The Most Influential Author in My Practice

I'm a big Dogen fan as well. His writings are as insightful as they are beautiful. And like the Sufi poet Rumi, I imagine Dogen's work is even more beautiful in its original language.

I definitely second the recommendation. It should be on every one of our bookshelves.

I've had that book on my amazon wishlist since 1999. I think its about time I pick it up.

(this is the Kaz Tanahashi book, yes?)

I have two favorite authors/lecturers: Thanissaro Bhikkhu & Henepola Gunaratana.

Thanissaro's work on the Buddhist Path, especially his essay collection Purity of Heart , has helped to keep me human in a very methodical practice. Also, Wings to Awakening is one of the best Anthologies (oriented towards the path of practice) ever written.

Bhante G's works, particularly his many lectures, have been very influential. Most of his books are pretty basic, but the Path to Serenity & Insight is very, very good for those that adhere to Theravada Buddhism as a religion. (Very good for others, too, though some parts may not be as applicable or interesting.) I list him here more for his lectures than his writings.

Honorable mentions go to Khantipalo Thero , Bhante Devananda Thero, Ledi Sayadaw , Ñanaponika Thero , and the translators Bhikkhu Bodhi & Ñanamoli Thero .

Also, whenever anyone asks me how to establish a daily practice I recommend Beyond Mindfulness in Plain English (I think the first book is just way too basic for just about anyone). His clear descriptions of what your meditative goals (early on) should be and practical advice on developing metta as a basis for concentration & insight is great for anyone in any context.

Thanissaro has been a favorite of mine for a long time now. Wings to Awakening is a real treasure. He is both a scholar and an experienced practitioner, and it really comes through in his writing. I have family in San Diego, so I'm going to try and visit his monestary next time I travel down there. I'd love to meet him.

Yes...it always seems that a monk is either a scholar or a meditator--rarely both. LOL...sometimes neither.

I think Thanissaro speaks with particular clarity on the practices which indirectly support progress towards awakening...everything one does off the cushion.

I was at Spirit Rock once when some Thai Forest Monks were visiting. I was just in time to see their noon time feeding (their last of the day). It was a site to behold. A HUGE amount of food for each monk with (to my American eyes) horrible table manners, gobbled down with no apparent mindfullness.
I'm not sure if these guys were scholars or meditators but they were certainly eaters.

LOL...I don't think one could sterotype all the Thai Monks based on that. That is hilarious.

The Sri Lankan monks don't necessarily eat in meditation mindfulness (unless a retreat is being held), but they have good table manners.

However, it is customary to eat with the hands in their culture. One mixes the different curries with the rice placed on the plate with the fingers, then presses them all into bite-sized balls. After that it is fairly easy. Of course, the hands still need a good washing afterwards.

My son loves this style of eating...but he's 6 and has a terribly biased opinion.

thanks, I'm glad you laughed, I wasn't trying to be mean, just to relate and interesting experience.

I also saw a group of Thai Forest monks when they visited our local "Unity Church." They were on some kind of fund raising mission trip. One monk was the leader and the rest, mostly younger, were like his attendants. The congregation was in awe of them (the looked so buddhist in their robes and bald heads and behaved much more elegantly than the monks at Spirit Rock) and they turned out to be hilarious, fun loving, and cheerful people. The head monk and one of the other ones had us laughing so hard it was like we were all out of control.

The Unity Church in Tampa has a Buddhist Nunnery & a Vihara directly adjacent to the property. I think the Unity Church even helped them to acquire the property. The Buddhists & the Unity congregation share the Temple facilities...it is actually a really nice setup.

I went there for an ordination ceremony a few weeks ago. Afterwards, 2 Buddhist monks, 2 Christians, & a Hindu lady were all decorating a Christmas tree together...a lovely sight of tolerance and acceptance to behold.

While I am hard-pressed to name a single most influential author in my practice-- just because I've always read omnivorously and constantly-- the most influential teacher for the decade since I discovered him is indubitably Ngak'chang Rinpoche, and all the other teachers of his lineage who share the characteristics of clarity, practicality, and cheerful good temper. To the extent that I have a clue about practice and Buddhadharma, and the ability to recognize it in its multifarious incarnations and expressions-- it is a gift I've received from him, and them, in exchange for nothing more than paying close attention.

Here's something I found on the website, which highlights different articles each day, that bespeaks a deceptively simple and straightforward view of what it is to be a teacher. I say, 'deceptively simple' because if it were so simple, there wouldn't be so many bad examples around! http://www.aroencyclopaedia.org/

"Naljorma Rin’dzin: Your life must
have changed a great deal since you started to teach more widely and have
your own sangha.

Ngala Nor’dzin: Yes, and that has
been an extremely powerful path of transformation for me. To be a Lama for
our apprentices I have had to learn to relax into the space of being as
much as possible. In allowing a person to view me as their Lama – even if
I don’t feel I am the person they view me as – I have to relax into
practice and have confidence in my practice. I cannot get precious or
neurotic about my limitations, or intoxicated with the role of Lama. Only
through continuing to be a practitioner can I be a teacher and a Lama for
our apprentices."