Jody, JMJM is like a doting grandmother. In my opinion he is being too patronizing with you. That may be one of the differences between Chan zen and the Japanese zen through which I was introduced to zen.
What you describe below about imagining the water is invisible and you could see all the sea life might be very comforting for you, and make you feel 'warm and fuzzy', but it is just a dream. More illusions. More maya. It is not good zen practice; it is not zen meditation. I've addressed a what I think would be a better (better, as in more effective) approach to meditation in my next post. ...Bill! From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jue Miao Jing Ming - ???? Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 2:28 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Zen] Test of Character Well Jody, As long as the practice is to rest our monkey mind is the "correct" practice. Yet a more "effective" practice is not to imagine, or count the breath, or chant, because these practices raise our physical awareness and arouse our mind. Simply detached from all FORMS, follow the path of our breath, enhance our spirituality at all times, whether sitting or other wise, is an effective one. JM Jody W. Ianuzzi wrote: > > Hello JM, > > I am not sure if my practice is correct, but I will imagine concepts > to get > in the state of mind to meditate. > > We live near the ocean and we will often go to the beach to meditate. One > day I imagined the water was invisible and I could see all the life in > the > ocean from the small to the large life there. It seemed so dramatic to > imagine all that life. It made me feel small by comparison but it also > made > me feel part of the universe. > > I was then able to meditate without having to block the usual monkey > mind of > daily events. > > I hope this is the correct practice. > > JODY in Florida > > __________ NOD32 3394 (20080827) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.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:[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/
