Happy New Year Ed,
Propose another word in place of "mindfulness" is a very challenging
task. Let me explain.
In the practice and dealing with everyday life, we say "Be aware but not
attached to", "focus but not focusing", "observe but not observing", are
some of the terms we use while we translate from our Chinese text to
English. In other words, "sync to the universal wisdom at every moment,
and not be attached to the meaning of the phenomena." is the phrase we
need to represent with a single word.
The most common general terms as a verb in the practice, we use are "be
aware", "sense", "feel", etc. i.e. "sense our breathing", "feel the
chakra". They are usually terms applying also to emotions, feelings as
well as our general overall well being, physical and spiritual. We can
not separate our "true feeling" from our body or mind.
We are very careful not to consistently use the same word. Especially
the practice to "notice" the conditions of our body, mind and spirit,
could require different verb for a similar function. Chan teaching
requires flexibility.
The purpose of Chan wordings are nothing but to wake up the
practitioner, and not to set a path or a rule to follow. After 5,000
words, Diamond Sutra said only one thing, "Whatever you think it is, it
is not. It just is."
Perhaps a lot of times, I am guilty in becoming lazy and just say,
"Shut up, Sit down and Stop thinking."
LOL.
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org
On 1/1/2011 7:37 AM, ED wrote:
JM,
What is your proposed definition of 'mindfulness'?
--ED
--- In [email protected], Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明
<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.Â
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.Â
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://www.heartchan.org
On 12/31/2010 10:12 PM, Rev. Joriki Dat Baker wrote:
Â
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?
