Edgar, Zazen is an important way of realizing true nature, though it is not the only way. The story about Nanyue Huairang, one of Huineng;s key disciples tells about this. He saw his own disciple Mazu Daoyi (Baso) sitting zazen daily, and suddenly started grinding a brick. When asked what he was doing, the answer was he was making a mirror. Again he was questioned how he made a mirror out of a brick. His reply was that if anyone could be enlightened by zazen, he should be able to make a mirror from a brick. Baso realized his mistake and worked harder with his teacher (the story does not elaborate how he worked harder). Eventually he was enlightened. Please note Baso is well upstream of the cat killing Nanzen and the mooing Joshu in the Rinzai lineage. Anthony
________________________________ From: Edgar Owen <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, 1 July 2012, 20:51 Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: zen is zen is zen Joe, Total nonsense that " ... there is no Zen without zazen".. Zen is simply realization of the true nature of reality and reality is everywhere all the time, not just in zazen... Edgar On Jul 1, 2012, at 1:30 AM, Joe wrote: >Hey, I dunno, as we say in these 50 US-of-A States. > >I've been practicing since 1973, and earlier, if you count the time before I >poured myself into Hatha Yoga classes. I've always been a nut. > >All I know is that there is no Zen without zazen. > >There are many ideas, notions, popular informal identifications of what zen >is, or may be (no, there is no doubt!, in the Popular mind), but... most of it >is fluff, undigested organic material. It should be composted. > >The best is to align yourself with a teacher and a sangha. That is what we all >do, who have some hard-won opening, or easy life afterwards. ;-) Zazen has to >be continued, no matter who, no matter what. The many poisons arise endlessly. >Zazen is a yoga for the body. There is no "mind". Mind is a fiction created by >delusion. It's forgivable, but only to a point; but, mostly, people who >believe in mind are insufferable. > >It's never too soon to begin a practice. Really, it takes a teacher and a >sangha. ...Unless you are unique in the history of our old Planet. Join a >sangha and sit zazen NOW. Attend sesshin(s), as soon as possible. Let's >compare notes afterwards! I mean, only for fun, compare notes... . Settle for >no less than 7-day sesshin(s). It takes at least 3 days to settle-in. After >three days, things become sweet. > >We might see eye-to-eye, like nobody's business, afterward(s). One eye open to >wisdom is momentous. You'll see. ;-) > >Pardon, if this seems obscure. I hope it's clear as ice to many here. > >--Joe > >> Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: >> >> >> >> Â thanks joe..zen is swift and zen "makes no bones"...zen "breaks bones" >> swift insight >> Â is that not the zen way? > >
