If I may add to this very important post.....
The key word in this post is the "energy" of mindfulness and not the
"definition" of mindfulness.
Energy is to be felt and difficult to discuss. Once there is energy,
everything transforms. If there is no energy, then we are just
rationalizing.
Just my two cents... :-)
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org
On 3/6/2011 2:08 AM, Maria Lopez wrote:
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]
<http://uk.mc862.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>,
"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]
<http://uk.mc862.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>,
"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!
>
