Bill,
What's the Zen Forum about? Thanks, ED --- In [email protected], <billsm...@...> wrote: > Ed, The one constant theme that runs through your comments below is that `prior to kensho (glimpsing Buddha Nature) it is okay to engage in intellectual activities that you think help you understand zen'. Zen is not something you can understand. You can form concepts and opinions about zen, but they are not zen. Any attempt to understand zen at best will be unhelpful, and at worst will be misleading and detrimental. A few posts ago I posted comments that I labeled as `logical' and `alogical'. The `alogical' comment was actually not presented alogically. It was a logical presentation of the concept of something alogical. Since it's relevant here, and since I'd also like to correct that error on my part, I now present an alogical response to your comments post below. It can also be directed at Mike's recent comments on the same subject. It is a paraphrasing of a story of an excellent alogical response given by an historical zen master: Ed approached Joshu in all earnestness, "I want to practice zen. I've read many books on zen, meditation and consciousness. I keep up-to-date on all the latest discoveries in the realm of physiology and psychology that relates to zen. Please give me instructions." Joshu asked, "Have you eaten your lunch yet?" Ed replied, "Yes I have. I just got up from the table, and I know from my studies that when I eat my body redirects a large portion of my blood to my digestive system and that results in decreased ability to concentrate, so I probably shouldn't sit zazen right now. What do you recommend?" Joshu replied, "Wash your dishes." adapted from JOSHU'S"WASH YOUR BOWLS", Case 7 THE GATELESS GATE Bill! ------------------------------------ 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/
