ED,
(1) In meditation practice, is pain a necessary ingredient for the breakthrough
to bliss and ecstasy?
I don't think it's 100% necessary as I've experienced intense bliss/ecstasy
without experiencing pain beforehand (a spontaneous mystical experience).
However, as far as vipassana goes, the pain does seem to precede the pleasure
and is a necessary part of the technique/teaching. And it *works*!
(2) Is this phenomenon similar to or identical with the bliss and ecstasy
reported by some or many masochists in BDSM practices?
Maybe, but the goal (I imagine...) of such a practice is only the desire for
such (transient) pleasure and any lessons from such an experience are not
recognised or even sought after.
(3) Is this experience explainable as a natural process, or does it call for
postulating the intervention of supra-natural forces?
Personally, I believe this is a completely natural process and was recognised
by
the historical Buddha as such.
(4) Are these cycles of pain and bliss a necessary concomitant of the process
of realizing one's Buddha Nature?
Yes, I think so. Pain and bliss are the extremes of human experience that we
will all experience one way or another. To not understand the transitory nature
of these states will never give us a deep and valid understanding of how to
live
with equanimity.
(5) Have Zen masters made any statements concerrning the naturalness or
supra-naturalness of 'Buddha Nature'.
My reading of the Zen masters who have gone before us points to the complete
naturalness and everydayness of 'Buddha Nature'. If anything, it takes a
supernatural effort to *not* see what is right in front of our noses.
Mike
