tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1969281918175291060.post4617180740455719915..comments2023-10-30T01:29:52.015-07:00Comments on Homeless Tom: My situation, as compared to the Wanderer'sAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13718601770472939313noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1969281918175291060.post-89169529937449902982009-02-13T08:27:00.000-08:002009-02-13T08:27:00.000-08:00C4,I wouldn't say that I separate 'my practice' fr...C4,<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't say that I separate 'my practice' from 'Tom in real life.'<BR/><BR/>I do 'backslide,' if that's the right word, and there's a well-up of egoic indignation every once in a while.<BR/><BR/>But then my Buddhism is, perhaps, in the eyes of some, watered down. I don't really practice Right Speech; I try to practice Right Hearing -- which means I try to be focussed on not getting perturbed rather than ratcheting down my confrontational nature.<BR/><BR/>Being in Homeless World is a golden opportunity to practice 'not being offended' and living in close quarters with people [mostly men] of a wide variety -- from gangsters, sociopaths, to geniuses of various sorts and some huge-hearted fellows whom the world neglects.<BR/><BR/>The street retreats that Maull and others run bug me. They seem like just another round of rich Buddhist exotica vacations. You can read my comments on all that, <A HREF="http://www.shambhalasun.com/sunspace/?p=5546#comment-4069" REL="nofollow">here</A>.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13718601770472939313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1969281918175291060.post-22521115577865249782009-02-12T19:48:00.000-08:002009-02-12T19:48:00.000-08:00Tom,it's good to know that you're "mostly, not unh...Tom,<BR/><BR/>it's good to know that you're "mostly, not unhappy." i wish you well and pray that you get back to "normalcy" sometime soon.<BR/><BR/>thanks for sharing your journey. i just have a quick question for you and i hope you don't take this as me being all Buddhist fundamental and stuff like that. it's just out of pure curiosity :)<BR/><BR/>my question: are you using your current situation as an opportunity to practice (with whatever practice you have)? or does your situation make it difficult for you to keep mindfulness and equanimity (which i assume it would, but that's my projection)?<BR/><BR/>i ask because i've heard Fleet Maull organizes something called "<A HREF="http://www.peacemakerinstitute.org/BW_street_retreat.html" REL="nofollow">street retreats</A>" (aka plunge experience). so i wonder what's your take on this since. maybe you can dedicate a whole post about this. i'll be there to read it :)<BR/><BR/>thanks, and take care out there.<BR/><BR/>~CAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1969281918175291060.post-76423375825221796562009-01-24T08:49:00.000-08:002009-01-24T08:49:00.000-08:00Thanks Tom -- I appreciate your openness and cando...Thanks Tom -- I appreciate your openness and candor. I felt the Tricycle article captured a sort of idealized view, whereas your post seems much more real to me.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for sharing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com