Hello again Ed, Item 1: I would say initially, as you say: "for the mind to recognize the impermanence,unsatisfactoriness and non-dual nature of all experiences." But the contemplation of anicca, dukkha and anatta are only the beginning. Their contemplation leads to ever deeper release, which leads deep healing of the mind and energy and eventually to the penetration of the four noble truths "in a single moment", next, the emptiness so realized, after stabilization, naturally comes into contact with the realm of form, and then the door is opened for the blossoming of the heart and the merging of form and emptiness. Of course you will rarely hear a Theravada practioner speaking of such things. The culture does not accept. You might find traces of it in the interstices of silence, the poetic minimalism and the elegance of understatement. There is more intuition there than most recognize.
The instructions given in the Theravada are simplistic in a sense. The emphasis is on right practice, which if executed cannot help but lead one to final reality. This form of conservatism does not allow for hardly any verbal expression of those "higher states". Reality takes care of itself so to speak. This is both a strength and a limitation in my view. Item 2: Yes, the 37 requisites of enlightenment! These are well known. They are the qualities of the rightly developed mind. But one should not be daunted by this list. Upon inspection one can see that many of them are redundant. It is like a part of the body that can be seen from different points of view. The tissue of the lungs for example, can be seen a having structural function, mechanical function, and also metabolic functions. In the same way ekagatta, unification of mind, can be seen as a controllling factor, a factor of enlightenment or a jhana factor. Also, all develop quite naturally and organically out of the simple application of eightfold path. These lists are really just an Abhidhamma analytical tools for which I personally have not much use. Thank you Ed! Daniel --- In [email protected], "ED" <seacrofter001@...> wrote: > > > > [CORRECTED] > > Hi Daniel, > > [D] I was taught that the path lies not in the experiences but in the > relationship of mind to those experiences, which boils down to > sati-sampajana, mindfulness and clear comprehension. > > [ED] Primarily for the mind to recognize the impermanence, > unsatisfactoriness and non-dual nature of all experiences? > > > > [D] > This is because it is mindfulness and clear comprehension that > develops the five controlling faculties, the five jhana factors, and the > seven factors of enlightenment. > > [ED] I checked on this and found the [Buddha's] list of the benefits of > meditative practice to be quite impressive! > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhipakkhiy%C4%81dhamm%C4%81 > <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhipakkhiy%C4%81dhamm%C4%81> > > Namaste. ED > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "empty0grace" <empty0grace@> wrote: > > > > > Hi Ed, > > > I was taught that the path lies not in the experiences but in the > relationship of mind to those experiences, which boils down to > sati-sampajana, mindfulness and clear comprehension. > > > This is because it is mindfulness and clear comprehension that > develops the five controlling faculties, the five jhana factors, and the > seven factors of enlightenment. > > > They can of course be developed in other ways, but only mindfulness > develops them all in a balanced manner. > > > My experience bears this out, except perhaps for the aspect of > balance, which although the best of all other methods, still needs some > tweeking by the teacher, because although the mental factor of > mindfulness does indeed incline toward balance, unfortunately the human > mind under the influence of greed, hatred and delusion, does not. > > > Namaste D. > > > > > --- In [email protected] > <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/post?postID=mAINVFqBnH9uRWbgTWT\ > WN4d0-hdf50nfvx3psgSHdhlfNRq23TBrOYqAX1FDk7L0X03FDkg375aBa4dPn3vH> , > "ED" <seacrofter001@> wrote: > > > > What Is and What Is Not the Path > > > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVg0IDTvjf4&feature=channel_video_title > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVg0IDTvjf4&feature=channel_video_title> > > > > > 16:24 empty0grace <http://www.youtube.com/user/empty0grace > <http://www.youtube.com/user/empty0grace> > | May 2, 2011 > > > > Daniel, > > > > If experiences are not the Path, what is one to do? > > > > Thanks, ED > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
