--- On Mon, 24/1/11, Kristy McClain <[email protected]> wrote: K: I think its the attachment to a book or teacher or lineage or whatever, that can bring the division.
MEL: Yes, that is quiet so. However, I'm quite open about it, but I'm actually attached to the work ZEN MIND BEGINNER'S MIND by Shunryu Suzuki-sensei. It has become something of a 'zen bible' for me, so to speak. Many would regard this as heresy, but I have such attachment as the basis of my Zen beliefs. Before this, I was very much attached to Deshimaru-sensei's works such as A QUESTION TO A ZEN MASTER. His humour made me laugh, but I didn't really feel as if I really got anywhere in everyday life. Everyday life is still something I struggle with despite the meditative practices. Nevertheless, I keep pursuing this path of mine K: My experience and observations tell me that most do begin their journey by doing some reading, meeting with a teacher or group. MEL: Being right in the middle of rat-race surrounded by corporate-minded and religiously materialistic and dualistic people meant that I had no real chance of being part of a group or accessing a teacher from the very beginning. I can count only one experience where an actual believing Buddhist actually brought light within me concerning practise. I wouldn't describe the experience as Nirvana as such, but the young boy concerned certainly brought light to the darkness within me As for being part of a group, that could never be. From my experience, nobody but the Soto Zen priest in one temple I went to for a while talked about the teachings. I got the impression that everybody was afraid to be seen as egotistical in any manner or sense by volunteering information...which is why I rely a lot on reading materials such as the book above K: Exploring within as they are guided. Supposedly then, one has gained enough inner clarity so those other things are unnecessary. MEL: Yep, that's me as well K: For myself, I began a zen learning-curve , and practice around 1990. MEL: Hey, that's about the same time I started as well, and I was in my late 20s then. My original aim was simply to understand the teachings behind A BOOK OF 5 RINGS by Miyamoto Musashi so I could improve my karate practise, but to do that required experience and much soul-searching through not only zazen but Zen living. Some people may say that I may have gone too far to be a good and dedicated karate student because I ended up studyintg the HAGAKURE, history of the Samurai families, Bushido, and the rise and fall of Imperial Japan...amongst other things, which I believe to this day are better understood with a background in Zen K: But even there, I am far more guided by the yoga limbs , than by many of the theological teachings of buddhism. MEL: I've become quite hesitant and even suspicious of the theological side of Buddhism for quite some time, but I decided to turn around and test the waters once more. Perhaps such things as sutra chanting and reading, bead counting, the teachings of love for one's fellow beings, and much more may have place in my life, right along and beside that much more rigid and uncompromising ronin-like attitude I've had for years K: I feel that there can be great value in a spiritual path, or even quest. But, I also wonder if there is a very real egotistic selfishness to it as well. MEL: Others might, but I won't deny such. I confess to the above K: Should zennists, (or any spiritual practioner), get off their butts, and practice what they preach? MEL: I've been sort of preaching(verbal) myself but I've put a complete stop to it. Some would say that preaching itself through word and practise is one of the vows of the bodhisattva but the line between that ego and the pure spirit can become blurred in my case --- On Sun, 1/23/11, Brett Corbin <[email protected]> wrote: B: I believe the truth is inside us all. MEL: Yes, and somehow Man refuses to listen to it B: I feel the reason so many miss the truth is due to the following of others interpretation of the truth rather then finding the truth within them selves. MEL: I agree. I use such things as books and other reading material outside of zazen practise, but then be guided afterwards by that gut instinct within Buddha be praised in peace Mel [email protected] ------------------------------------ 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/
