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Gil Fronsdal

January 20, 2023

Gil Fronsdal (born 1954) is a Norwegian-born, American Buddhist teacher, writer and scholar based in Redwood City, California. He has been practicing Buddhism of the Sōtō Zen and Vipassanā sects since 1975, and is currently teaching the practice of Buddhism in the San Francisco Bay Area.[1] Having been taught by the Vipassanā practitioner Jack Kornfield, Fronsdal is part of the Vipassanā teachers' collective at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.[2] He was ordained as a Sōtō Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982, and was a Theravāda monk in Burma in 1985.[1] In 1995, he received Dharma transmission from Mel Weitsman, the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center.[3]

Gil Fronsdal
Personal
Born1954 (age 68–69)
ReligionTheravāda Buddhism
SchoolSōtō Zen
Senior posting
WebsiteInsight Meditation Center

He is the guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Center (IMC) of Redwood City.[4] He has a PhD in Buddhist Studies from Stanford University.[2] His many dharma talks available online contain basic information on meditation and Buddhism, as well as subtle concepts of Buddhism explained at the level of the lay person.[5]

Fronsdal has been credited with identifying "what is perhaps the basic formula of success for any Buddhist group in America: 'spiritual' practice (that is, meditation) removed from Asian cultural expressions".[6] Fronsdal has also been noted for his "analysis of the transformed role of sila (morality) in the western Insight Meditation Movement" [7] and his view that the popularity of vipassana meditation in middle-class America is related to its message of "orthopraxy" (right action) and its lack of cultural and historical "baggage".[8] His work has also been cited as a means by which First Nations people might "change the reality of internalized oppression to the reality of peace"[9] while his 2005 translation of the Dhammapada has been included in a suggested reading list for teaching college students about happiness.[10]

In a 2011 discussion of the meaning of mindfulness, the American Theravada Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Bodhi cited Fronsdal in the following passage as "neatly" summarizing the difference between traditional Buddhist practice and that being taught in the West:

Rather than stressing world-renunciation, they [Western lay teachers] stress engagement with, and freedom within the world. Rather than rejecting the body, these Western teachers embrace the body as part of the holistic field of practice. Rather than stressing ultimate spiritual goals such as full enlightenment, ending the cycles of rebirth, or attaining the various stages of sainthood, many Western teachers tend to stress the immediate benefits of mindfulness and untroubled, equanimous presence in the midst of life’s vicissitudes.[11]

This approach has been described as having traditional forms of Buddhism "being expanded upon rather than rejected", with Fronsdal cited as calling on Vipassana teachers "to study traditional Buddhism, not in order to adopt it wholesale but to be more conscious about what is and is not adopted and to take more responsibility for assumptions and intentions underlying innovation".[12] As such, Fronsdal is recognized as presenting meditation as "the heart of the Buddhist path" with the traditional Buddhist values of loving-kindness, ethics, and generosity as key elements in a mindfulness-based, spiritual life among practitioners who are more likely to describe their involvement as "spiritual" rather than "religious".[13]

In 2008 Peter Dale Scott, the Canadian-born poet and professor emeritus of English at the University of California, Berkeley, published a poem dedicated to Fronsdal entitled Breathing exercise: a how-to poem.[14]

Publications

  • Fronsdal, Gil (2016), The Buddha before Buddhism: Wisdom from the Early Teachings, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 978-9386867292
  • Fronsdal, Gil (2010), A Monastery Within: Tales from the Buddhist Path, Tranquil Books, ISBN 978-0-9845092-1-8
  • Fronsdal, Gil (2005), The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 1-59030-211-7
  • Fronsdal, Gil (2002), "Virtues without Rules", in Prebish, C.S.; Baumann, Martin (eds.), Westward Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Asia, University of California Press, ISBN 978-0520226258
  • Fronsdal, Gil (2001), The Issue at Hand", Essays on Buddhist Mindfulness Practice
  • Fronsdal, Gil (1998), "Insight Meditation in the United States: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness", in Prebish, C.S.; Tanaka, K.K. (eds.), The Faces of Buddhism in America, University of California Press
  • Fronsdal, Egil (1998), , Stanford University, archived from the original on 2011-07-19, retrieved 2009-04-21
  • Fronsdal, Gil; Van House, Nancy (1996), Voices from Spirit Rock: Talks on Mindfulness Practice, Clear & Present Graphics
  • Fronsdal, Gil; Kornfield, Jack (1996), Teachings of the Buddha, Shambhala Publications, ISBN 1-57062-124-1

References

  1. ^ a b "The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations". Middle Way (120). August 2006. Academic OneFile. Gale Document Number: GALE|A150852691.
  2. ^ a b "Teachers - Spirit Rock - An Insight Meditation Center". Spirit Rock - An Insight Meditation Center. Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center. 2016. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  3. ^ "Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation - Gil Fronsdal". Urban Dharma - Buddhism in America. UrbanDharma.org. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  4. ^ "Teachers: Insight Meditation Center". Insight Meditation Center. Insight Meditation Center. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  5. ^ "Audio Dharma - Gil Fronsdal". Insight Meditation Center. Insight Meditation Center. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  6. ^ Wallis, Glenn (April 2000). "Review: The Faces of Buddhism in America by Charles S. Prebish, Kenneth K. Tanaka". International Journal of Hindu Studies. 4 (1): 89–91. JSTOR 20106700.
  7. ^ Harris, Elizabeth J. (Jan 9, 2007). "Book review: Westward Dharma: Buddhism Beyond Asia". Journal of Contemporary Religion. 19 (1, 2004): 99–126. doi:10.1080/13537900410001649421. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  8. ^ Kawanami, Hiroko (Aug 2, 2010). "Book review: The Faces of Buddhism in America". Journal of Contemporary Religion (published 2001). 16 (1): 140. doi:10.1080/13537900123085. ISSN 1353-7903.
  9. ^ Vickers, Patricia J (2005). "Sayt k' ilim goot (Of One Heart): Transforming Suffering". American Indian Quarterly. 29 (3/4): 691–706. doi:10.1353/aiq.2005.0108. ISSN 0095-182X. Accession Number: 19080338.
  10. ^ McMahon, Darrin M. (May 2011). "Teaching Happiness Is No Joke". Nineteenth-Century Contexts. 33 (2): 171–177. doi:10.1080/08905495.2011.569467.
  11. ^ Bodhi, Bhikkhu (May 1, 2011). "What Does Mindfulness Really Mean? A Canonical Perspective". Contemporary Buddhism (1 ed.). 12: 31. doi:10.1080/14639947.2011.564813. ISSN 1463-9947.
  12. ^ Gleig, Ann (2012). (PDF). Journal of Global Buddhism. 13: 129–146. ISSN 1527-6457. Accession Number: 89425283. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 31, 2013. Retrieved June 7, 2016.
  13. ^ Sun, Jessie (November 2014). "Mindfulness in Context: A Historical Discourse Analysis". Contemporary Buddhism. 15 (2): 294. doi:10.1080/14639947.2014.978088.
  14. ^ Scott, Peter Dale (2008). "Breathing exercise:a how-to poem". Queen's Quarterly (115.2 Summer 2008): 316. Academic OneFile. Gale Document Number: GALE|A182932272.

External links

  • Official website
  • Dharma talks (mp3)
  • Dhammapada readings (mp3)
  • Insight Meditation Center (Redwood City, California, USA)
  • Insight Retreat Center (Santa Cruz, California, USA)

January 20, 2023
fronsdal, born, 1954, norwegian, born, american, buddhist, teacher, writer, scholar, based, redwood, city, california, been, practicing, buddhism, sōtō, vipassanā, sects, since, 1975, currently, teaching, practice, buddhism, francisco, area, having, been, taug. Gil Fronsdal born 1954 is a Norwegian born American Buddhist teacher writer and scholar based in Redwood City California He has been practicing Buddhism of the Sōtō Zen and Vipassana sects since 1975 and is currently teaching the practice of Buddhism in the San Francisco Bay Area 1 Having been taught by the Vipassana practitioner Jack Kornfield Fronsdal is part of the Vipassana teachers collective at Spirit Rock Meditation Center 2 He was ordained as a Sōtō Zen priest at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1982 and was a Theravada monk in Burma in 1985 1 In 1995 he received Dharma transmission from Mel Weitsman the abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center 3 Gil FronsdalPersonalBorn1954 age 68 69 ReligionTheravada BuddhismSchoolSōtō ZenSenior postingWebsiteInsight Meditation CenterHe is the guiding teacher of the Insight Meditation Center IMC of Redwood City 4 He has a PhD in Buddhist Studies from Stanford University 2 His many dharma talks available online contain basic information on meditation and Buddhism as well as subtle concepts of Buddhism explained at the level of the lay person 5 Fronsdal has been credited with identifying what is perhaps the basic formula of success for any Buddhist group in America spiritual practice that is meditation removed from Asian cultural expressions 6 Fronsdal has also been noted for his analysis of the transformed role of sila morality in the western Insight Meditation Movement 7 and his view that the popularity of vipassana meditation in middle class America is related to its message of orthopraxy right action and its lack of cultural and historical baggage 8 His work has also been cited as a means by which First Nations people might change the reality of internalized oppression to the reality of peace 9 while his 2005 translation of the Dhammapada has been included in a suggested reading list for teaching college students about happiness 10 In a 2011 discussion of the meaning of mindfulness the American Theravada Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Bodhi cited Fronsdal in the following passage as neatly summarizing the difference between traditional Buddhist practice and that being taught in the West Rather than stressing world renunciation they Western lay teachers stress engagement with and freedom within the world Rather than rejecting the body these Western teachers embrace the body as part of the holistic field of practice Rather than stressing ultimate spiritual goals such as full enlightenment ending the cycles of rebirth or attaining the various stages of sainthood many Western teachers tend to stress the immediate benefits of mindfulness and untroubled equanimous presence in the midst of life s vicissitudes 11 This approach has been described as having traditional forms of Buddhism being expanded upon rather than rejected with Fronsdal cited as calling on Vipassana teachers to study traditional Buddhism not in order to adopt it wholesale but to be more conscious about what is and is not adopted and to take more responsibility for assumptions and intentions underlying innovation 12 As such Fronsdal is recognized as presenting meditation as the heart of the Buddhist path with the traditional Buddhist values of loving kindness ethics and generosity as key elements in a mindfulness based spiritual life among practitioners who are more likely to describe their involvement as spiritual rather than religious 13 In 2008 Peter Dale Scott the Canadian born poet and professor emeritus of English at the University of California Berkeley published a poem dedicated to Fronsdal entitled Breathing exercise a how to poem 14 Publications EditFronsdal Gil 2016 The Buddha before Buddhism Wisdom from the Early Teachings Shambhala Publications ISBN 978 9386867292 Fronsdal Gil 2010 A Monastery Within Tales from the Buddhist Path Tranquil Books ISBN 978 0 9845092 1 8 Fronsdal Gil 2005 The Dhammapada A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations Shambhala Publications ISBN 1 59030 211 7 Fronsdal Gil 2002 Virtues without Rules in Prebish C S Baumann Martin eds Westward Dharma Buddhism Beyond Asia University of California Press ISBN 978 0520226258 Fronsdal Gil 2001 The Issue at Hand Essays on Buddhist Mindfulness Practice Fronsdal Gil 1998 Insight Meditation in the United States Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness in Prebish C S Tanaka K K eds The Faces of Buddhism in America University of California Press Fronsdal Egil 1998 The dawn of the bodhisattva path Studies in a religious ideal of ancient Indian Buddhists with particular emphasis on the earliest extantPerfection of WisdomSutra Ph D thesis Stanford University archived from the original on 2011 07 19 retrieved 2009 04 21 Fronsdal Gil Van House Nancy 1996 Voices from Spirit Rock Talks on Mindfulness Practice Clear amp Present Graphics Fronsdal Gil Kornfield Jack 1996 Teachings of the Buddha Shambhala Publications ISBN 1 57062 124 1References Edit a b The Dhammapada A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic with Annotations Middle Way 120 August 2006 Academic OneFile Gale Document Number GALE A150852691 a b Teachers Spirit Rock An Insight Meditation Center Spirit Rock An Insight Meditation Center Spirit Rock Insight Meditation Center 2016 Retrieved June 4 2016 Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation Gil Fronsdal Urban Dharma Buddhism in America UrbanDharma org Retrieved June 4 2016 Teachers Insight Meditation Center Insight Meditation Center Insight Meditation Center Retrieved June 4 2016 Audio Dharma Gil Fronsdal Insight Meditation Center Insight Meditation Center Retrieved June 4 2016 Wallis Glenn April 2000 Review The Faces of Buddhism in America by Charles S Prebish Kenneth K Tanaka International Journal of Hindu Studies 4 1 89 91 JSTOR 20106700 Harris Elizabeth J Jan 9 2007 Book review Westward Dharma Buddhism Beyond Asia Journal of Contemporary Religion 19 1 2004 99 126 doi 10 1080 13537900410001649421 Retrieved June 4 2016 Kawanami Hiroko Aug 2 2010 Book review The Faces of Buddhism in America Journal of Contemporary Religion published 2001 16 1 140 doi 10 1080 13537900123085 ISSN 1353 7903 Vickers Patricia J 2005 Sayt k ilim goot Of One Heart Transforming Suffering American Indian Quarterly 29 3 4 691 706 doi 10 1353 aiq 2005 0108 ISSN 0095 182X Accession Number 19080338 McMahon Darrin M May 2011 Teaching Happiness Is No Joke Nineteenth Century Contexts 33 2 171 177 doi 10 1080 08905495 2011 569467 Bodhi Bhikkhu May 1 2011 What Does Mindfulness Really Mean A Canonical Perspective Contemporary Buddhism 1 ed 12 31 doi 10 1080 14639947 2011 564813 ISSN 1463 9947 Gleig Ann 2012 Wedding the Personal and Impersonal in West Coast Vipassana a Dialogical Encounter Between Buddhism and Psychotherapy PDF Journal of Global Buddhism 13 129 146 ISSN 1527 6457 Accession Number 89425283 Archived from the original PDF on May 31 2013 Retrieved June 7 2016 Sun Jessie November 2014 Mindfulness in Context A Historical Discourse Analysis Contemporary Buddhism 15 2 294 doi 10 1080 14639947 2014 978088 Scott Peter Dale 2008 Breathing exercise a how to poem Queen s Quarterly 115 2 Summer 2008 316 Academic OneFile Gale Document Number GALE A182932272 External links EditOfficial website Dharma talks mp3 Dhammapada readings mp3 Insight Meditation Center Redwood City California USA Insight Retreat Center Santa Cruz California USA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gil Fronsdal amp oldid 1101800108, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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