of the simplicity of the method. If you cannot find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?"
-From The Practice of Meditation, Zen Master Dogen
From "Teachings of the Buddha," edited by Jack Kornfield, 1993; Shambhala Publications, Boston; www.shambhala.com.
May you be well. May you be at peace.
May you be free from all suffering and the causes of all suffering.
And may we fully realize the Buddha way... together.
--The Dharma DC Mysterious Mastermind--
About Us: Dharma DC strives to be your single most comprehensive local Internet resource for Buddhist-related groups, events, activities and pursuits in the metropolitan Washington, DC area.
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Leave The Girl Behind
This is actually a story that Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll once told his team during the 1970s…
Monks Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling. Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unable to cross the intersection.
"Come on, girl," said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carried her over the mud.
Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he no longer could restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"
"I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?"
-- Paul Reps, in Zen Flesh, Zen Bones; from Everyday Mind, edited by Jean Smith, a Tricycle book.
This site is dedicated to the memory of my Bodhidharma, Joseph Campbell.
"Follow your bliss."
To get to the Web site of the Joseph Campbell Foundation, click here.
I must also perform a sweeping Gassho to Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi, grandmaster of the Bujinkan, for so graciously permitting his sacred art of ninpo budo taijutsu to be shared with Americans.
Sensei, I do not have the words to express the gratitude in my heart for your generosity.
This site probably would not have occurred without the inspiration of the venerable Shaolin Priest, Kwai Chang Caine. Thank you, honorable priest, and everyone that played a part in bringing him into this world.
"I am... a man."
The Vagaries of Life
The vagaries of life, Though painful Teach us Not to cling To this floating world.
Why do people Lavish decorations On this set of bones Destined to disappear Without a trace?
