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You are now at www.DharmaHere.blogspot.com
Currently :: Weekly Class :: TUESDAYS :: 7:30-9:30 pm
on 14th St, one block west of Santa Monica College - CA 90405
See section # 5 Table of Contents for Directions
______________________________________
-:¦:- The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA
Buddhist "Mindfulness-Awakening" Meditation
A more way Outside-The-Box-Buddhism
for a much more Maverick Spirited Inner-Quest
_______________________________________________
WELCOME to "The Searcher" in You !
It's really ALL in the 'Search' guys. . .
( It's all in the Search, the Quest, the Inquiry,
the Path, the Journey, the Seeking, the Study,
the Investigation, the Experimentation,
the Path, the Journey, the Seeking, the Study,
the Investigation, the Experimentation,
the Exploration, the Discovery,
and doing the Research )
and doing the Research )
.
"Do Not seek ready-made 'Answers' ~
Live the 'Questions' themselves, instead..." "Do Not seek ready-made 'Answers' ~
~ Rainer Rilke ~
_____________________________________________
♦ On this site are lots and lots of savvy, small excerpts
and quotes to read throughout this chatty blog.
Some are poetic, some heady, some logistic,
some funny - so please really take your time,
relax, ponder and graze a lot, and enjoy !
_______________________________
♦ Down this page is an important 'MUST READ' part !
Sort of our 'house philosophy' – our 'house dressing'. . .
Please read the whole thing. These little pieces lead into
some of our more heretical, agnostic, atheistic, 'iconoclastic' –
yet user-friendly approaches to the heart of the mind's Heart.
BUDDHIST MEDITATION:
Simply The Power of Much More Inner-Silence
_______________________________________________
Getting really, really Quiet Inside
Getting quiet so you can better comprehend...
Getting quiet so you can better comprehend...
" In the stillness – space for a rebellious spirit "
~ Noah Levine ~
_______________________________________
New to the idea of 'Meditation' ?
Many Are !
*Any TUESDAY night is a good time
to sit down with us to 'practice' meditation.
to sit down with us to 'practice' meditation.
If you do want to attend: Be Very Welcome !
...and please RSVP phone or email ahead and
Let us know you're coming - Space does get limited.
Do you want to get started ? ...Come ANY TUESDAY
See if it works for you, your heart and your intellect.
______________________________________________
We're Big on offering ENCOURAGEMENT !
Be welcome then to begin to practice meditation,
and stumble along with us for awhile...
It's a very long road we'll help you find
your own way through the maze of
your own way through the maze of
beginner's notions and 'fascinations'
with all these newly emerging
'Spiritual'-technologies in the West.
___________________________________________
Simply and Gradually, Getting really Quiet Inside
________________________________________
The Core Purpose of Vipassana
Insight Meditation Practice
.
Veh.poss.ana in the Pali-language of the original Buddha's teachings in India,
is the simple and direct practice of ‘moment-to-moment’ mindfulness.
...
is the simple and direct practice of ‘moment-to-moment’ mindfulness.
...
Through careful 'sustained observation', we experience directly for ourselves
the ever-changing flow of the mind/body process. This keen awareness leads us
to accept more fully the pleasure and pain, fear and joy, sadness and happiness
that life inevitably brings to all our ‘experiences’. As Insight-Awareness deepens,
we develop greater equanimity and peace - in the face of Change.
Wisdom and Compassion increasingly become the major
Dharma guiding-principles ‘informing’ our lives.
~ Joseph Goldstein
the ever-changing flow of the mind/body process. This keen awareness leads us
to accept more fully the pleasure and pain, fear and joy, sadness and happiness
that life inevitably brings to all our ‘experiences’. As Insight-Awareness deepens,
we develop greater equanimity and peace - in the face of Change.
Wisdom and Compassion increasingly become the major
Dharma guiding-principles ‘informing’ our lives.
~ Joseph Goldstein
do things
mirror themselves
undistorted.
mirror themselves
undistorted.
Only in a quiet mind
is there a much more
complete perception
of the world."
of the world."
~ Hans Margolius
.
"Teachers and Teachings
only do but point the Way >>>
the 'Journey' itself -is ALL yours."
~ The Buddha
♦ Sure guys,
Taking up a New Meditation Practice and sticking with it,
takes a little bit of some dedicated WORK ! . . . .
Taking up a New Meditation Practice and sticking with it,
takes a little bit of some dedicated WORK ! . . . .
( Yet, the long-time, long-term, long-range results
are so peacefully, quietly worth it.)
are so peacefully, quietly worth it.)
" Good timber does not grow with ease.
The stronger the wind ~ the stronger the trees."
~ Willard Marriot ~
~ Willard Marriot ~
________________________________________________
.
♦ A BIG point coming up right here:
.
.
"Buddhism
is so much closer to 'Science' –
is so much closer to 'Science' –
than it is to any 'Theology' !" ~ The Dalai Lama
Buddhism's all about an EMPIRICAL,
Sensory, Experiential, Verifiable,
Rational Way of Thinking – Getting
really OK with a "Don't Know Mind".
Having No Set 'Beliefs',
Question Everything !
Having some Provisional Faith,
But Only Holding to
Real Verifiable Truth-Knowledge.
That really doesn't leave ya' much.
Having "Nothing" to Believe in --
is a very challenging Buddhist pun.
"Nothing" ( Not 'Some-thing' ) No-Thing !
Yet, a kind, deep, wise sweetened-heart
is what we all really want !
Rational Way of Thinking – Getting
really OK with a "Don't Know Mind".
Having No Set 'Beliefs',
Question Everything !
Having some Provisional Faith,
But Only Holding to
Real Verifiable Truth-Knowledge.
That really doesn't leave ya' much.
Having "Nothing" to Believe in --
is a very challenging Buddhist pun.
"Nothing" ( Not 'Some-thing' ) No-Thing !
Yet, a kind, deep, wise sweetened-heart
is what we all really want !
• What is accepted by the majority of people ~
does not mean it is Real.
does not mean it is Real.
.
• One common mistake is to think that 'your' reality
is THE Reality.
is THE Reality.
You must always be prepared to bravely leave
'your' reality for a greater one.
.
'your' reality for a greater one.
.
• The greatest, most common attachment-mistake of all
in creating one's own personal Suffering, is to
take what is ‘Impermanent’ for Permanent.
in creating one's own personal Suffering, is to
take what is ‘Impermanent’ for Permanent.
.
~ said the Buddha who lived in North India 500 BC
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
.
~ said the Buddha who lived in North India 500 BC
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
.
Here begins that
Important 'MUST READ' part !
_______________________________________________________
Currently :: Weekly Class :: TUESDAYS :: 7:30-9:30 pm
.
• We are All Newcomers to these 'American-style' Spiritual Journeys,
Important 'MUST READ' part !
.
"Iconoclasm" is sorta' of our 'house philosophy' – our 'house dressing'.
.
.
Please read the whole thing below. These little pieces lead into
"Iconoclasm" is sorta' of our 'house philosophy' – our 'house dressing'.
.
• Icon ( images/ideas ) + clast – ( to break ), to deconstruct,
dismantle, break away from..... one who breaks away from
an out-dated idea or image, or mind-set, religion or paradigm,
or an unconscious social/cultural conditioning or
programming.
Are We Bad ? .
Please read the whole thing below. These little pieces lead into
some of our more heretical, agnostic, atheistic, 'iconoclastic' –
yet user-friendly approaches to the heart of the mind's Heart.
Buddhism's investigative roots are very ancient. See if it
works for you, your sensibilities and your intellect.
Then again, this may not be the class for you –
you're invited to come find out....
works for you, your sensibilities and your intellect.
Then again, this may not be the class for you –
you're invited to come find out....
Currently :: Weekly Class :: TUESDAYS :: 7:30-9:30 pm
.
• We are All Newcomers to these 'American-style' Spiritual Journeys,
these Pilgrimages of Holy Shopping that we seem to be nationally on -
sort of our own self-styled 'Fumbling Towards Enlightenment'
and sure, awkward at times. So be aware of your spiritual-longings,
your projections, and especially any of your impatient 'expectations'
that you may experience - even about our little class
and it’s odd teacher... and be very welcome !
_________________________________________
.• With a strong regard for individual spiritual experiences -
an open heart and free thought and creative expression -
The Laughing Buddha Sangha strives to be both erudite, eclectic,
enlightening and entertaining in it's relation to the "illusory".
... and yet - The Laughing Buddha Sangha will always teach
the original traditional Buddhist Theravada Lineage-based Practice
of Vipassana Insight Meditation for an un-decorated clarity of view
to 'The Presence of Mindfulness' within....
_______________________________________________________.
We're Traditionally -
So Very, Very Non-Traditional
...and so was the Buddha !
.
• Here's some Quite Important 'iconoclastic' things
you should know about The Laughing Buddha Sangha.
Well, we're sorta’ delightfully dedicated "Iconoclasts"
.
We present you BUDDHISM WITHOUT ANY BELIEFS:
only a faithful 'pointing' towards >>> a more authentic,uncompromised Inner-Awakening. And it takes time.
We do not do 'religion'... The Buddha himself didn't !
.
• The Laughing Buddha Sangha in Santa Monica
supports a very eclectic inquiry into one's own 'Self'.
A meditation practice combining the calm sobriety and
observation approach of traditional Vipassana Mindfulness
with the 'crazy wisdom' irrationality of Zen Non-Duality –
which short-circuits the tenaciously obsessive, self-involved,
self-centered, self identified, self-absorbed mind.
.
• This practice-group encourages highly inquisitive, unruffled,
curious people with a natural deep love of learning – who invite
and even relish the profoundly abstract, and even the absurd,
with a genuine taste for the indefinable 'existential' stuff.
____________________________________________
.
Weekly Classes are very suitable
for both BEGINNERS -or-
even mediators with more experience.
And you may be a more 'experienced meditator' who is now seeking
a deeper questioning into the 'Idea of a Self' - and a more de-mystifying,
open-minded, caring 'conversation' into Wisdom, Empathy and what is
Spiritual 'Reality' in our Western life-style today + poetry, and laughing!
Yet our modern, eclectic practice is well informed by the unembellished,
ancient, traditional Theravada Buddha Dharma for clarity of view.
________________________________________________________
.
♦ "THE BUDDHA: A JOYOUS ICONOCLAST"
Buddha's rebellious, heart-filled 'heresy' for a more
maverick spirited inner-quest –nourishing an iconoclast
intelligence & compassionate critical thinking with a
tender, caring heart - thru some refreshing, risky,
even some 'radical'spiritual considerations of
Absolute 'Reality' - that opens us to the skillful-truth
of developing a strong "Dharma 'informed' Mind".
.maverick spirited inner-quest –nourishing an iconoclast
intelligence & compassionate critical thinking with a
tender, caring heart - thru some refreshing, risky,
even some 'radical'spiritual considerations of
Absolute 'Reality' - that opens us to the skillful-truth
of developing a strong "Dharma 'informed' Mind".
Our Satsang Study Group is a Group 'Conversation'
on Radical Awaken.ment ~ We repeatedly 'Practice'
getting out from directly behind, under or inside
the illusion of "Belief" itself ! Hard to do: especially
The Really Big One - The Grand Delusion
of an indwelling "Self" – the illusion of an Ego.
.
Yes/But ~ Yet with steady, gentle, consistent sitting
Meditation and a Dharma-informed 'Practice',
the Ego-Self can and will diminish and dissolve.
Ya' see, the 'Ego' likes to show off
some trophy-wisdom too !
Hey, it's a start .
________________________________________________
.
•♦• "The MUST READ " section sorta' ENDS here . . . .
the 'End' is always another beginning !
________________________________________________
BUDDHIST MEDITATION develops A Quieter Mind
Simply The Power of Much Much More Inner-Silence
.
" Learning 'INNER-STILLNESS' ITSELF ! . . .
is really what Awakens Your Deep Radiant Heart
of Natural Grace, Compassion and Wisdom."
That's really all it's ever, ever been about !
" INNER-STILLNESS has silenced the noise of Fear
Taking up a New Meditation Practice and sticking with it,
takes a little bit of some dedicated WORK ! . . . .
takes a little bit of some dedicated WORK ! . . . .
Yet, the long-time, long-term, long-range results
are so peacefully, quietly worth it.
are so peacefully, quietly worth it.
" Good timber does not grow with ease.
The stronger the wind ~ the stronger the trees." ~ Willard Marriot
_______________________________________
FYI ~
LOCATION, Driving DIRECTIONS, Details and Parking info.
Find ALL logistic Details in section # 5 on side-bar contents.
.
Burning QUESTIONS ? Phone us, it's no bother. Ask away !
310-450-2268 - or let's bring it up before class....
.
"80% of Success Is Just Showing Up." ~ Woody Allen
.
Maybe we'll C Ya' at Your First Tuesday Class . . .
q(~?~)p The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA Santa Monica
Weekly MEDITATION CLASS: TUESDAYS 7:30 pm-9:30 pm
AkasaLeviZZ@msn.com phone: Noon to 6 pm 310-450-2268
http://buddhistmeditationsantamonica.blogspot.com/ Archive
You are now at www.DharmaHere.blogspot.com
A Maverick Spirited Inner-Quest with Buddhist Insight Meditation
Nourishing an Iconoclast Intelligence and A Good-Hearted Mind
________________________________________________________
PLAIN TEXT
( 1 ) ABOUT our particular APPROACH to Buddhist Meditation / There's a very important MUST READ part in here. . . .
• Please read this whole 1st page ~ these little important pieces lead into
some of our distinct 'approaches' to the mind: they are very ancient.
__________________________________________
-:¦:- The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA -:¦:-
A more way Outside-The-Box-Buddhism
for a more Maverick Spirited Inner-Quest !
for a more Maverick Spirited Inner-Quest !
" In the stillness –– space for a rebellious spirit "
~ Noah Levine
________________________________________
~ Noah Levine
________________________________________
BUDDHIST VIPASSANA MEDITATION:
Simply The Power of Much More Inner-Silence
_________________________________________________
•♦• The Core Purpose of Vipassana Insight Mindfulness Meditation practice.
Veh.pas.ana - in the Pali-language of the Buddha's original teachings in India –
– is the simple and direct practice of ‘moment-to-moment’ mindfulness.
Through careful 'sustained observation', we experience directly for ourselves
the constant, ever-changing flow of the mind/body process. This keen awareness
leads us to accept more fully the transitory pleasure and pain, fear and joy, sadness
and happiness that life inevitably brings to all our ‘experiences’.
As insight-awareness deepens, we develop
greater equanimity and peace – all in the face of Change.
Wisdom and Compassion increasingly become
the major Dharma guiding-principles
‘informing’ our lives. ~ Joseph Goldstein ~__________________________________
Getting really, really Quiet Inside
New to the idea of 'meditation' ?
>>>
Many Are !
*Any Monday night is a good time
to sit down with us to 'practice' meditation.
If you do want to attend: Be Very Welcome !
First time only please RSVP phone or email ahead
310-450-2268 or AkasaLeviZZ@msn.com CA 90405
Let us know you're coming - Space does get limited
Do you want to get started ? –– Come ANY Monday
See if it works for you, your heart and your intellect.
________________________________________
We're Big on offering ENCOURAGEMENT !
Be welcome to begin to practice Buddhist meditation,
and stumble right along with us for awhile...
It's a very long road we'll help you find
your own way through the maze
of beginner's notions and 'fascinations'
with all these newly emerging
'Spiritual'-technologies now in the West.
_________________________________________________
SIMPLY & GRADUALLY, GETTING REALLY QUIET INSIDE
_________________________________________________
" Only in Quiet Waters
do things mirror themselves
Undistorted.
Only in a Quiet Mind
is there a much more
Complete Perception of the World."
~ Hans Margolius ~
____________
"Teachers and Teachings
>>> only do but point the way >>>
the Journey itself - is All yours."
~ The Buddha ~
•♦•
• Buddhism's all about Experiential, Experimental, Natural, Testable Truth.
• Buddhism is so much closer to 'Science' - than it is to any 'Theology' !
Verifiable, Rational, EMPIRICAL Thinking
• "What is accepted by the majority of people ~ does not mean it is Real."
• "One common mistake is to think that 'Your' reality is THE Reality.
You must always be prepared to bravely leave 'your' reality for a greater one."
• "The most common attachment-mistake of all in creating
one's own personal Suffering, is to continually mistake
what is ‘Impermanent’ for Permanent."
~ The Buddha lived in North India, 500 BC.
____________________________________________
______________________________________________
•♦• OK, Here's that very Important 'MUST READ' Part !
sorta’ our mission statement, to ‘get’ where we’re coming from. . .
FYI ~ Here's some more iconoclastic things you may wish
to know about The Laughing Buddha Sangha
to know about The Laughing Buddha Sangha
Please slowly read the whole thing, a few little paragraphs ~
these little pieces below are some of our philosophy of learning,
our approach to the mind, and our loving yet sassy attitude ( 'tude )
•♦• We are All Newcomers to these 'American-style' Spiritual Journeys,
these Pilgrimages of Holy Shopping that we seem to be nationally on -
sort of our own self-styled 'Fumbling Towards Enlightenment' ––
and sure, we're all awkward at times. So please 'be aware' of
these Pilgrimages of Holy Shopping that we seem to be nationally on -
sort of our own self-styled 'Fumbling Towards Enlightenment' ––
and sure, we're all awkward at times. So please 'be aware' of
your spiritual-longings, your projections, and most especially
any of your impatient 'expectations' that you may experience,
even about our little class and it’s odd teacher... Be Welcome !
•♦• With a strong regard for individual spiritual experiences -
an open heart and free thought and creative expression -
The Laughing Buddha Sangha endeavors to be both erudite,
an open heart and free thought and creative expression -
The Laughing Buddha Sangha endeavors to be both erudite,
eclectic, enlightening and entertaining in it's relation to the "illusory".
•♦• Including “Buddha-Nature”, The Laughing Buddha Sangha always
offers the original, traditional teachings of the Buddha Dharma Theravada
Lineage-based Practice of Vipassana Insight Mindfulness Meditation for
an un-decorated clarity of view to 'The Presence of Mindfulness' within
–– We all have it !
______________________________________________
… And, here's some more iconoclastic things you may wish to know
______________________________________________
… And, here's some more iconoclastic things you may wish to know
about The Laughing Buddha Sangha. It’s important stuff up front !
•♦• We offer you BUDDHISM WITHOUT ANY BELIEFS –
only a direct 'pointing' towards >>> a much more authentic
uncompromised inner-awakening. Nothing to believe in !
Nothing is ‘required’ or ‘expected’ of you.
We do not do 'Religion' –– The Buddha didn't !
We do not do 'Religion' –– The Buddha didn't !
•♦• The Laughing Buddha Sangha Santa Monica offers
a very eclectic inquiry into one's very own “Self”.
A meditation practice combining the calm sobriety
and observation approach of traditional Vipassana
Mindfulness meditation with the 'Crazy Wisdom'
irrationality of Zen or Non-Duality practice - which
irrationality of Zen or Non-Duality practice - which
short-circuits the tenaciously obsessive, self-involved,
self-centered, self identified, self-absorbed ego-mind.
•♦• This Practice-group encourages highly inquisitive,
unruffled, curious people with a natural, deep love of learning -
people who invite and even relish the profoundly abstract
–– and even the absurd –– people with a genuine taste
for the bewildering, indefinable 'existential' stuff.
•♦• Classes are very suitable for BEGINNERS
-or- mediators with already some experience.
And you may be that more 'experienced meditator'
who is now seeking a deeper questioning into the 'Idea of Self' ––
and a more de-mystifying, open-minded, caring 'conversation' into
Wisdom, Empathy and what is Spiritual 'Reality' in our Western
life-style today + plus some poetry, and healthy laughing ! Yet our
modern, eclectic practice is well informed by the unembellished,
ancient, traditional Theravada Buddha Dharma for clarity of view.
•♦• "BUDDHA: A JOYOUS ICONOCLAST" • A True Rebel-Thinker
ancient, traditional Theravada Buddha Dharma for clarity of view.
•♦• "BUDDHA: A JOYOUS ICONOCLAST" • A True Rebel-Thinker
A Dharma-Study Series offers a much more outside-the-box Buddhism !
Rebellious, heart-filled 'heresy' for a more maverick spirited inner-quest
by nourishing an iconoclast intelligence & compassionate critical thinking
with a tender, caring heart - thru some refreshing, risky, even some 'radical'
spiritual-considerations of Absolute 'Reality' - that opens us to the freedom
of the uncompromised truth of developing a liberated "Dharma 'informed' Mind".
– When the mind goes iconoclastic, it often goes spiritually-rogue also. . . .
by nourishing an iconoclast intelligence & compassionate critical thinking
with a tender, caring heart - thru some refreshing, risky, even some 'radical'
spiritual-considerations of Absolute 'Reality' - that opens us to the freedom
of the uncompromised truth of developing a liberated "Dharma 'informed' Mind".
– When the mind goes iconoclastic, it often goes spiritually-rogue also. . . .
•♦• The DHARMA-SATSANG part of class is a weekly Group 'CONVERSATION'
on Radical AWAKEN.MENT. We repeatedly 'Practice' getting out from behind
the illusion of our past, the illusion of our story, the illusion of "Belief" itself !
Hard to do: especially The Really Big One - The Grand Delusion of an
Hard to do: especially The Really Big One - The Grand Delusion of an
indwelling "Self" identity. Yet with steady, gentle, consistent Meditation
and Dharma 'Practice', the resilient Ego-Self can and will diminish...
Ya’ see Ego likes to have ‘Wisdom’ too ! Wisdom will awaken you.
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
A Maverick Spirited Inner-Quest with Buddhist Insight Meditation
Nourishing an Iconoclast Intelligence and A Good-Hearted Mind
___^______________________________________________________
q(~?~)p The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA ~ Weekly MEDITATION
Vipassana Mindfulness with Akasa Levi ~ Mondays 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
AkasaLeviZZ@msn.com ~ best phone: Noon to 6 pm 310-450-2268
________________________________________________________
Nourishing an Iconoclast Intelligence and A Good-Hearted Mind
___^______________________________________________________
q(~?~)p The LAUGHING BUDDHA SANGHA ~ Weekly MEDITATION
Vipassana Mindfulness with Akasa Levi ~ Mondays 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
AkasaLeviZZ@msn.com ~ best phone: Noon to 6 pm 310-450-2268
________________________________________________________
.
-:¦:-
.♦ – •
The "Beginner's Mind" meditation series
also serves as a Dharma Study Group and
Satsang - a much more outside-the-box Buddhism !
Buddhism's all about an experiential, natural, uncompromised, mindfully experienced objective truth.
An obese 'subjectivity' will need to relax – get leaner.
Buddhism is counter-culture un-conventional .
.
