And a Happy New Year to you too, JM!
JM, is there anything you would add, subtract or modify in my statement below, compiled from a few Internet sources? Thank you, ED Characteristics of a mind of Buddhist 'mindfulness' (?) o Ever aware, watchful, set, ready o Brightly alert attention to internal, bodily and external phenomena in the here and now o Not evaluative, just experiencing without internal comment o Single-minded and whole-hearted --- In [email protected], Jue Miao Jing Ming wrote: > > 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 > > JM, > > > > What is your proposed definition of 'mindfulness'? > > > > --ED > > --- In [email protected], Jue Miao Jing Ming 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.Ã 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.Ã 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.Ã Though we constantly talked about > > body, mind and spirit, but in essence, they are one and inseparable.Ã > > 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.Ã "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.Ã > > 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 > > On 12/31/2010 10:12 PM, Rev. Joriki Dat Baker wrote: > >> Ã > >> 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?
