Thank you Bill. Your words mean a lot to me and do help with my understanding. I like to over think everything, funny how my life journey now draws me to something that I need to stop thinking about and just let happen. I guess I struggle with the idea of labeling myself as 'zen' or anything and misrepresenting that label. I am not big on labels in the first place but I also have no desire to be disrespectful to others, which is why I felt the need to gather more and more information. As you may notice this is a struggle with in me ... the need to know all the information versus just being right now ... the reality is I have come a long ways and hope to push myself farther on this path. So your thoughts are helpful. Thanks.
With peace, love and kindness, Amy Lemmon [email protected] Blog: Six Flower Mom ________________________________ From: Bill! <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 11:55 PM Subject: [Zen] Re: Reading and Resources Amy, You're going to have your work cut out for you then because zen is the ABSENCE of information; or perhpas more properly stated zen is BEFORE information. There has always been a big problem in how to communicate zen. Many of the historical zen masters chose not to use words because of the problems with names and terms. Zen is the immediate EXPERIENCE of seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling and tasting - BEFORE experience is censored, augmented, categorized, judged, associated, named, etc..., and in general 'understood' or rationalized or intellectualized. Where would I suggest anyone start with zen? I would suggest you start at the beginning (and the ending) - zazen, specifically shikantaza. Zazen is meditative technique that assists you in emptying you mind of thoughts so you can just experience. When you mind is emptied of thoughts that state is called called 'shikantaza' in Japanese and can literaly translated as 'just sit', or can described as 'empty mind' or 'clear mind'. There are other techinques used by various Zen Buddhist sects to help you reach this 'empty mind' state such as the use of koans, chanting, bowing, work assignments, etc...; but they all are geared to help you do one thing - empty your mind. When your mind is emptied you will experience Buddha Nature - which is awareness of direct, unadulterated, raw sensory experience and which I call 'Just THIS!'. This is my experience, understanding and my attempt to communicate it to you in written words. I do not pretend to try to speak for all who practice zen, and especially do not present myself as representing traditional Zen Buddhism. I practice zen, not Buddhism. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Amy Lemmon <amylemmon@...> wrote: > > Thanks Bill, I agree but what I am looking for is more information on Zen > Buddhism ... my family is information hounds so if someone came to you and > said "I am interested in Zen Buddhism" what would you suggest that they start > with? > > Thanks kindly! > > Â > With peace, love and kindness, > Amy Lemmon > amylemmon@... > Blog: Six Flower Mom > > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 8:43 PM > Subject: [Zen] Re: Reading and Resources > > > Â > 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! > > > > Â > > With peace, love and kindness, > > Amy Lemmon > > amylemmon@ > > Blog: Six Flower Mom > > >
