Hi Bill, I had to google on the koan because I don't know what it says. If I got the right koan, I don't get the connection to mindfulness.
I agree with you that the picture can be described as clear mind, reflects the real world around it. That is, mindfulness to me. Would you describe mindfulness differently? How does mu help to discover Buddha Nature? Sorry, I can't remember your questions to Edgar. I remember you asked them so many times, but I just can't remember what it is exactly. Do you mind repeating the question? Siska -----Original Message----- From: "Bill!" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:55:16 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [Zen] Re: Mu - Graphically Illustrated... Siska, For some reason I wasn't able to REPLY to your post. I'm going to try to reply from a NEW TOPIC post. You asked: [Siska] Would you describe Mu as mindful? I actually would not. I would however equate Buddha Nature with 'mindfulness', at least in the way I understand that term. I don't really like the term 'mindful' for just what is indicated in this cartoon. It's not 'mind full' at all. I'd rather see that desribed as 'empty mind' or 'clear mind'. It's like the difference between a movie screen which is full of images that are projected on it and a mirror which is essentially empty and only reflects the real world around it. Mu is just a tool to help you to discover/uncover Buddha Nature - a kind of trick really. Mu in and of itself has no meaning. I thought using Mu in the title of this post was appropriate in this case though because the cartoon used a dog as an example of 'mindfulness' so it kind of relates to the koan about Joshu's Mu. I didn't elaborate on it in my first post but this cartoon (which I've copied again here below) is a good answer to my series of questions I asked of Edgar (remember him?) about the relationship between intelligence and Buddha Nature. ...Bill!
