DP,
In my opinion zen practice is not at all dependent upon cognitive abilities. In fact the usual beginning training is all geared to lead you to the point where you stop your cognitive processes. Zen practice is only dependent upon sensory awareness, only experiencing - not rationalizing the experience. .Bill! From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of DP Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2010 3:24 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [Zen] Re: Unclear on what is mind My concern then is the idea of losing the mind, either through senility or dementia or mental illness. If we are stripped of our cognitive abilities, then where is the mind, and how can we still practise? --- In [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com> , "cid830" <summitj...@...> wrote: > > DP, > > I think the concept of mind is the basis of Buddhism. From my perspective in practise, the mind is key to ultimate nirvana and the obstruction to getting there. It is the cause of our suffering and the only way to relieve that suffering. It is the reason we seek out religions to answer our questions of who we are, and the reason we still doubt no matter how much we want to believe. Through our mind we will find our Ultimate Widom, but we have to dissolve our ego and attachments, everything we have learned to distinguish us as individuals, and of those things the mind doesn't easily let go! > > Master Bill is right, this is the Zen Forum. And Buddhism can be separate from zen, that is up for discussion. Many things can be related to zen. If you would like to discuss your views on religion with compassionate individuals, I'm sure you can find a friendly place here. And we'll find a way to relate them to zen. > > Thank you DP, and thank you Master Bill, > > it's good to be back. > > Chris D > > --- In [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com> , "DP" <wookielifeday@> wrote: > > > > Part of my fear of death is not so much of death but of senility or loss of memory. In western terms, that's what I think of as mind. But I have to admit, I dont know if I fully understand the Buddhist concept of mind. Can anybody help with this? > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5498 (20101002) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com
