Bill and all; In spite of first teaching received was Mindfulness as introduction to zen buddhism in the TNH tradition, I myself tried to avoid this term specially while on internet because my experience while using it is that of bringing disorientation and confusion over the hearers. Never thought before mindfulness as a koan, but yes one can say is that. I don't know what one uses to resolve koans in the other zen traditions. Some tips that can help to generate the energy of mindfulness: 1- There is no intellectual focus over the word mindfulness. 2- There is no koan to break through but just awareness of whatever is going on in the body, mind, within and around in the here and the now. 2- Use of the in and out conscious breathing as a tool to bring the mind continuously back to it's true home or Buddha Nature. 3- Alertness 4- Acknowledgement of whatever is happening, arising in one. 4- No judgement 5- No following after, no entanglement, no attachment to any sensation, thoughts, feelings.... the same if those are pleasant or unpleasant. let that happens as they arise and dissolve, continuously coming and going. Mindfulness can be used in all living daily situations even if one will be playing golf. Though different situation will also require of the common sense and intelligence of the practicioner through the used of the tools. But all that knowing what to do or not to do in different situations comes by itself through this simple practice of awakening. The most mindfulness is practiced the most the energy that comes from it gets generated. The most this energy is generated the most alertness, attention, concentration, awareness....awakening is also generated through it. The energy coming from mindfulness is the energy of our buddha nature....or whatever one wants to call it. Mayka --- On Sat, 5/3/11, Bill! <[email protected]> wrote:
From: Bill! <[email protected]> Subject: [Zen] Re: What is the equivalent of 'pure awareness' in Zen? To: [email protected] Date: Saturday, 5 March, 2011, 23:41 ED, Again, I don't use the term 'mindfulness' myself. When others use it I ASSUME it means very tightly focused attentiveness or concentration. If you continue to focus your attention on one thing long enough you can reach the state of 'pure awareness', or what I would call Buddha Mind, or Original Mind, or Just THIS! That's my take on 'mindfulness'. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "ED" <seacrofter001@...> wrote: > > > > Bill, > > All by smileys are inserted with serious intention. > > Your message below is both instructive and chips away at our woo-woo Zen > Tower of Babel. Thank you. > > How would you describe 'mindfulness'? > > How would you describe 'just mindfulness' or 'mindfulnes only' or > 'nothing but mindfulness'? > > Thanks, > > --ED > > PS: I found 'kensho-satori' in Dr. James book: Austin's Zen-Brain > Reflections > > > > --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > > ED, > > I'll assume that this is one of your serious posts since you didn't > insert a 'smiley face'... > > My comments are embedded below: > > [ED] Does possessing awareness imply that one is in a non-dual state of > kensho-satori? > > > Caveat: all that follows is just IMNSHO: > > You certainly can be aware of lots of stuff, but if it's an awareness > that includes dualities (like, 'I'm aware of the ringing of the bell'), > then that's not 'just awareness' that we were talking about. We were > talking about ONLY awareness - NOTHING BUT awareness - BONG! - that's > all. > > I don't use the terms 'kensho' and 'satori' very much, but when I do I > use them as: > > - 'Kensho' is an initial glimpse of non-duality (Buddha Mind); it's > usually only lasts a very short time (seconds or minutes). > > - 'Satori' is a more substantial experience of non-duality (Buddha > Mind); it can last for hours or days, but it does imply it is temporary. > > - 'Englightenment' is a permanent state of non-duality (Buddha Mind); > and affords the ability to accomodate dualistic thinking without > attaching to it. > > To answer your question directly, the experience of 'just awareness' > (Just THIS!) is kensho/satori/Buddha Mind/etc... All these terms are > just different names for the same thing. > > ...Bill! >
