Steve, When I was about 17 I read a poem which has struck with me upon reading it:
The centre that I cannot find Is known to my unconscious mind. I have no reason to despair Because I am already there. Now, why did that particular poem, not only resonate, but also never get forgotten? For me, it's an expression of Truth and Truth will always find a way to express itself. 'I' was defenceless in face of this and gradually over many, many years (I'm 46 now!) the wall has been weakened until there was just enough of a crack to let the Light shine thru. Who can take credit for this? Mike ________________________________ From: SteveW <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thu, 3 March, 2011 3:03:02 Subject: Re: [Zen] Realization --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Hi JM, > > Thanks for the question. Meditation is the best practice that I know of, but > is > > not essential. Even being 'mindful' is not 'it' as it has it's duality in > forgetfullness. If there is a way, then it has to be simple and everywhen (a >nod > > to Steve). What do we know outside of concepts, thoughts, visualisations, >tools, > > witnessing etc.? We are always beyond doubt existentially aware of 'I am' (a > further nod to Ramana Maharishi and Nisargadatta Maharal), so this is a > good > place to start. But ultimately, even awareness of 'I am' is a product of the > mind and so we need to go further beyond that to Pure Awareness ; ) where we >all > > share the same (Buddha) Nature and nothing really needs to be done. > > Mike > > Hi Mike. IMO, the problem is that we always think that everything depends upon what we choose to do or not do. This presupposes that we are a First Cause of our choices. This presupposes that we really are separate, independant agents. Buddha said that there are thoughts, but no thinker. In the same way I would say that when it is the proper time meditation and other practices arise, but there really is no separate, independant practitioner "doing" them. And not everyone ripens in exactly the same way, for "there is nowhere in which The Way cannot be followed", as Huang Po put it. So not everyone will take up meditation. I did not (as a separate agent) choose to say Namo Amitabha. Many Buddhists think that Gotama attained The Dharma, but I know that The Dharma attained Gotama. Zen people talk about self-power, while Pureland people speak of other-power, but ultimately there is only One Power. I bow to The Infinite Light! Who is bowing? Steve >
