6: Spiritual Discipline Versus Control, Emotional Challenges, Upside of Anger (#48)

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These are questions and topics that Claude AnShin Thomas - Zen Buddhist monk, combat veteran, and author - reflects on. He reminds the listener of how to stay awake to life and how to understand more deeply the traps of a deluded mind.

This episode was recorded during a weekly zoom session of questions&responses.

For more information: https://zaltho.org/

If you want to ask Claude AnShin Thomas a question: [email protected]

Book recommendations:

-       Bringing Meditation to Life - 108 Teachings on the Path of Zen Practice (Oakwood Publishing 2021)

-       AT HELL'S GATE - A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace (Shambhala Publications 2003)

https://zaltho.org/en/media/our-books.html

 If you are interested in a specific question, this is the list of questions that Claude AnShin responded to and the time stamps for those questions so that you can go directly to the topic that is of most interest to you.
Questions and Time Stamps:

1:15 What is the significance of breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth?

2:07 What kind of internal dialogue or questions did you have when you began with sitting meditation?

3:01 Do you want to control processes sometimes?

4:22 Was there a difference for you between following instructions in the military and following instructions when you started in that first monastery?

5:42 What is the difference between control and discipline?

6:45 What do you do if a situation or a person is emotionally challenging you?

7:39 How long did it take for you to learn to sit in meditation (facing the wall) without worrying what might be coming from behind you?

8:29 What does time mean for you in your daily life and also in a Buddhist context?

11:43 When you went from practicing in the first monastery to the second monastery, under a different teacher and somewhat different school, how did you deal with any differences in the instructions you were given?

12:54 What was necessary to leave the life on the street?

13:51 Can you explain the statement that you said earlier that control is being forced into something that one is not comfortable with?

15:02 Do you find that the practice of paying attention is generally adequate to lead to the most appropriate response, for instance in a difficult situation?

16:20 Has anger also a good side?

16:53 Is there a difference between controlling someone when you are a like teacher or a parent with a child or student instead an adults when they are on the same level?