2009-2010 discussion

Linden W.
1. Application: How can you apply the teachings of Zen to your everyday life, and how could these teachings make a difference?
2. Synthesis: How would you cope with living in solitude for 100 days, using the teachings of Zen as your only companion?
3. Grammar: When does the author capitalize words other than names and the first letter of the first word of the sentence?

1.Application:
When Jane bows to honor her "inner self", do you think bowing will help her in some way to becoming a better person?

2.Analysis:
Do you think Jae Dobisz retreat to complete solitude in the woods, was nessecary to achieve "Nirvana" (the perfect peace of the state of mind)?

3. Evaluation:
Do you think absolute solitude is a good or bad thing for a person?

Linden wrote: "Linden W.
1. Application: How can you apply the teachings of Zen to your everyday life, and how could these teachings make a difference?

I think the zen teachings can be applyed to every day life, just because there basic teachings about finding a "peace of state of mind", & finding that peace can make a huge difference in a persons happiness. I'm sure if we all take atleast ten minutes to find that quite spot to re- gather ourselves I know for a fact people will be less stressed. Not only will these teachings help people with their attitudes but it will also help with peoples health and over all well being.

2. Synthesis: How would you cope with living in solitu..."

I don't know if I could cope, being disconnected with society like that, but I guess I would need a lot a patience with myself & have extreme faith in my religion. Maybe its a matureatity level, that I might need to take this serious journey into solitude. As of right now I don't think i would be at all sucessful ALONE, BY MYSELF, in the WOODS.

jsutin s.
1.synthesis - how can you use a mala in a different situation?
2.analysis - why does her process take 100 days?
3.grammer - why did author choose to put a saying at the begining of each chapter?

Justins wrote: "jsutin s.
1.synthesis - how can you use a mala in a different situation?
2.analysis - why does her process take 100 days?
3.grammer - why did author choose to put a saying at the begining of e..."

1. I am unsure of the first question. First off, you need to explain what a mala is. Secondly, the question is too bold. You need to ask a better question. Sorry if that is too blunt.
2. I think the 100 days is to test if you are true to the faith. If you can last 100 days of solitude performing the simplest of activities, then you are true to the faith.
3. I think the author put the famous quotes to inspire or explain the message of that particular passage. Think of it as a simple interpretation of the theme/subject of the passage.

Brianna wrote: "1.Application:
When Jane bows to honor her "inner self", do you think bowing will help her in some way to becoming a better person?
1. I think that when Jane bows, it opens a path for her to explore herself and to discover any wrong-doings. So, to answer your question, I do not think that the bowing makes you a better person, but i t makes you self aware.

2.Analysis:
Do you think Jae Dobisz retreat to complete so..."

Brianna wrote: "Linden wrote: "Linden W.
1. Application: How can you apply the teachings of Zen to your everyday life, and how could these teachings make a difference?

I think the zen teachings can be apply..."

Brianna wrote: "Linden wrote: "Linden W.
1. Application: How can you apply the teachings of Zen to your everyday life, and how could these teachings make a difference?

I think the zen teachings can be apply..."

Yes, you are right. The simplest of activities can make the largest of impacts on our lives.

"(Grammar) How does the author begin and end each chapter?

(Evaluation) Do you agree with the way that she follows her Zen schedule everyday, and do you think that she is getting the full experience out of it?

(Analysis) Why do you think that she chose to go out, and experience this retreat?

Brianna wrote: 3. Evaluation:
Do you think absolute solitude is a good or bad thing for a person?

I think that absolute solitude can have many different effects on different types of people. Some people may be able to go that long, without even thinking about another person. Another person may not even be able to ast one hour in absolute solitude. It just depends on the type of person that you are. Some people are able to cope with solitude better than others.

Linden wrote: Application: How can you apply the teachings of Zen to your everyday life, and how could these teachings make a difference?

Applying Zen teachings to your life sounds quite simple, while in fact it is quite difficult I would imagine. It is easy for one to say that they will do something, but a completely different thing to actually do it. In the beginning of the book, she is having a hard time adjusting to the rigorous schedule. But then, once she has adjusted some to the schedule, she begins liking it more, and getting more out of it. I think that its all about the time and effort that you put into it.

Ben wrote: "Brianna wrote: 3. Evaluation:
Do you think absolute solitude is a good or bad thing for a person?

I think that absolute solitude can have many different effects on different types of people. Some ..."

I totally agree Ben. I think it does depend on the typpe of person that you are, because you stil have people walking around PHONE-LESS or COMPUTER-LESS in 2010. NOw if thats not absoulte solitude then I don't know what is. On the other hand some people can easy transition into that peaceful solitude, in search for their inner peace with no problem.

Linden wrote: "Linden W.
1. Application: How can you apply the teachings of Zen to your everyday life, and how could these teachings make a difference?

Linden W. wrote:
1. Application: How can you apply the teachings of Zen to your everyday life, and how could these teachings make a difference?

a: i personally think that the teachings could make things alot more peaceful. also make us think in a lot simpler terms instead of over thinging alot of things like most people do. i would apply this to my life when im on a tight spot or when im in a lot of stress. i could simply do walking meditation to calm myself down and find my zen.

Ben wrote: ""(Grammar) How does the author begin and end each chapter?



Ben wrote: ""(Grammar) How does the author begin and end each chapter?


a: he begins each chapter with a saying from a zen master. i think the author does this to to foreshadow what you should be thinking about as you read. also to set the mood of what she is going through. these sayings are like simple words that make you think of your zen and this way of life that is amazing peaceful and unique.

Linden wrote: "Justins wrote: "jsutin s.
1.synthesis - how can you use a mala in a different situation?
2.analysis - why does her process take 100 days?
3.grammer - why did author choose to put a saying at the ..."

a:the question was meant for us; the ones who are reading the book and the book says that it is a string with beads on it. a mala can be used for alot of things. to me it kind of sounds like what a rosary is to catholics.
your opinion on the reasoning of the 100 days is one that i agree on. its like when catholics go through the 7 sacrements to become a true catholic. or when jews do batmitfas(probably spelled that wrong). to bring yourself closer to your religion or in this case way of life.

Justins wrote: "jsutin s.
1.synthesis - how can you use a mala in a different situation?
2.analysis - why does her process take 100 days?
3.grammer - why did author choose to put a saying at the begining of e..."

3. I personally think the sayings don't really pertain to the book itself, but are there to sort of give you something queer for your mind to munch on as you continue to read her story. I think the book would be extremely DULL without those little quips, and they're a wonderful challenge for me to figure out, (And I STILL have no idea what they mean). These little insights into Zen culture might also serve to introduce you to the mindset of Buddhist monks and their followers, if you aren't really understanding how the book itself does.

Ben wrote: ""(Grammar) How does the author begin and end each chapter?

She starts each chapter off with a Zen quote or a quote from any other influential philosopher. I think she start the chapters off in nthis matter to show in a way what the chapter will be like. Also she may add this quotes to emphasize the real meaning if what she's trying to get across in that chapter.

2.analysis - why does her process take 100 days?
I think the process take 100 days because 100 is the number that to many people mean perfect. So I think the reason they chose the number 100 is to show it take that many days to really find yourself and fully accomplish the retreat.

Linden wrote: "Linden W.
1. Application: How can you apply the teachings of Zen to your everyday life, and how could these teachings make a difference?
2. Synthesis: How would you cope with living in solitu..."

2. Living in solitude for 100 days? Sounds like would be a mindbendingly wonderful adventure. Like Robinson Crusoe, you'd have to think of and work for EVERYTHING that you'll need to sustain your self, such as food, shelter from the elements, and heat. The Buddhist mantra, the daily 1000 bows, constant tea consumption, and other stuff may very well take my mind completely off the manual labors, to the point that I execute them as though they are no more than computer commands. Some people may say that I'm crazy for wanting to subject myself to something like that, but I say its all about WILLPOWER. There are many things that I just decide not to do in my day-to-day life, because I simply DONT FEEL LIKE IT. Like homework. But I figure if I place myself in an environment that FORCES me to suck in my gut and do the things that I dismiss as insignificant, I can learn discipline that I can utilize to make my life better as an adult.

Brianna wrote: "1.Application:
When Jane bows to honor her "inner self", do you think bowing will help her in some way to becoming a better person?

2.Analysis:
Do you think Jae Dobisz retreat to complete so..."

1. First off, everyone for the most part understands that bowing is a sign of respect and reverence to whomever it is being done to. Ergo, anyone can draw the logical conclusion that the purpose of this exercise is to instill in a person the vital need to respect him/herself. And as far as I'm concerned, I COMPLETELY believe that learning to respect oneself will make a better person out of him/her. A person's daily interactions with peers speak volumes about how they view themselves and how well they regulate their own thought processes. For example, someone who spends his time oppressing others obviously has poor self-esteem and unfortified psychological defenses. He comes to the conclusion that the only way to preserve what little defenses he has is to attack others in various ways, so that he radiates the false impression that he is strong and belligerent, and therefore not someone who can be "broken" easily. Concordantly, someone who has respect for himself can accept the fact that all people are different and will treat them as such, making people feel good and making it easier for him to go about his life not as an obstruction to the physical and mental health of others. In conclusion, having respect for oneself implies that the person will respect his/her peers and coexist in a constructive manner with them, thus making him/her a much more desirable person as a whole.

Justin wrote: he begins each chapter with a saying from a zen master. i think the author does this to to foreshadow what you should be thinking about as you read. also to set the mood of what she is going through. these sayings are like simple words that make you think of your zen and this way of life that is amazing peaceful and unique.

Yeah i totally agree. The Zen phrases, quotes, and stories etc. are pretty cool. They help you to connect with what the author is going through, and understand how she is experiencing things.