Bill, I'm not even sure of my own experience because what I know about it now is my current interpretation of the experience. If I experience it again some time later, perhaps after other experiences, I might understand it differently.
If there is something I can be sure of, perhaps it is the uncertainty itself. Siska -----Original Message----- From: "Bill!" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:50:48 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Zen] Why Practice Chan? Siska, I cannot be sure of my teachers' confirmation. I cannot be sure of anything but my own experience. Is there anything else you think you can be sure of? ...Bill! --- In [email protected], siska_cen@... wrote: > > Bill, > > How can you or anyone be sure of your/his teacher's confirmation? Is it not > also illusory? > > Siska > -----Original Message----- > From: "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> > Sender: [email protected] > Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2011 09:30:53 > To: <[email protected]> > Reply-To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Zen] Why Practice Chan? > > Siska, > > I am sure of this for several reasons: > > The most important reason and the only one that really matters is that I have > experienced Buddha Nature myself. Once you experience Buddha Nature you know > that there is only one experience like this and there can be no mistaking it > for something else. All experiences of Buddha Nature are the same. I cannot > really say for sure that Siddartha Buddha did experience Buddha Nature; but I > can say if he did (and I believe he did) it was the same experience. > > Secondary reasons are: > - my experience was formally validated by two teachers (zen masters)of both > the Renzai and Soto Japanese Zen Buddhist schools > - my experience was informally validated by many other teachers and other zen > practitioners > - my experience corresponds (in my opinion) with both historical and > modern-day written accounts of the same experience > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], siska_cen@ wrote: > > > > Hi Bill, > > > > > there is absolutely no difference in the experience of Buddha Nature that > > > Siddartha had and the one that is available to you right now > > > > You seem to be very sure about this. How could you be so sure? I mean, how > > can you know what Siddharta experienced? > > > > Siska > > -----Original Message----- > > From: "Bill!" <BillSmart@> > > Sender: [email protected] > > Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2011 01:55:36 > > To: <[email protected]> > > Reply-To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re: [Zen] Why Practice Chan? > > > > Anthony, > > > > There may indeed be 'advancing developments' of INTERPRETATIONS of second- > > and third-hand accounts of what Siddartha said, but there is absolutely no > > difference in the experience of Buddha Nature that Siddartha had and the > > one that is available to you right now. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], Anthony Wu <wuasg@> wrote: > > > > > > Mel, > > >  > > > You say, " all we know today are highly likely to be corruptions > > > of what the old prince may have uttered." > > >  > > > Put is in another perspective, they may be the "advancing developements > > > of what the old price uttered." > > >  > > > The question is whether they are for better or for worse, or it does not > > > matter at all. > > >  > > > Anthony > > > > > > --- On Wed, 22/6/11, Mel <gunnar19632000@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > From: Mel <gunnar19632000@> > > > Subject: Re: [Zen] Why Practice Chan? > > > To: [email protected] > > > Date: Wednesday, 22 June, 2011, 4:58 PM > > > > > > > > >  > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I often have problems with seeing myself as a Buddhist of any sort let > > > alone telling people about it, because I know for a fact that my beliefs > > > are centered/based on the interpretations of today's modern day zen > > > teachers such as senseis Deshimaru and (Shunryu) Suzuki. It > > > has been a long time since the old man died and nobody really > > > knew what he said except those who have actually spent time with him > > > before he died. Nevertheless, I made the decision to stick with zen > > >  > > > Fellow 'buddhists', there is no shame in saying or > > > acknowledging that all we know today are highly likely to > > > be corruptions of what the old prince may have uttered, but do we > > > really care? > > >  > > > Today, people see my Buddha pendant around my neck, my zen books, and > > > bowings I make to my meals and images before me. Seeing such, > > > many ask me if I'm Buddhist, and I just say yes out of convenience > > >  > > > Buddha be praised > > > Mel > > > > > >
