Indeed, and well said. Many expressions here appear consistent (all, as
aspects of this), though I suppose it is simply more engaging to point
to those the the ones that appear otherwise! *L*
KG
On 9/12/2012 6:35 AM, Edgar Owen wrote:
Mike and Kris,
This is consistent with what I say, that Mara (illusion or the world
of forms) is the WAY THAT BUDDHA NATURE MANIFESTS IN OUR WORLD.
Properly realized Mara is not something apart from Buddha Nature but a
manifestation of Buddha Nature. Mara is only illusion when taken for
the whole of reality rather than being realized as a manifestation of
Buddha Nature itself.
Edgar
On Sep 11, 2012, at 8:28 PM, mike brown wrote:
Kris,
>What you seek to attend to, is none other than that attending.
Abiding as whatever presents.
I agree. This is just another way of saying that consciousness arises
with whatever presents from moment to moment (conditioned). But it's
how we react, or not, to these moments that is the crux of whether we
suffer... or not.
>There is no Buddha without Mara.
Again, I agree. I think there's a very shallow belief in Buddhism,
including zen, that when someone becomes 'enlightened' they will
experience a life free of attachments, desires and craving. If
conditions are right, we can experience moments of liberation, but we
live in a contingent world and so always need to pay attention to
each and every moment.
>All teachings of Buddha are carried and delivered by Mara.
Nice.
>The Middle Way cannot be entered without Mara's invitation. Be
mindful you don't reject it.
Well, you know what they say about keeping your friends close to you,
but your enemies closer ; )
Mike
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Kristopher Grey <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
*To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent:* Monday, 10 September 2012, 2:55
*Subject:* Re: [Zen] Re: THE BASIC TEACHING OF BUDDHA
On 9/9/2012 3:34 PM, mike brown wrote:
Kris,
>The nature of this realized, cessation is effortless.
We're contingent beings in a contingent world. We're born, we grow
sick, we grow old, we die. In a contingent world we don't know
what's just around the corner ready to befall us. In order to
"realise" suffering fully we need to pay mindful attention to what
impacts on us - not to just the external stimuli, but also to how we
react to them inwardly.
While all this is so, these are not separate. 'No independent
origination". Contingent. What you seek to attend to, is none other
than that attending. Abiding as whatever presents.
Abiding is not optional. Delusions of not abiding take great effort
to maintain (Abiding is not optional. Delusions of not abiding take
great effort to maintain [Abiding is not optional. Delusions of not
abiding take great effort to maintain.].)...
If you realize at least 1/3 of that last bit - your mindfulness is
sufficient. ;)
Even after Buddha's defeat of Mara, he was still 'visited' by Mara
from time to time. life happens moment to moment and no over-riding
state of mind/knowledge/understanding/Enlightenment will eradicate
the potential to suffer at any time. All we can do is constantly
practice mindfulness until our mind isn't so restless and we can be
more aware of those first stirrings of the mind to be so reactive.
There is no Buddha without Mara. Neither victor nor vanquished was
born to fight nor dies in the struggle. To conquer delusion is see it
was never otherwise. Samsara is Nirvana. No other realization/no
realization of other.
All teachings of Buddha are carried and delivered by Mara.
The Middle Way cannot be entered without Mara's invitation. Be
mindful you don't reject it.
KG
