Kris, Well, ultimately, of course, you're quite right - there is nothing lacking nor are there 'others' to convince. However, I do know of Zen practioners whose practice would, I feel, benefit from a deeper appreciation of early Buddhist teachings. I also think my efforts are rather quite humble compared to those monks of a bygone era who climbed mountains and navigated oceans to spread the Dharma. After all, only because of such efforts, and the desire for others to benefit from the Dharma, are we having this conversation today. I wonder how much of a coincidence it is that the Zen practioners I know of, who seem to have a shallow realisation, are also the ones who have never experienced samadhi (It always seems to be the ones who are most vocal against it are also the ones who have never experienced it..) and know very little about the sutras (How to talk about 'emptiness' yet never have read the Heart Sutra?). To such a person, I would like to ask them why the Buddha taught anapanasati, samadhi, the jhanas (Buddha was enlightened in jhana and died in jhana) and vipassana (insight wisdom) amongst other things. I'm not claiming that this is the only way to liberation and neither would I argue that one can't become awakened in total ignorance of the Budhha's teaching. I just firmly belief that many practioners (Not all, maybe) could deepen their practice by incorporating thewisdom of the early Buddhist teachings and meditations. But then again, maybe that's just because I like bright and shiny things ; )
Mike ________________________________ From: Kristopher Grey <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, 31 July 2012, 16:43 Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen On 7/31/2012 7:00 AM, mike brown wrote: I just wish I could convince my more orthodox Zen friends of what the Buddha taught. > An understandable, perhaps even noble sentiment. Yet surely you can see how approaching them in this way, from an assumption of lack, reduces the teachings to to 'The Four Noble Thoughts' and the 'Eight Forked Path' of the downfallen. Stories of this and that. What is such wishing and convincing if not the pull and push of Mara? *L* Who are you really seeking to convince? Have you been convinced by someone, or directly realized the teachings pointing? Assuming the latter, why this thought to convince 'others'? If your see your friends or enemies are not Buddha, what else can you show them? If you see your friends and enemies are Buddha, what else can you show them? Who makes friends and enemies of suchness? To see without doubt, is clearly a joy. Attempts to convince others, can only cloud their vision. In this, share openly, without intention or expectation toward the nature of their experiences. Let their sight clear as it will. The sky has no desire to be clear of clouds or filled with lightning. There is room for all. Upon awakening, Buddha wished for nothing, and had not been convinced of anything. He did not want to teach, knowing this cannot be taught, and in compassion spent his remaining years sharing this. Others, taking from this - form various limited understandings - teachings. All, unique expressions. None capturing, none lacking. It can only appear so, to be clouded by thought. When mind attends to cloud building, it rains thoughts of self and others. Tears of Buddha. Some mistake these drops for teachings. KG
