Siska, I would define 'mindfulness' as 'clear mind' the same as you did. I think some people though define it as more 'focused mind'. I think the only difference is in 'clear mind' there is no dualism, no sense of self. In 'focused mind' there still is dualism, subject/object and a sense of self.
The koan Mu is no difference then all 'breakthrough' koans. A skilled teacher can use it to lead you to discover/uncover Buddha Nature. That's all I care to say about it here. If you're truly interested seek out a zen teacher and ask him/her. The questions I asked Edgar were all variations on one question: 'What role does intelligence have in experiencing Buddha Nature?'. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], siska_cen@... wrote: > > 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!" <BillSmart@...> > 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! > ------------------------------------ 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/
