[Zen] thank you
dear group.. thank you for your encouragement and support as i weave my way through to becoming into the practise... the advice has been very appreciated and i have taken it all aboard... enjoy your weekends... and have fun too! merle Merle www.wix.com/merlewiitpom/1
[Zen] thank you
suresh there is much to learn here..thank you..merle Dear Mr.Bharath, I understand your point. But Ramana Maharishi answered from his state of mind. But communication should be always at the level of receiver. Many attain highest consciousness level, but do not accumulate the ability of expressive language before their attainment of highest consciousness level. The expressive language skill comes only when you pass through all the hurdles of life as common man goes through. Ramana Maharishi did not go through common man life. He left home when he was 17 and lived alone in a cave for seven years with no talks with anyone. So he has not come across what you and I have undergone. He is intelligent and hence at that young age he could able to take sannyas , that itself indicates his fearlessness. He remained fearless from his young age and after attained highest consciousness level, he himself the universe. It is very difficult to understand that a man of `cowbegam' ( (a single piece of cloth to cover his private part) standing in front of you is none other than god himself or this universe itself. Since he is the universe, he address that as `self'. Can anything exist away from this vast dome of universe? In merchant Navy studies, we have one subject called `Principle of navigation'. In that we have one lesson on `Celestial navigation'. In this lesson we assume this universe as celestial sphere, and since universe is ever expanding with no boundaries for it, any point on the universe can be considered as center of the universe. So we have considered earth center as center of the universe. Based on this assumption we have derived some elements such as GHA (Greenwich Hour angle) and Declination similar to latitude and longitude of the earth. That is, vertical lines on the universe are called GHA and horizontal lines are called declination. Now any point on the universe can be exactly located. Because of this theory now we can send any rocket or satellite exactly to its orbit. Based on the above theory i.e any point on the universe can be considered as center of the universe, Ramana Maharishi centered his body as center of this vast universe and called `self' and looked at everything from that view. Why we fear? We fear because we see that there may be a threat to our body by various ways. Because we consider ourselves as body, and that is the truth for us, and any external factors which are going to challenge the survival of the body, will be the cause for our fear and cause for our misery. Except our body we consider everything else as `other'. So for us even our own parents will look like threat and we may fear about them. Now Ramana Maharishi from his state of mind, do not considered himself as body, he sees himself as the universe, and all events of the universe whether it is of good or it is of bad all are happening in him, and he is watching the events as we watch movies, and the body of Ramana maharishi is part of that universe and he knows how this body will move and behave based on the karma of that body. So from his consciousness state when there is nothing `other' out of the universe, what is the possibility of fear for him. Are you getting my point? Fear exists only when there is `other'. If there is no `other', everything exist in the universe are one singular thing, then how there will be fear? Let say that all human beings, animals, plants, planets, stars are all `forms', the space that surrounds us is `Formless', now tell me which is big? Form? Or Formless?. Certainly the formless is big, and hence it contains all galaxies of stars, and in that galaxy all other I have mentioned above comes under. Now if you see that Forms have different shapes, different sizes, and different material composed of, but if you see the `space' that surrounds us is of same nature. On earth, the space has atmosphere which contains various layers of different densities of air, which you cannot see through naked eye. But if you empty out the air, what exists is pure space. This is this `pure space' exist all over universe, with no boundaries. Now I say that this is not pure empty space, this is what consciousness is. How we share airing space, similarly we share consciousness. When I stand on my house terrace, I have my airing space, and similarly from each house each has their own airing space. Before I built house there was space above land on which I built house and keep my things. Similarly before you were born there was no body of you existed, but certainly space existed to accommodate you. You were born, and space or consciousness allowed your existence in it. And in your body, in your brain, you have accumulated various knowledge; because of that thoughts have raised which also needs space, which had existed in your consciousness, like atmosphere surrounds the earth. Thoughts are not inside your head, thoughts are around
[Zen] thank you bill
bill thank you for the clarification...with america being the capitalist mecca i assumed you's were all into the loot making what are your thoughts on the american elections? and do you live in thailand? thank you for your sincerity take care ... merle Merle, What things indeed? My previous comments on this thread starting with suggesting we get some kind of commission based on traffic and ending up with 'Big Shiny Things' was my attempt at irony. I apologize if you thought they were legitimate. By the way, many of my posts contain irony (or at least attempts) so don't take everything I say too seriously. ...Bill! --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Merle Lester merlewiitpom@... wrote: bill. .what things?.. ..so you want things.? ..however how much do you actually need?. ... will you pass through the eye of needle? and bill you can't take it with you. ..greed is bottomless and boundless...be alert... be mindful...  it is a trap  have you fallen from grace? merle riddle: is zen: a hen in a pen or is a pen with a hen: zen?   Merle, It's not just the money that counts. It's what the money represents: Things! Big Things. Shiny Things. Lots of Things! ...Bill! --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Merle Lester merlewiitpom@ wrote: jesus..not more glint of gold?..a commission...?..is that all i am worth?..please clarify!..merle with a thousand eyes  Speaking for Al, the forum owner, and both the moderators, Edgar and me, we all hope you stay. We get a commission on each post and your membership here has already moved up the date of my retirement by several weeks... ...Bill! --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Merle Lester merlewiitpom@ wrote:  right..edgar..maybe this zen is not for me...why are you saying crazy new age fantasy? ...there are plenty of practises of a human kind that believe in nature and nature's spirits...communicating with nature. e.g australian aborigines .it is not new fangled dangled...  merle. .worshipping and communicating with the sun this morning at 6:30am  Merle, Reread paragraph 4 Merle. I said nothing of the sort... I was talking about incorrect facts, not the spiritual awe of reality. Do you understand the difference? You don't have to think the flower understands what you say to it to appreciate the flower. Zen is realizing and appreciating the TRUE nature of the flower, not some crazy New Age fantasy facts you project onto it. Edgar On Aug 28, 2012, at 8:47 AM, Merle Lester wrote: thank you for your clarification edgar ..remind me never to see the poetry in the dancing daffodil or listen to the music that the leaves on the trees sing. ..remind me i must be ever vigilant unless i fall from grace and am reduced to praise and awe and wonder at the beauty of mother nature especially her most glorious of all...her sexual delights in the form of flowers never again to listen to their glorious voices ..remind me that i must always remain ever scientific ever logical and alert to childish silly fantasy games and illusions.. never again must i listen to the wind and the grasses when they speak. ..goodness me and oh jesus christ ..what would the red skin indian say to your theories edgar? ...edgar save me from such silly ways ..for life is not a bowl of cherries it is hard real world made from solid rock..solid knowledge based on facts and figures ..and if one dare to fall and fall to such fancies as projecting a human quality to a plant life and me daring to speak plant language..strike me dumb so i may never speak again of such unheard things.. ... merle..the wolf carrying a bright yellow daffodil as a peace offering to those who know what sitting bull would have replied Joe, Flowers do have 'senses' in the sense that they have receptors for and respond to light, touch, chemical signals and possibly sound. They have fairly complex internal electrical and chemical signaling systems What I doubt is Merle's contention that her plants listen to her and respond to what she says There is no evolutionary reason they should do so and no scientific evidence that they do I'd say Merle is projecting here which is a dangerous form of illusion and the antithesis of Zen There is a subtle Zen point here. It's fine to have personal myths like this so long as one realizes they are just fun fantasy, games and illusion and NOT reality. Illusion recognized as illusion is reality, illusion seen as reality is illusion One of the most dangerous illusions to Zen is the various 'New Age' wishful thinking that falsely projects goody goody
[Zen] Thank you for the encouragement
I can do this for the small time that I do zazen, but I'm having trouble introducing it into my daily life. OCD is all about choices, and in the distorted mind of someone with OCD, everything is a life or death choice. The idea of letting things go is all fine and dandy for the mat, but I'm having trouble making that leap in real life. Accepting the idea that I will die is okay in the abstract, but it becomes more scary in the real world. So, any advice? Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[Zen] Thank you
Just a note to thanks everyone who expresed expressed compassion dedicating the merit of the practice towards my sister Isabel cancer breast remove surgery. Surgery was succesful this time. This was her second surgery in short time. Doctors said that cancer didn't make in time to develop roots. That was a marvellous new. Let's only hope that it won't come back to soon again. Her recovery is slowly and with some expected difficulties. The most impressive thing is that she has not been in pain at all!. She only feels very tired all the time and has some devoloped problems in her bowels. She has released the hospital but has to go everyday to be checked and change bandage... Due to myself aggravation of physical condition I've been suffering from many years was not possible for me to take a flight to Spain. I have managed now to persuade my doctors and get permision to leave the Uk in order to be with her, visit the family and trying my best of getting into the Spanish Health System for undergoing myself under a medical investigation. (the uk Health System is rather limited, in comparation with what we have in other European Countries). Getting sick in the Uk is pretty frightened. Massive British people are costrected to search treatments in my Country and other European Countries. As a many years resident in the Uk I belong to the UK and not to Spain any longer. There are many more problems and difficulties but I rather to say no more. So that I save you all from headache. Everything has turned out very complicated, very complex. In the middle of all it, I'm still in love. Despite all the many difficulties right now, I feel more alive than ever. I'm still floating in the cloud of love. I often wonder how it comes that a healthy man with a good profesion could have fallen in love with someone like me. I suppose love is one of those mysteries. I smile with a kind of complicity to the flow of life for having bewitched this fiance of mine who seems so crazy about me her most precious and unique Princess. Merry Christmas to you all Mayka --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu wu...@... wrote: Mayka, Â I am praying for your sister. Wish her recovery well. Â Regards, Anthony --- On Mon, 15/12/08, Mayka flordel...@... wrote: From: Mayka flordel...@... Subject: [Zen] Request to you all To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, 15 December, 2008, 4:10 PM Dear all; My most beloved sister Isabel Lopez who suffers from cancer will have one of her breast remove today. I would like to ask you all from any tradition whether if is zen or not to pray and offer the merit of your practice to her speedy recovery and wellbeing. I haven't had much sleep. The sense of impermanence is very strong in me right now. It's a sense making very valuable the present moment. Leading me to live it in more profoundity. A bow in gratitude to you all Mayka Happy Holidays from Yahoo! Messenger. Spread holiday cheers to your friends and loved ones today! Get started at http://emoticarolers.com/ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com mailto:zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[Zen] Thank you all so much
Hi All- I have laughed and cried a lot since I joined the Zen Forum. Just want to say thanks for being here and letting me be here. I really appreciate having a community of such wise, funny, intelligent, and caring people to talk to. Margie (roloro1557) Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[Zen] Thank You To Everyone
Sometime in July, it was eight years ago that I started this group. I have not had much to say. I am very far from enlightened and I often learn more from reading others ideas. When this group was posting regularly, I used to often stir up debates and discussions by having some kind of outrageous remark that got others motivated. I enjoy when the group is active, but I do not want to post comments for the sake of stirring up discussion. I want to thank everyone that has ever joined this group and participated. Some have given a lot of time and energy, and I hope their efforts are always resounding the good karma to everyone. I do not think that I have made much progress over the past eight years on my path, but I have enjoyed the ride. Thank you to everyone. Al Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today! Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[Zen] Thank You
Dear friends: when I joined this group I was motivated by the wish of meeting friend to whom share the practice. I din't wanted to input more budhist information in my head and just wanted the side of the sharing. However, I din't find much moviment of sharing from part of its members in the forum and so that I started to read some what Donald kinly sent me through email. Investigating what kind of zen buddhism tradition was this one...I am nicely impressed by the accuracy and simple words used in the process of the transmission of the teaching. It has clearly been noticeable to me that I have a lot new things to learn from you tradition and do not mind to be told or corrected. Thank you so much to you all. A kind bow from: Mayka Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today! Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ * Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional * To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) * To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
