en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/702968 Comments by zenfant http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/01/we-here-at-elephant-have-been-huge-fans-of-the-transformative-power-of-the-secret-burp/#IDComment50692186 this type of childish mocking makes me heart elephant to the max Wed, 6 Jan 2010 19:34:12 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/01/we-here-at-elephant-have-been-huge-fans-of-the-transformative-power-of-the-secret-burp/#IDComment50692186 http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/11/the-prick-the-saint-the-professional-then-some-categorizing-buddhist-bloggers-john-pappas/#IDComment44810331 omg i laughed so hard i aspirated my coffee, then i shit myself. thanks john...thanks a lot. Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:54:12 +0000 http://www.elephantjournal.com/2009/11/the-prick-the-saint-the-professional-then-some-categorizing-buddhist-bloggers-john-pappas/#IDComment44810331 http://shambhalasun.com/sunspace/going-it-alone-whats-your-experience-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#IDComment42132393 love you sista! zenfant/Shane <a href="http://www.zenfant.wordpress.com" target="_blank">www.zenfant.wordpress.com</a> Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:43:30 +0000 http://shambhalasun.com/sunspace/going-it-alone-whats-your-experience-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#IDComment42132393 http://shambhalasun.com/sunspace/going-it-alone-whats-your-experience-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#IDComment41942206 you are absolutely beautiful. thank you for your post, i was deeply touched reading it. Gentle Hugs (that don&#039;t cause pain), Zenfant/Shane <a href="http://www.zenfant.wordpress.com" target="_blank">www.zenfant.wordpress.com</a> Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:05:33 +0000 http://shambhalasun.com/sunspace/going-it-alone-whats-your-experience-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#IDComment41942206 http://shambhalasun.com/sunspace/going-it-alone-whats-your-experience-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#IDComment41717955 Thank you so much for this awesome topic that is currently so near and dear to me. I have been what I call a spiritual vagabond for many years. During this time (I&rsquo;m 40 now) I had an organically growing sense in me, as I explored many different spiritual paths, that I am (and we are) part of an interconnected whole. It was 2 years ago when I got exposed to Buddhism that I realized that my personal path had been written down over the past 2600 years. This put me on the direction of Buddhism and I like to call myself Buddhist. I have taken classes at a Zen center in the nearest big city and I attend a recently created Dharma Punx sangha there as well. In doing this I have been struggling with what feels very natural to me&hellip;that being a solitary practitioner&hellip;and a sangha member. One the one hand sangha feels like a natural extension and component of the practice (and sanghas will certainly agree to that), yet on the other hand, (and the stronger feeling I have) practice is something to be integrated into my daily life from the largest things (dealing with death, skillfully handing being single and dating/sex, caring for family, etc) to the littlest things (how I brush my teeth, stirring my coffee, talking to friends, etc). Ultimately I feel that there is a balance between the two but I have no idea where that balance lies for me. I have a feeling that the strongest component will always be my personal day to day practice that grows and evolves organically as it always has. I find the Buddhist teachings and practices (I focus mainly on Soto Zen as a core) builds the most complete and solid foundation I have ever found to date whether a sangha has been present in it or not. What I&rsquo;m organically coming to understand is that sangha is a verb. It is an activity I engage in and that includes interacting with people (Buddhist and non Buddhist), reading books, listening to dharma talks, sitting zazen twice a day (minimum), extending myself to help others (thru physical and non physical presence such as my blog <a href="http://www.zenfant.wordpress.com" target="_blank">www.zenfant.wordpress.com</a> ), and following the mindfulness trainings/precepts. As I&rsquo;m writing this, I feel very good about being &ldquo;unaffiliated&rdquo; because right now it feels as if being unaffiliated with one sangha or tradition, means I am affiliated with the universe&hellip;and that&rsquo;s a cool feeling :) Tue, 3 Nov 2009 20:59:36 +0000 http://shambhalasun.com/sunspace/going-it-alone-whats-your-experience-as-an-unaffiliated-buddhist/#IDComment41717955