Merle, You're looking for a teacher? How about Joshu? He's a pretty good one...
Joshu's Wash Your Bowls - Case 7, THE GATELESS GATE "A monk asked Joshu in all earnestness, "I have just entered this monastery. I beg you, please give me instructions." Joshu asked, "Have you eaten your rice gruel yet?" The monk answered, "Yes, I have." Joshu said, "Then wash your bowls." The monk [then] attained some realization." ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > >  hi joe... i have no way of finding a teacher..i must be my own teacher  >  yes i do develop attachments...i am human.. > > . ...i do go backwards and i do dwell in the past...i reflect. > .i think what if how come, if only..should i have...all that stuff. > .and i create my own horror in the now and in the future..with the maybes > etc.. > > ..i try to see this is not the way..i know in my heart of hearts this is not > tao the way. > > .i do not dance on daffodils ..i tiptoe..i would never crush them. > > ..why this "hatred" of the dancing with the daffodils?. > .it is only reflection of a sun filled mind..full of light..and openness and > lightness of being. > .otherwise it would be for me a dark murky dull grey... a doom a gloom...i > know these places well.... > >  i may develop attachments to optical vision > ..but bare in mind joe..i transform what i see...i do not copy nature..i > record my "feelings, my insights, my delights..do you get my drift? > >  when buzz landed on the moon i was in the classroom teaching art..with the > t.v on...yea.. > . > you are younger than me..i turn 67 on 23rd sept > >  as for nature...she is my light > >  what others think of nature? > >  how do i know? >  i know what i know >  and that sums it up > >  if my understanding of zen is so poor... >  i am still learning >  i listen and learn >  that is all i can do > >  attachment desire... >  release me please > >  i long for peace but do i have it? > i long for love but do i have it? > >  i long for knowing but do i have it? > >  i await >  patiently > for release >  all the best joe.. >  with love merle > >  > Hiya, Merle, > > Nonetheless, practice formally if you are able. > > If you are not able, then find some way to do it. ;-) > > It's as important as that. Life is a little bit short, nowadays. > > If you report-back that it is all B.S., then we'll understand that it is so, > for you... once you have given it your ALL, with a good teacher, and sangha. > > But I think you'll have a more positive experience, and report. > > In fact, I worry that you may develop attachments, especially in the realm, > or area, of the Optical-sense. But when I see the paintings that afterwards > result, coming from your studio, THAT will assuage my concerns, probably, and > bath me in balm, I am sure. And this is what I look forward to. > > Yet, it's not selfishness, on my part. > > And, I am not attached to the possibility. But I have hopes that EVERYONE > who wishes to practice under the best conditions may have their wish, and > will awaken. Not just because I have done it, and have had the wonder and > miracle of this chance a number of times, as many of us have, in company with > so many others throughout History, and among our intimate acquaintances: but, > because so many others have *not*. > > I know what I'm wishing you, and others, I mean. > > Otherwise... may the veiled-life suffice! One can't disparage where we are. > One can only either realize, or not realize. Realize means realizing where > we are already, but being the most clear about it. That's not a movement to > somewhere else, but it is a very, very big step, as momentous as the late > Neil Armstrong's. Will you trust me, about this, in this? > > I was 17 when he and Buzz landed, and walked, and Mike Collins orbited, > station-keeping for them. Life was different after that. I could write > volumes about how. > > Maybe I'm a relic. Maybe, someday, to be appreciated. ;-) > > --Joe > > > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > ..am i on track.????? > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
