Bill!, what is the difference between trying and being when awareness is present? even when "trying" and aware of it, aren't we 100% "trying"?
firstly, though, when u say "trying" do you mean your mind wanders and a "you" attaches to that wandering? or are you saying that any thought that arises which u are aware of but do not attach to while "being" is a "trying?" or something else...? I mean the former. and when my attention is present again i may still continue being aware of the "trying", but it's of a quality of "watching it rain" so to speak. TaoSheiFei On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 12:06 AM, Bill! <[email protected]> wrote: > ** > > > TaoSheiFei, > > 'Trying' and 'being' are not the same, and I agree with you and admit that > in my zen practice of over 40 years I still do a lot of 'trying' along with > just 'being'. The ratio of trying:being has steadily improved over the > years, but the 'trying' has not yet gone to zero. > > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], yonyonson@... wrote: > > > > Bill!, > > > > In my own practice this has extended to "trying to be with them" or > "trying > > ..." (when it arises that mind has wandered) and this mindfulness outside > > the mind has settled my own BEing. to a beginner's mind--as i fluctuate > in > > and out of--your statement was neither! > > > > TaoSheiFei > > > > On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 11:06 PM, Bill! <BillSmart@...> wrote: > > > > > ** > > > > > > > > > > TaoSheiFei, > > > > > > When I used the phrase 'being totally with them', I could have just > > > shortened it to 'be'. What I meant was whereever you are, whatever you > are > > > doing or whomever you are with - just totally do that - just be. Don't > > > think about what you 'should' do, or whether it matches something > you've > > > read, or be thinking about what you're going to do afterwards, or how > well > > > you're doing, etc... > > > > > > The zen saying for this is: > > > > > > 'When sitting, sit. When standing, stand. When walking, walk. When > > > running, run. Above all don't wobble.' > > > > > > ...so maybe I could extend these to: 'When being cryptic, be cryptic. > When > > > being false, be false.' > > > > > > I hope it came across as one or the other... > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], yonyonson@ wrote: > > > > > > > > Hey Bill!, > > > > > > > > will u please clarify what "being totally with them" means? the mind > is > > > > such that your statement could create a myriad of what "just > THIS"ness > > > is. > > > > for a beginner or so-believed-mature seeker, your statement is > cryptic at > > > > least and false at most... > > > > > > > > Thank you, > > > > TaoSheiFei > > > > > > > > On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 8:43 PM, Bill! <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > ** > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Amy, > > > > > > > > > > No reading is necessary. When you are with your family just be > totally > > > > > with them. That's all you need to do...Bill! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], Amy Lemmon <amylemmon@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > I am wondering if anyone has any great suggestions for reading > and > > > > > resources for a family (multi-age) learning about Zen Buddhism? > Thanks > > > > > kindly! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > With peace, love and kindness, > > > > > > Amy Lemmon > > > > > > amylemmon@ > > > > > > Blog: Six Flower Mom > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
