Hello Mike,
My Teacher said the same thing in different words for your reference.
Chan is the comprehensive term for the universe. We can witness the
same truth of universe through many different ways, such as science,
Buddhism, philosophy, Christianity, etc.
Recently my Teacher has ask me to change our legal name from Los Angeles
Meditation Center to Universal Chan Spiritual Center.
:-)
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org
On 3/2/2011 4:27 AM, mike brown wrote:
It seems to be the view of many Buddhist practioners (and on this
forum) that meditation is essential for Self-Realisation. I meditate
myself and have sat in 10 day retreats here in japan, but I don't
believe that Realisation is a process (ie thru meditation). Rather,
the Absolute is unborn - without beginning or end - and can be
realised simply by 'waking up' to our true nature. Does meditation
help us to wake up? Undoubtedly! It's just that meditation has nothing
to do with enlightenment per se.
The Buddha Mind is none other than our own pure, original mind that is
always present, and merely hidden by deluded thought. Many Zen texts
from the earliest times describe this:
/Hongren/ (600-674): Just as the light of the sun is never destroyed,
but is merely obscured by clouds and mists, the pure mind possessed by
all sentient beings is merely hidden by layered clouds of discursive
thinking, false notions, and deluded views. Just clearly maintain
[awareness of] the mind and do not give rise to false notions. The
Dharma sun of nirvana will then naturally appear. Thus we know that
our minds are inherently pure.
/Huineng/ (638ｰ713): Huineng said, “Do not think of good, do not think
of evil. At this very moment, what is your original face before your
father and mother were born?”
/Damei Fachang/ 大梅法常 (752–839): Monks, strive to reach the root;
do not chase after the branches. Reach the root, and the rest will
naturally follow. If you wish to perceive the root, just see into your
own mind. This mind is the source of all, both mundane and
supermundane. When mind arises the various dharmas arise; when mind is
extinguished, the various dharmas disappear. If you give rise to the
mind that is unattached to good and bad, all things are in their true
state.
/Linji/ (d. 866): If you will just bring to rest the thoughts of the
ceaselessly seeking mind, you will not differ from the
patriarch-buddha.Turn your own light inward upon yourselves!
Thoughts?
Mike
