JDB,
Indeed. I love the way you write. Please continue to support this forum.
A bow....
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org
On 1/1/2011 6:10 PM, Rev. Joriki Dat Baker wrote:
For JM, these are two, not two and exactly two. So we must watch we
do not to cling to the one or other. Flexibility arises without effort
but is secondary to the cause. With common eyes we can not see and
the fluidity that is needed falls moot. Touching and feeling in the
dark, where is this liberating way. It is only after our mind settles,
and we release that which binds us that we lay wake to these briars
that fell from Buddha’s playful lips, and now true shadows do we see.
Shunyata is not bound, it is the essence of the Tathagarba, IT IS
“empty”; however, within its emptiness all is possible – the ultimate
potentiality is revealed. All things are marked by emptiness and at
their core there is no lasting marks or attributes. In truth, Shunyata
is everything and yet nothing/ no-thing. I hear in these text much
talk of the difficulty of using these words such as “mindfulness” - so
I pose we do not. I pose we experience our own path and stop worrying
about what to call it. Much needs to be done my friends and time is
short.
Adidaphat!
Joriki
*From:* Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Saturday, January 01, 2011 12:02 PM
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Cc:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> ;
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject:* [Zen] Mindfulness pt 2
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
mailto: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://www.heartchan.org
On 12/31/2010 10:12 PM, Rev. Joriki Dat Baker wrote:
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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?
