Hi Bill, I've read your posts for some time, and I think I understand this, to a degree. But I sense that "the zen you practice" is more than just a sitting practice of zazen. You often discuss and share your understanding of the sutras and other buddhist ideas-- like the eight-fold path. While I don't think you encourage ethical mis-conduct, I don't think ethical standards are your focus either, but I may be mis-reading this about you. But I sense that you actually are ethical indeed, and wonder if discounting that here is really a ploy to engage conversation. You do discuss buddha nature, however as a result of "just this", or as a by-product, perhaps. So, I guess I'm thinking that it is your years of training and experience that has brought you to the point wherein you discount much of the trappings that often co-exist with zen practices, or should i say Zen practices. I won't ask how I can get to Just this", but I'd like to learn more about how you got there, and maybe a couple things you do each day, other than zazen, that lets you know that you are maintaining your "just this" mind in everyday situations. (Maybe the tea spill on the PC experience, for example). I see you as very non-judgemental, and whether that is a result of your practice, or as Indiana Jones would say-- "its not the years, honey--its the mileage". But when you and others talk about duality and illusory ideas-- I tend to shrug, because to discuss it here, involves reading posts, assessing the meaning within, and deciding whether to respond or not. You still go to a store to buy goods , so comparing one brand to another is still there. You likely experience happiness and frustration. You still have to pee or take Flomax. Have mind-blowing sex.. good sex.. or no sex. I'm still learning, so your thoughts are appreciated. May the Force be with You-- and the Steelers!!~~ k --- On Sun, 2/6/11, Bill! <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Bill! <[email protected]> Subject: [Zen] Re: Spock? To: [email protected] Date: Sunday, February 6, 2011, 1:24 AM Kristy, Most of the time when I use the a phrase like 'the zen I practice' it is really just to signal everyone that I'm not claiming I am the official spokesman for traditional Zen Buddhism. I do claim however to be the official spokesman for 'the zen I practice' and do feel very confident in talking about it. Put simply I beleive 'the zen I practice' is Zen Buddhsim without the Buddhism. That's why I always distinguish between 'the zen I practice' (lower case 'z') and the proper name Zen Buddhism (with an upper case 'Z'). So...if you can think about zen as including practices that are not specific to Buddhism - like zazen; while not including things that are specific to Buddhism - like the Eightfold Path and enlightenment, then that's all it is. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Kristy McClain <healthyplay1@...> wrote: > > Hi Bill, >  > You often refer to "the zen you practice", as in the following: >  > > To answer your question, anything that involves observing does not sound > > like zen to me. In the zen I practice there are no dualities such as > > observer/observed (subject/object)...Bill! > > > > Would you be willing to share how you do this, or give an example? >  > Thanks.. ~K >
