ED, I'll answer your questions below in the reverse order that you asked them:
[ED] By 'senses' I assume you refer to the five senses: ... I do mean what we call the five senses. >From an illusory dualistic and discriminating (categorizing/judging) >perspective there is a 'me/I' (self) so 'I have 5 senses. I see something >blue and it is pretty.' Contrast this with a non-dualistic, non-discriminating perspective which would be: 'Just THIS!' - just awareness. That is no distinction between 'self' and 'sight', no catagorization of the awareness as 'blue' and no judgement made that it is 'pretty'. Just THIS! That is Buddha Nature. [ED] Was it the position of your Zen teachers? I've never discussed Buddha Nature in this manner with my Zen Buddhist teachers. If I had they would have probably told me to 'empty my bowls' - meaning 'don't try to intellectualize Buddha Nature'. But to directly answer your question, no - none of my teachers ever told me this. [ED] Is this position traditional in Zen? I don't know if there's anyone or any organization that could officially speak for Zen Buddhism. I think it is the 'traditional position' because most of the traditional koans and stories (mondos) of historical zen adepts that I've read or heard about support this position - at least it seems that way to me. In the end however I don't need any validation from traditional zen or from living Zen Buddhist teachers. I have experienced it myself. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "ED" <seacrofter001@...> wrote: > > > > > Bill, > > > I consider the 'root of zen' to be our senses ... > > Is this position traditional in Zen? > > Was it the position of your Zen teachers? > > Thanks, ED > > PS: By 'senses' I assume you refer to the five senses: seeing, hearing, > touch, tasting, smelling. > > > > > ED, > > > > I consider the 'root of Buddhism' to be the sutras, and especially > those that are presented as a first-hand account of the teachings of > Siddartha Buddha. > > > > I consider the 'root of Zen Buddhism' to be the account of Siddartha > Buddha's 'Flower Sermon' on Vulture Peak when he is reported to have > wordlessly trasmited the Dharma to Mahakasyapa. > > > > I consider the 'root of zen' to be our senses: Just THIS! > > > > ...Bill! > ------------------------------------ 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/
