Mike there are stories of people waking while doing such simple thigs as sweeping or someone pinching you nose. The idea that comes across is more like when you are ready, it happens. Bill
Find what makes your heart sing…and do it! ________________________________ From: mike brown <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Sat, July 28, 2012 4:19:53 AM Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen Bill, "Simple one pointedness of mind was all that it takes." So is samadhi, or at least access concentration (the state of mind just before entering the first jhana), essential towards awakening? Mike ________________________________ From: William Rintala <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, 28 July 2012, 2:20 Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen Everything that I have read about the history of Zen was that Siddartha discovered/taught "the middle way" to enlightenment. The practices of the ascetics, to acheive union with the one, had been well established for quite some time. It was Bodhisatva who later took Buddhism to China where it was assimilated. Through the work of many teachers and practicioners it was discovered that one didn't need to practice ascetics or even zazen for repeated incarnations or through years of dedication but that enlightenment, satori, nirvana, whatever, could be realized in an instant. Simple one pointedness of mind was all that it takes. Sitting quietly, doing nothing Spring comes and the grass, grows by itself. Bill (not Bill!) Find what makes your heart sing…and do it! ________________________________ From: Anthony Wu <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Fri, July 27, 2012 6:37:05 PM Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen ED, That is fine. After all, in a simple way, it is still 'power of concentration'. The original Japanese word means that. Anthony From: ED <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, 28 July 2012, 6:20 Subject: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen Anthony, How about 'power of mind developed through concentration'? --ED --- In mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu <wuasg@...> wrote: > > Whatever your zen dictionary says, zen is not 'power of mind', it is literally 'power of concentration'. the two ideas are different. > > Anthony
