JM,
What is your proposed definition of 'mindfulness'? --ED --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺å¦ç²¾æ <chan.j...@...> wrote: > Thank you JDB. Indeed we also teach "emptiness of mind". Somehow the western Zen is stuck on the label of "mind" and would not let go. There is even a seminar about the small mind and big mind. Though all journeys lead to the same place. "Mind" is too close to "thinking". It can be easily misunderstood and misinterpreted. We teach "empty your mind", "enhance your heart". And we continue to say "because heart is where we could unify our body, mind and spirit." Somehow, unify our body to the same physical structure as the universe is not emphasized in western Zen. Most of the reading that I have encountered with focuses mainly on the mind and its awareness, not on the body and little on the spirit. Though we constantly talked about body, mind and spirit, but in essence, they are one and inseparable. Just like the universe. In our school, awareness does not reside in the mind. Awareness is a function of our spirit, which reside in our heart. "Heart" is not the organic heart, but our "total well being", our "center" or "ONE". Awareness enhancement helps us to be awakened to the Absolute Awareness of the universe. This brings this post to another question. What does Zen say about our spirit? Our spiritual levels, our spiritual being, spiritual karma, the sixth, seventh and eighth consciousness? After several years with this forum, I have read little about these. In other words, to be enlightened, we need to surpass karmic hindrance of body, mind and spirit. We need to work on all three. Otherwise, we are just imagining and hoping. On this New Year Day, I hope this post is not too objectionable to ALL. Happy New Year and thank you for your patience and understanding for all the years. JMJM Head Teacher Order Of Chan Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com <http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com> http://www.heartchan.org <http://www.heartchan.org> On 12/31/2010 10:12 PM, Rev. Joriki Dat Baker wrote:  Or the emptiness of mind. I wonder if something similar could be said about mindfulness. "Mindful" in the Western sense seems to be directing your attention in one direction, However, maybe a better translation is "mind fullness," as in you experience everything with the fullness of your mind. Or am I way off here?
