Hi Bill,
Very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to write it. I enjoyed
reading it.
From you input, it seems to indicate that in the western culture, the
word "spirit" and "spiritual" are not part of everyday life. These two
words are in the supernatural domain and beyond everyday conversation.
Is this true? Or is it just in Zen_Forum?
In the Chinese culture, spirit or spiritual states are very common in
everyday life. Usually if I say that I am happy or sad, it also means
that my spirit is high or low. Nothing supernatural about it. I would
say to the majority Chinese, mental state is spiritual state. I don't
know whether Anothony agrees with this or not. It could be just me.
Besides, my Chinese is not very good either.
Please respond. I do understand that generalization are risky. But
this could be important to know.
Thank you,
JM
Be Enlightened In This Life - We ALL Can
http://chanjmjm.blogspot.com
http://www.heartchan.org
On 4/6/2011 7:00 PM, Bill! wrote:
JMJM,
It's about 8A here. I've been up since 6A and have had my moring cup
of tea - my personal favorite caffeine delivery device.
I'll embedd my comments in your original post below:
> > > JMJM:
> > > I have heard many people say, "I am spiritual but not religious."
> > >
> > > What does "am spiritual" mean?
To answer this question we need to know what 'spiritual' and
'religious' means, and especially what the differences are. We also
have to assume that the people you quoted are using the words
correctly and all the same. That's probably not true, but without
interrogating each of them we'll just have to assume they are.
*** All definitions are from Merriam-Webster Online ***
SPIRITUAL
The root of 'spiritual' is 'spirit' , which is defined as:
*"1:* an animating or vital principle held to give life to physical
organisms
2*:* a supernatural being or essence"
So now we have to find out what 'supernatural' means: Again,
according to Merriam-Webster it means:
*"1:* of or relating to an order of existence beyond the visible
observable universe; /especially/ *:* of or relating to God or a god,
demigod, spirit, or devil
2:/a/ *:* departing from what is usual or normal especially so as to
appear to transcend the laws of nature /b/ *:* attributed to an
invisible agent (as a ghost or spirit)"
RELIGIOUS
The root of 'religious' is 'religion', which is defined as:
/"b (1)/ *:* the service and worship of God or the supernatural"
Since 'supernatural' is used in both we should find out what 'natural'
means:
"/a/ *:* the inherent character or basic constitution of a person or
thing *: *essence"
So...from all of the above I'd say both 'spiritual' and 'religious'
have to do with things that are 'supernatural' - above or beyond the
essence of things. And the difference is 'spiritual' only implies
belief in the supernatural, where 'religious' implies service or
worship or the supernatural.
> > >
> > > In your opinion, does Zen contain spirituality?
> > >
Zen Buddhism I think does include 'spitituality' from the layers of
Buddhism in which it is encased. In my opinion zen (lower case 'z'
which for me implies zen practice devoid of Buddhism or any other
religion) is only about 'essence' (in fact the term 'Buddha NATURE' is
often used - which just means 'pure essence' or 'raw awareness') and
does not recognize anything above or beyond that, such as anything
'supernatural'. The zen I pracitce does not depend or refer
to anything 'supernatural'. Therefore in my opinion zen is not spiritual.
> > > If yes, then what is spirituality? What is a spirit? Is there
such a thing?
> > >
I've given the definitionof spirituality and spirit above. In my
opinion these are illusory.
To put it into the perpective of Chan (from what you've taught me
about Chan) I think 1) the concept of 'chi' would be an excellent
example of 'spirit' ; 2) the belief in 'chi' would be an excercise in
spiritualty; and 3) the service or worship of 'chi' would be
a religious act. From what you've said about Chan I think it
incorporates 1 and 2, but not 3 above.
> > > If not, then what is Zen for? Live a better life? If so, does it
mean a
> > > happier life? If so, then is happiness a spiritual state? Is our
mental
> > > state a spiritual state? Is there a difference?
> > >
The answer to 'what is Zen [Buddhism] for?' is up to each individual.
I'm sure for some it's practiced for peace-of-mind or health or ???
Maybe some Zen Buddhists on this site will add their opinions on what
they think 'Zen is for'. The zen I practice is not 'for' anything,
anymore than a tree is 'for' something - or a river or the moon. It
isn't 'for' anything (although I'm sure 'men of science' could come
up with lots of roles that trees and rivers and the moon play in our
enviornment, and therefore could extrapolate of what they're 'for'.
The zen I practice just 'is', in fact it is my essence - or more
correctly stated 'just essence' , Just THIS!
What is JMJM for?
Labels, valuations such as 'happier' or 'happiness' are illusory, and
as such are transitory. You can't have happy without having sad, and
you can't have either until you create 'self' so there is 1) something
that can be or feel happy/sad, and 2) other NOW's (Just THIS!) that
you could compare to this NOW in order to make the judgement as to
whether this NOW is happier/sadder, better/worse, etc... than the
other NOW. Why bother?
> > > When we reach samadhi, kensho, satori, etc. is it a spiritual
state?
> > > Mental state? Or just a state without label?
> > >
It is not a spiritual state, nothing supernatural. It is the
quintessencial natural act. It is 'essence'. It is called Buddha
Nature. It exists before labels are created.
> > > You could say, Zen can not be described, then I have not asked this
> > > question.:-)
> > >
I'm certainly glad to have not asked this question, and to thank you I
have not responded.
...Bill!
