Ed, You wrote:
[Ed] However to the more than 99.9999% of humans who do not experience satori, 'Maya' is very, very real. Therefore, I submit to the Zen Forum the proposition that how the very, very few experience reality (or non-reality) is not relevant to the world. I of course don't know the ratio of humans that have or have not experienced satori, but I doubt if it's that small. When I was frequenting the Zen Center of Los Angeles, especially during sesshin (intense teaching retreat) I would estimate that about 25% of the new participants experienced kensho (a mini-satori) on their first or second sesshin. It's not an uncommon occurrence at all. As far as it being 'relevant to the world', I couldn't say. But I can guarantee you it's very relevant to those that experience it. ...Bill! From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of ED Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2010 10:16 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Zen] Re: FW: Quote from St. Thomas Aquinas Definitions of illusion on the Web: an erroneous mental representation something many people believe that is false; "they have the illusion that I am very wealthy" delusion: the act of deluding; deception by creating illusory ideas magic trick: an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people. ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusion Bill, Thanks for clarification of the sense in which persons who are enlightened (are in a state of satori) experience reality (or non-reality) - namely, as 'Maya' (illusory). However to the more than 99.9999% of humans who do not experience satori, 'Maya' is very, very real. Therefore, I submit to the Zen Forum the proposition that how the very, very few experience reality (or non-reality) is not relevant to the world. --ED --- In [email protected], <billsm...@...> wrote: > > Mayka, > > What I meant to say was that if you are living in a world of illusions (maya) compassion is a badge of honor and something you need to cultivate and practice. > > If you are not living in a world of illusions there is no compassion, no honor, nothing to cultivate and nothing to practice. There is Just THIS! > > ...Bill! __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5592 (20101104) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5592 (20101104) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ------------------------------------ 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/
