Mark: Do you mean by 01 members that you practice alone?. I have only managed to have a real mindful life 24 hours over 24 during retreats and never away of a retreat. Away from a retreat I only practice mindfulness when I feel like it. This sometimes can go since several days in a row with no mindfulness at all and afterwards feeling so messy in my body and mind that I go back to it in a very natural way. I don't like very much being tag with the label of mindfulness because I consider myself a disaster representant for that. You'll be better asking to a TNH monastic for they practice 24 hours over 24 mindfulness. Anyway, thanks for your trust and asking me. Mayka --- On Mon, 25/10/10, Mark Perew <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Mark Perew <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Zen and the Brain To: [email protected] Date: Monday, 25 October, 2010, 14:50 Mayka - I am seeking how to practice zen, both on the cushion and off. The question of "What does the mindful life look like?" is the one for which I seek answers. I do sit with a TNH sangha, led by an OI member. On Mon, Oct 25, 2010 at 7:11 AM, Maria Lopez <[email protected]> wrote: Bill, ED and all: Bill wrote: For me the Zen Forum is an e-sangha, somewhere I can go to discuss zen and other related subjects with others. Mayka: Very glad to hear you say this. For me this zen forum is the only place in which I can express myself openly with no consequences of having done so. And because of that I'm able to express always what is in me with no fear or whatsoever. In addition, I find this forum very supportive to myself practise. I really like the variety and mix of different characters participating on it. Each person has a characteristic that is unique to that person. Heart feels taking this posting opportunity to thank all its participants once and again. What about you ED, Mike, Anthony, Chris, Vincent, Mark...? --- On Mon, 25/10/10, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote: From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subject: RE: [Zen] Zen and the Brain To: [email protected] Date: Monday, 25 October, 2010, 5:00 Ed, To the best of my knowledge the Yahoo! Zen Forum was established by Albert Batista in 2002. Al does not participate often now, but has entrusted the Moderator's role of the forum to Edgar Owen (who also doesn't now participate very often) and me. As part of the Zen Forum Home Page description of the forum Al wrote: “We believe that true Zen is a realization and way of life which may be found and practiced anywhere and is not confined within the gates of any particular temple or sutra. While many of our members have studied Zen formally we are not constrained by any particular teaching and seek to cut directly through to reality wherever we may find ourselves. Thus you will find this group a fun and freewheeling group that brings many interesting and diverse perspectives to a serious and sometimes passionate discussion of Zen. We welcome all new members at whatever level with an interest in Zen and enlightenment to participate. On this group we are all students, and all teachers!” That is as an official answer as I can give you. Of course each participant may have different reasons for participating in this forum, and would therefore have different opinions on what the zen forum ‘was about’. For me the Zen Forum is an e-sangha, somewhere I can go to discuss zen and other related subjects with others. What do you think the Zen Forum is ‘about’? …Bill! From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of ED Sent: Monday, October 25, 2010 9:43 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Zen] Zen and the Brain 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! __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5560 (20101024) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5560 (20101024) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com
