Already a member?
Sign in
awouldbehipster
My name is Jackson Wilshire. I have a BA in Religious Studies from Marylhurst University and am considering the idea of getting an MA in the same field. Like many Western Buddhists, I grew up as a Christian. I lead worship for my high school youth group and went on to study at a Foursquare denomination bible college in Southern California. I don't know why I got in to Buddhism; it just sort of happened. Sometime during my junior year at bible college, I decided I wanted to learn about another religion through the lens of someone who actually practices it. I picked up Thubten Chodron's Buddhism for Beginners, and my interest was piqued. I have been reading dharma books and practicing on-again-off-again meditation for 4 years now. I was first inspired to practice meditation after reading D.T. Suzuki's Introduction to Zen Buddhism, and have been practicing meditation in some form ever since. I recently began a more dedicated daily practice -- basically working diligently to develop my concentration while incorporating vipassana techniques based on Mahasi Sayadaw's book Practical Insight Meditation. Like many of the participants in this community, I was deeply inspired by Daniel Ingram's Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha. I also gain a lot from the teachings of Jack Kornfield and his teacher, the late Ajahn Chah. I have yet to go on any formal retreats, but I believe that I am making progress in my daily practice. After experiencing a whopper of an A&P event not too long ago, I believe I am now in the Dark Night. It's going to take some serious dedication to push through to equanimity. Making time for retreats at this point seems necessary. While my role in this online community is more student-like than teacher-like, I hope that I am able to contribute in a way that is beneficial to others. I also have a blog called Truth a Paradox. It's nothing special.
Latest page update: Sep 24 2008, 10:30 AM EDT
|
Friends (9) |
