Bill!
If in dokusan Mike were to relate his experiences to his Zen teacher,
(assuming he had a Zen teacher), what might the Zen teacher's response
most probably be?
--ED
--- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote:
>
Joe,
Oh yes, talk about the 'moonlight' of Wisdom and the crystal-like purity
of objects is no artistic licence. I've taken the liberty of posting
below an account of a mystical experience I posted on another forum many
years ago. I have also posted on this forum (not so long ago) some of
the experiences I've had with my Heart Chakra on Vipassana retreats (If
I find it I'll re-post, if you'd like). I do this for your amusement
only! (and please excuse the unsophisticated descriptions I blurted out
below...):
http://pub5.bravenet.com/guestbook/395054200/#bn-guestbook-1-1-395054200\
/prev/22
<http://pub5.bravenet.com/guestbook/395054200/#bn-guestbook-1-1-39505420\
0/prev/22> April 14th 2004
02:18:37 AM Please provide a nickname (required) Mike Give your
experience a short title No-Mind How old were you when this happened?
36 Are you male or female? male Please describe your experience I had
my first experience 3 years ago and I still find it difficult to put
into words. Impossible, actually. Also important to mention is the fact
that during the experience I had no religious beliefs or knowledge.
However, since the experience I have been practicing Zen Buddhism and I
can know describe some facets of the experience using Zen terminology
(something I couldn't do immediately after the experience).
I was watching the evening news on t.v (it was about 7pm) when I heard a
kind of 'click' inside my head. Immediately, all the sound from the t.v
seemed to suck back into the t.v. This left everything in the room in a
state of crystal-like purity because along with the absence of sound
there was also an absence of 'labels' on the objects within my view.
Labels, names, concepts, abstractions, language, all had instantaneously
vanished. Everything was in a state of 'isness' or 'suchness'. It was as
if the atmosphere in the room had taken on a moon-like or crystal-like
quality.
As for me, it felt as though my head had been taken from my shoulders
and I WAS the room and the objects therein. Although I had never studied
Zen Buddhism up to this point I kept repeating to myself, "This is it!
This is it! No mind!". It also felt as though this was the most natural
and real state to be in and how foolish not to realise it before! I also
really felt as though I would be able to come back to this 'place' at
will. I wish! This period of discovery lasted about 10-15 minutes.
What followed was a state of bliss and ecstasy. It began with a warm
liquid feeling running up and down my spine (very kundalini!)
accompanied by an adrenalin-like feeling of love. Very orgasmic without
the sexual side. This state seemed to be preceded by a feeling of
amazing discovery - no less than the meaning of life and the reason for
religion. I also believe that my breathing was suspended during this
time. Then the most amazing feeling of 'oneness' occured when I looked
out the window and saw a tree. It really felt as though the tree was in
on the whole episode! I couldn't stop saying, "Thank you!". The tree
shimered in a golden, violet and blue light although I know it wasn't a
hallucination. I was the tree and the tree was me. At this point
everything felt dark although my eyes were open and it wasn't dark in a
lights off kind of way. Also, I could feel my hands moving up into a
benediction type position. But here's the strange thing. I consciously
brought myself out of this unbelievably beautiful state! At the time it
felt like I needed to share the experience with someone, but also I
think I wasn't ready to lose my sense of self.
After I had come back to earth a bit I felt 2 things. One, that this was
the most holy experience anyone had ever had!! Or two, that this
experience somehow preceded a mental illness. The next day I scoured the
library for material and discovered 'mysticism'. That was a great relief
- to discover that lots of people have had similar experiences. For the
sake of brevity, of all the religions I researched Zen feels the most
relevant FOR ME to pursue. I have had many profound experiences since
and definately feel like I am now on a spiritual path.
