Edgar, You say po-TAY-to and I say po-TAH-to...Bill!
--- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > 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 > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ 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/
