Hello Bill and all,
Thank you for your answer. As we both know definitions are just labels,
my next question is whether Zen has a "mystic" practice?
Since Chan is the "Grand Mystic", the foundation of our Chan practice is
"Inner observation and witnessing the direction unification with the
universe, including all the phenomena as well as the life force that
caused everything."
Through this practice, there will be no conflict between our mind and
our heart. Both the logic and the universal truth will be one. The
discriminating mind will be wise to accept all.
What can you comment?
Thank you for your time to read my post,
JM
On 9/8/2010 12:40 AM, [email protected] wrote:
JMJM,
You bring up a very good question.
According to Merriam-Webster Online the definitions of these words and
my opinion as how they could be applied to zen are:
MYSTICAL
1:a : having a spiritual meaning or reality that is neither apparent
to the senses nor obvious to the intelligence
[Bill!] Zen is not 'spiritual' and is definitely apparent to the
senses, so this definition doesn't seem to fit. Zen is however not
obvious, nor even accessible as far as I'm concerned, to the intelligence.
b : involving or having the nature of an individual's direct
subjective communion with God or ultimate reality
[Bill!] This is pretty close, although I would take out the words
'subjective' and 'God or ultimate' which leaves 'direct communion with
reality'.
MYSTICISM
1: the experience of MYSTICAL union or direct communion with ultimate
reality reported by MYSTICS
[Bill!] I could live with this definition.
2: the belief that direct knowledge of God, spiritual truth, or
ultimate reality can be attained through subjective experience (as
intuition or insight)
[Bill!] Again, this is close, but I don't associate Buddha Nature with
intuition or insight - although I know in the West these could be used
as a poor substitute.
3:a : vague speculation : a belief without sound basis
[Bill!] I don't like this one at all.
b : a theory postulating the possibility of direct and intuitive
acquisition of ineffable knowledge or power
[Bill!] This is pretty close. I like the word 'ineffable'. That
definitely fits. I don't like the words 'intuitive, acquisition,
knowledge and power'.
In English, 'mysticism' is generally associated with God or 'hidden'
knowledge or insight. I associate zen with just everyday stuff. It's
no big deal.
...Bill!
From: [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:[email protected]
<mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>] On Behalf Of Jue Miao Jing Ming
- ????
Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 2:14 AM
To: [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: [Zen] Practical Mysticism - Evelyn Underhill
Dear all,
I have a question. In Chinese, the Tibetan practice is literally
translated as the "Mystic Order", the Chan practice is literally
translated as the "Grand Mystic Order". Chan is the grand one, because
Rong-Shu Patriarch brought the Chan to Tibet and affected their practice.
In Chan 『秘密內證法』 "Mystic Inner Witness Dharma" means an inward
practice enabling heart to heart witness of Buddha. That's all. There
is really nothing mystic about it.
Is the term "mystic or mysticism" means the same as the I described
above or not?
Much obliged,
_/\_
JMJM
On 9/7/2010 8:13 AM, DP wrote:
That's kind of the point of the book. She is trying to bring mysticism
down to Earth, as it were. She wants to show that not only monks can
do it.
--- In [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>,
<billsm...@...> wrote:
>
> DP,
>
> I haven't heard of this book, but it does sound interesting.
>
> I don't, however, associate mysticism with zen, or with `seeing the
world as
> it is' (which I do associate with zen). How could anyone call that
> mysticism? Or with spiritualism as so many are wont to do?
>
> …Bill!
>
> From: [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:[email protected]
<mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>] On Behalf
> Of DP
> Sent: Monday, September 06, 2010 9:22 PM
> To: [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [Zen] Practical Mysticism - Evelyn Underhill
>
>
> I recently downloaded this ebook from a public domain site (the book is
> nearly 100 year old) and I have to say I'm very impressed with it.
Underhill
> was an ANglo-Catholic, but her main focus is on how anyone can
appreciate
> the mysticism of everyday life by seeing the world as it is, without
> categorization. I think this sounds very Zen, and I wonder if anyone
else
> had read it.
>
>
>
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--
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org
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Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
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http://www.heartchan.org
