Adyashanti (ritual, Buddhism, spiritual, faith, Buddhism)

Random · #1 09-24-2006, 02:07 PM

Born in California, he studied Zen for 14 years: now he teaches. His name means "Primordial Awareness".

He is one of my favourite speakers: inspirational, intelligent and entrancing. I especially love his equation of "spirit" with "awareness", amongst other things.

Is anyone familiar with him? The site above links to extracts from his books and Media Player shorts of his seminars. What do you think of him and what he has to say?

Welcome appraisals from Zen practitioners, but also Buddhists in general.

Random · #2 09-24-2006, 04:24 PM

NO replies?!

Engyo · #3 09-25-2006, 07:11 PM

Sorry, been out of the office all day today, no internet access.

I am not familiar with this person, sorry....

No offense, but 14 years isn't necessarily a long time to study Buddhism. I have been practicing for 25 myself; I am nowhere near ready to be a teacher. My wife is studying for ordination now, and she has been in this for 40 years.

Will let you know more whenI have a chance to read some of his stuff......

lilithu · #4 09-25-2006, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Engyo

No offense, but 14 years isn't necessarily a long time to study Buddhism. I have been practicing for 25 myself; I am nowhere near ready to be a teacher. My wife is studying for ordination now, and she has been in this for 40 years.

That was my reaction but I couldn't think of a polite way to say it, as you did.

Godlike, I don't wish to belittle your respect for this man but it seems from his website that he does a lot of self-promotion. Does he charge for his speaking engagements? What are you getting from him that you wouldn't get from practice?

And this is me nitpicking, but I don't see how one gets "Primordial Awareness" from Adyashanti. Adya means either "now" or "in the beginning" which I suppose could mean primordial. Shanti means peace.
Cool name, tho. I would interpret it as "Peace Now!"

Random · #5 09-26-2006, 01:48 PM

I guess I like him because so many of the things he says resonate with me. I believe his view of Buddhism to be an enlightened one, and enjoy the way he shares his spirituality. I was interested to know what Buddhists here on RF thought of his teachings.

koan · #6 11-12-2006, 06:06 PM

One of the beauties of Buddhism is Faith. Not blind faith as to believe what people say, but faith in being able examine what is written or said so as to better lead one on their path. Evan Buddha said to have faith. Not in him, but faith to be able to use the dhama then also discard it as needed. Afer all its your path

Scarlett Wampus · #7 11-12-2006, 06:29 PM

Godlike I came across Adyashanti on YouTube (part 1 of 3) and bought a book of his shortly after. I haven't read it yet since this was quite recently.

After hearing him on YouTube I spent the most part of two and a half days centered and calm. He's good at what he does. I also posted the link to my girlfriend who had been very skeptical about Zen Buddhism in the past. She wrote back, "So that's Zen Buddhism. I like it." Believe me, to get that response and not a dismissal of some kind means she was very impressed.

d. · #8 11-12-2006, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarlett Wampus

Godlike I came across Adyashanti on YouTube (part 1 of 3) and bought a book of his shortly after. I haven't read it yet since this was quite recently.

After hearing him on YouTube I spent the most part of two and a half days centered and calm. He's good at what he does. I also posted the link to my girlfriend who had been very skeptical about Zen Buddhism in the past. She wrote back, "So that's Zen Buddhism. I like it." Believe me, to get that response and not a dismissal of some kind means she was very impressed.

SW introduced him to me in the 'vids from Utube' thread. thanks for that SW.

i admittedly have zero experience with zen buddhism but i still like what he says. my initial reaction was one of direct recognition, i recognised my own experience.

like lilithu, i got a bit sceptic by his self-promotion ("is he gonna hypnotise me into buying something?"

) and some of what was depicted in some of his videos - but he said something that was very helpful to me. and i don't have to agree with everything he does.

Scarlett Wampus · #9 11-12-2006, 06:56 PM

The self-promotion and commercialisation involved with many Gurus always worries me too. Its partly this: To be someone who is seen by others as a teacher, to promote yourself as such, well it has to be difficult not to get some strange ideas and/or become restricted by the expectations of your audience.

Random · #10 01-01-2007, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarlett Wampus

Godlike I came across Adyashanti on YouTube (part 1 of 3) and bought a book of his shortly after. I haven't read it yet since this was quite recently.

After hearing him on YouTube I spent the most part of two and a half days centered and calm. He's good at what he does. I also posted the link to my girlfriend who had been very skeptical about Zen Buddhism in the past. She wrote back, "So that's Zen Buddhism. I like it." Believe me, to get that response and not a dismissal of some kind means she was very impressed.

Wow, I didn't see your post on this until now Wampus! Sorry...glad you liked him, he's an eloquent speaker and thinker.

Frubals for the wait!