Edgar, It's a fundamental mistake among those who don't practice samadhi to think that those of us who do practice it believe that it is Realisation or even a necessary step towards it. I've yet to read, or hear, from anyone who teaches samadhi that it is nothing but a mental state and therefore by definition impermanent. But it is efficacious. It even warrants a place in the Eightfold Path (Right concentration). Why? Because to enter into samadhi one has to completely be free of the hindrances that keep the mind agitated. Any restlessness, doubt, anger etc in the mind and samadhi is impossible. Coming out of samadhi and into 'Just This' the mind is clear and calm enough to "experience reality directly" (as you say). It can also be experienced directly without samadhi, but there does seem to be a correlation between satori and meditative practices.
Mike ________________________________ From: Edgar Owen <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, 11 October 2012, 12:56 Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Buddha-nature and Expansion of Space Joe, There is a VERY FUNDAMENTAL confusion among Zennists. It's easy to enter a particular meditative state during zazen. But this is exactly that, a particular meditative state. But that is NOT the essence of Zen... This meditative state does get one closer to direct experience of the FORMLESS aspect of Buddha Nature though not all the way. The PROBLEM is that this meditative state is only temporary and true Zen has to be 24/7 in all aspects of daily life. That can only be achieved by direct experience of the Buddha nature manifesting in the world of forms in which one lives MOST of one's life. That is where it is absolutely NECESSARY to first understand the difference between reality and illusion and how that all plays out in the world of forms. One has to use the discriminating mind to figure that out with diligent study. Then and ONLY THEN can the reality of the world of forms be directly experienced as a manifestation of Buddha Nature. If this is NOT understood, you will always take illusion for reality and never realize the reality it hides.... The Zennist who mistakes the zazen meditative state for Zen is missing the big picture and will always be mired in illusion as soon as he stops sitting.... Edgar On Oct 10, 2012, at 9:09 PM, Joe wrote: >Jim, > >There is no brain in the Dharma. Why dick-around on the Shores of Lake >Gitchegummi? > >Our technology is old, but it is Human, and it works. It's had the best of >quality-control, over Centuries (read: Millennia). If you are not a Zen >student, though, stop reading here. > >I would suggest to work toward Samadhi. Start with basic Zazen, and it will >happen. Sink, sink, sink. Sink. > >When Samadhi breaks-up, that is Awakening. Kindergarten 101. Go at it 10 >years before you complain that it took Bodhidharma only Nine. > >Jim, beings are waiting (suffering). > >The enabling force is not in this YAHOO! Forum. It's in your WILL to >Practice, and practice correctly. Will you do it? Pull-ease? ;-) > >--Joe [back from the dead, again; sick of me?] > >> "jfnewell7" <jfnewell7@...> wrote: >> >> The brain processes information very well, so of course, the brain does >> identify objects. The problem is not in the processing abilities. The >> problem is in the final display of the results. > >
