[Cemeuncex]

Beautifull post Craig dear,

When I first come here I started to realize the importance of the triple gem. Sangha, Buddha and Dharma. Soon I decided to start going into a Zen dojo and things become very different from the time I was just a "Book Reader Buddhist". Practice, meditation and techings become lively different and more tangible.

Group meditation has become a core aspect. Because of that there are improvements with home meditation. Having a Sangha has been very important because the Sangha itself; not because a Sangha has to mean that we all, like robots, think and act the same.

We are at different levels of commitment and practice but we support in each other so to keep our commitment with what Buddha told, with what our Ancestors developed and, very important, with our Satori and Kai's as a way of mental and ethical discipline (also stresed here by stuka). To know that there are some people that are walking the path seriously commited can be very helpfull for you own commitment with the path.

At the dojo we do not talk to much. Learning is thorugh the way we act between ourselves. A subtle smile can become a deep teaching when practice at the dojo.

The teachings, the Dharma, is what move us toward practice. We hold tightly arround the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Noble Path and all the different side teachings that branch from them.

The Buddha and our main ancestors as those who are special just because they awoke from illusion. We do not worship or idolize. Is not the way of Zen. We do not proyect any kind of special gifts to them. Also we are encouraged to keep distance form our roshi so to grow and develop in our practice alone.

In this way, the triple gem is mainly develop within with the help of Dharma, Sangha and Buddha.

I sincerly encourage newcommers to seek for refuge in a sangha so to develope refuge in the teachings and in Buddha. Hopefully, with practice, one day, one can become a refuge where ever you go or where ever you are.