Dear Ed I appreciate the affirmation, you never know what is going to be taken out of context in the wrong way in the peanut gallery. Nevertheless, at some time, later for me than sooner, and really through the Sufis, who have a different way of explaining psychology, where they break down the levels of delusion and attachment, it became clear to me, at least for myself what my overall aim is and could be.
We were talking about mysticism earlier, in my estimation a wholly unproductive discussion, since people would be speaking about the end results and their definition of this -- enlightenment, cosmic concsiousness, etc . . . The reason I bring this up is that it has to do with greed and not realizing first things first. If you look at Zen Masters, Texts, and Sufi Masters, you will find plenty of address about having your mind on the wrong things first -- enlightenment. The Sufis would address this as a sort of greed that operates and is furthered in the Nafs, The Commmanding Self, that is overlayed with personal experiences, wrong education, trauma, prejudices, opinions, and all the seven deadly sins. Oftentimes we bring our lower instincts into our practice without ever realizing it, through worldly conditioning. I have witnessed plenty of ego maniacs who are very clear in terms of their meditation practice, or their pious dedication to their path, but are as greedy as if they were thieves. Now, having said that, I realize that I am a thief as well, robbing this and taking that. Now we are in the realm of what a Zen Buddhist Master used to talk about -- the big doubt. He was not doubting the tradition, but doubting our own sincerity and utilization of the tradition. This can be useful, make us human and humble . . . keep us from being big shits, big know it alls, big kahunas . . . there are big kahunas in Zen and big Kahunas in Sufism too, in fact lots more in Sufism, since it has a devotional nature to teachers at times. I think what is needed sometimes is fresh perspective on an ancient message. That is pretty much it. There is really nothing new, and I don't say this to bring attention to myself, although there is that, we are all looking for attention, or we would be doing something else, but also as a reminder. As the Sufis say, we are forgetful people. Remembrance on the path is a useful tool. We want to keep our practice and path alive and vital, not by rote, fall victim to Japanese cultural customs of order and clarity. This is a by-product of Soto Zen, and only gets you so far -- a bad imitation of Japanese practitioners. At times I am very excited to see the expression of Zen Buddhism in America, it appears to be trying to keep the tradition alive and deal with cultural conditioning that might not be applicable. Let's keep in mind the expression of Chan in China and then Zen in Japan. Once again, the Sufis have addressed this thoroughly, in terms of pluralism -- one path, many permissions. As anyone might be able to gather my area of practice and specialization has been mostly Soto Zen and Sufism. I have delved into the Hermetic traditions considerably, as they related to Sufism. I have not joined the Tibetan discussion but have found it interesting, since I know very little about the Dalai Lama other than he wears glasses and has a nice smile and appears to be everywhere. I don't know much about the Basques either, other than Ernest Hemingway sure thought they were swell. So hopefully my offerings will serve as crumbs to strengthen you heart in the path, nor detract. Thank you all for letting me post here . . . Donkey is never happy. K among the permissive --- In [email protected], "ED" <seacrofter...@...> wrote: > > > > Kirk wrote: > > > I think it is safe to say that Zen is a path that addresses the > > experiential with zazen as its central methodology -- a sort of > undoing of yourself, > > the conditioned cultural and experiential part of your personality > that > > continuously reacts and feeds your ego. > > > > Think of it this way, while you are reading this you are already > reacting > > inside in an automatic way. Zen seeks to loosen the bounds of your > false > > self and return you to your natural state. Part of the reason why Zen > > honors spontaneity, clarity, nature and a sense of the primordial > untouched > > mother that feeds us all. > > > > Greetings! > > I resonate strongly with the above statements on zen. Does anyone hold a > different perspective? > > --ED > > > > --- In [email protected], novelidea8@ wrote: > > > > Greetings > > > > In my estimation there really is no way to assert what Zen is, whether > you > > are restricting it to zazen; or opening it to a wider religious and > > cultural discussion. The best we can do is just admit we fall short > and perhaps > > point to our own experience, to presence. Of course we could ask > ourselves > > who is being present? > > > > So repeating zazen zazen zazen with platitudes to support it, or > explaining > > big Zen and little zen, does do much but tell us something about who > is > > doing the talking and perhaps who is doing the listening here. > > > > I think it is safe to say that Zen is a path that addresses the > > experiential with zazen as its central methodology -- a sort of > undoing of yourself, > > the conditioned cultural and experiential part of your personality > that > > continuously reacts and feeds your ego. > > > > Think of it this way, while you are reading this you are already > reacting > > inside in an automatic way. Zen seeks to loosen the bounds of your > false > > self and return you to your natural state. Part of the reason why Zen > > honors spontaneity, clarity, nature and a sense of the primordial > untouched > > mother that feeds us all. > > > > In this respect Zen shares a great deal in common with Sufism, > although the > > methods might be a great deal different. > > > > Best wishes > > > > Kirk > ------------------------------------ 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: [email protected] [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/
