ED, I don't have a Zen teacher because I know what the answer would be. He or she might not necessarily be wrong, but the answer wouldn't be right for me.
Mike ________________________________ From: ED <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, 1 August 2012, 16:16 Subject: [Zen] Re: Chan and zen 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 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.
