Bill, Correct except the clouds are ALSO part of Buddha Nature...
Edgar On Oct 29, 2012, at 4:40 AM, Bill! wrote: > Suresh, > > Buddha Nature is continuous, however your AWARENESS of Buddha Nature may not > be continuous. > > To use an historical zen metaphor: Buddha Nature is the sun and illusions are > clouds that can cover (occlude/hide) the sun - but the sun is always there. > > I embellish that metaphor by also adding that the darkness (opacity) of the > clouds are due to attachments. The relative darkness (degree of opacity) of > the clouds could be compared to the strength of the attachment to that > particular illusion (cloud). Some clouds are darker than others. > > Before kensho (initial awareness of Buddha Nature) the entire sky is filled > with dark clouds. Kensho occurs when these clouds part, even if only briefly, > to fully reveal the sun. Usually the clouds then quickly return and continue > to blot out the sun. However after kensho you realize there is a sun, and it > is there whether you can clearly see it or not. Continued practice creates > further breaks in these clouds. Some of the breaks remain permanently. > Further practice also begins to render all the clouds less opaque and more > transparent so even in the worst of times there is always some sunlight that > penetrates the cloud cover. > > After much practice, and although there are always some clouds that remain, > there is more and more clear sky. The also clouds become more and more > transparent. Even then sometimes dark clouds appear seemingly out of nowhere, > but dissipate or become more transparent almost as quickly as they appear. > > There are also times, especially during zazen (shikantaza) and at other times > during every day life, that the sky is completely clear. > > That's been my experience of 40+ years of zen practice. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], SURESH JAGADEESAN <varamtha@...> wrote: > > > > Dear all, > > > > Tell me honestly, is buddha nature coninuous? How many of you are in > > that contiuous state of buddha nature? be honest. If thoughts are > > absent in oneself, how the body functions and who speak through the > > body? > > > > -- > > Thanks and best regards > > J.Suresh > > New No.3, Old No.7, > > Chamiers road - 1st Lane, > > Alwarpet, > > Chennai - 600018 > > Ph: 044 42030947 > > Mobile: 91 9884071738 > > > >
