JMJM and Mike: "The Universal Comfort Zone". Brilliant Mike!. it's sounds pretty original. Go for it JMJM!. Don't undervalue it. It's great!. But perhaps in order to give a better description it could be added : "Chan, The Universal Comfort Zone". "Chan" To give a quick visual description to the seeker and " And "The Uiversal Comfort Zone": 1-To give a sense of safety, relaxation, good health, joy, wellbeing, and a universal complete real happiness... 2- It's humorous and shows no fear towards the ones who denigrates "The Comfort Zone. 3- To bring something new and invigorating to the public I like it very much. No kidding you JMJM. See the insight of the Universal Comfort Zone and you'll see that is very appropriate. This name will attract lots of public if not for the Chan they will be attracted out of curiosity as it's bold!. I'm under the impression that American people like that. Mayka --- On Wed, 2/3/11, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote:
From: mike brown <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Is Enlightenment a process? To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, 2 March, 2011, 16:50 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
