JM, Yes, it's a bit of a cliche, I know, but there are many paths and they all lead to the same point.
Mike ps How about the 'Universal Comfort Zone of LA? ________________________________ From: Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thu, 3 March, 2011 1:33:06 Subject: Re: [Zen] Is Enlightenment a process? 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 >
