Al, Everthing you know and feel is based on belief and faith. Even science is based on the belief in cause and effect and faith in our rational capabilities. The belief in enlightenment and the faith that you can achieve it is what gets you started in zen. It's like dangling a carrot in front of a horse, or more accurately a picture of a carrot.
The concept of enlightenment is indeed an illusion as is testified to over and over again in zen literature. The only thing that is not an illusion is Only THIS (Buddha Nature), but the only way you can really know that is to experience it. And to do that all you need to do is sit (zazen) and allow your concept of self to melt away. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "Fitness63" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > From: cid830> We can only follow their teachings if we choose to accept > them, regardless of whether or not they actually taught them at all. > > > What we are talking about is the proverbial LEAP OF FAITH that is required > for any belief system, and thus zen, like any other religion or philosophy > requires that the adherent BELIEVE in what may very well be total fiction. > > So is Maya the illusion, or is the actual illusion that enlightenment that > so many strive to achieve and which cannot be objectively measured. After > all, when a Roshi says that he is enlightened, all we have is his word on > it, and the word of his peers. Can you measure or otherwise prove > enlightenment? Is enlightenment itself not an Illusion (Maya)? > ------------------------------------ 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/
