In the school of Zen in which I am being trained, the whole point is only exactly what is in the current moment. When that is a sense of profound lack of separation with all, then that is the whole of Zen. When that is a certain reluctance to begin the pumpkin pie cooking, then that is the very root of Zen. When it is breathing deeply on a zafu while the volume of thoughts gradually lowers itself, then that is the full and total essence of Zen. Bearing in mind that all these words are mere cartoons of the fulness of moments.
What i am arguing against is the idea that "realization" will give a "person" a "permanent break" from delusions. There is a reason the old master yelled every day: "Do not deceive yourself!" You have not in the scope of my reading here shared your realization experience. Bill! Has and I am quite grateful for this sharing of an important experience. Experiences may make easier or harder the living fully in the current moment, but solving Mu in Bill!'s own story while wonderful in the moment set the stage for a lifetime of living fully in the moment in the variety of nows that life brings him. Note that zazen is still something he finds useful. I haven't posted anything about a realization experience on my part as my school really hasn't placed emphasis on this for me. I have no doubt that my ability to attend to the current reality is pretty strong at sesshin and pretty easy to disrupt for angry people that know me very well. I gain confidence in my ability to let the strong disruptive responses my body/mInd throws up in my path run their course quickly and without damage, without actually thinking that "I" don't "deserve" this current moment. My body cranks up, the energy dissipates, and life goes on as it does. I have had all kind of mystical experiences my whole life, but that doesn't do much to extend my ability to stay present. Zazen, the enlightened action itself, does seem to strengthen my body/mind in such a fashion. And really, things are ok as they are - there is no profit to be gained in worrying about enlightenment. Just cook, sit, write, walk, as appropriate. I hope you trouble yourself to find understanding of my writings. On rereading my initial post, I still find it a reasonably clear exposition of my point. Thanks, Chris Austin-Lane Sent from a cell phone On Nov 22, 2012, at 10:19, Edgar Owen <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Chris, > > In denying enlightenment (what I prefer to call realization) is even possible > you deny the whole essence of Zen and contradict what everyone on this list > is here for... > > And you deny the realization experiences of the others on this list as well. > > Is that your intention? > > Or do I misunderstand you? > > Edgar > > > > On Nov 22, 2012, at 12:13 PM, Chris Austin-Lane wrote: > >> >> >> On Nov 22, 2012 8:04 AM, "Chris Austin-Lane" wrote: >> > >> > Bearing in mind that all things fall apart, so that some quality >> > "enlightened" cannot possibly be statically true of some Composite object >> > like a person (I.e. your statement is void of meaning), it is certainly >> > true that one can eyeball to eyeball have Buddha seeing Buddha as it ever >> > was. >> > >> > I would hold this very listserv up as an example of how words alone do not >> > capture enough of our personhood to enable that recognition. Even in >> > person, it is a matter of the now, not of ongoing duration or >> > certification. Witness how our most (non-lurking) experienced >> > practitioners are unable to resist judging each other as zen or not. >> > >> > Speaking of the transience of our very "selves" I read a really >> > interesting book, Brain On Fire, about a woman who went totally insane for >> > about two months because her body started producing antibodies to a >> > crucial glutamate receptor on her brain cells. She was days away from >> > being treated as a recalcitrant schizophrenic when the found a doctor who >> > could diagnose and treat the antibody disorder and return her to ordinary >> > mind. >> > >> > If you think you "enlightenment" gives you some permanent break from >> > delusions, good luck with that thought. >> > >> > Thanks, >> > Chris Austin-Lane >> > +1-301-270-6524 >> > >> > On Nov 22, 2012, at 4:53, Edgar Owen <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> >> >> >> >> >> Merle and Joe, >> >> >> >> The answer is easy. >> >> >> >> To the extent YOU are enlightened you know when anyone else is >> >> enlightened. >> >> >> >> But lots of unenlightened and gullible people are fooled by false gurus >> >> who claim to be enlightened. >> >> >> >> And lots of people who aren't enlightened don't recognize the >> >> enlightenment of those who are enlightened even if they are right in >> >> front of their faces.... >> >> >> >> Edgar >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Nov 22, 2012, at 1:38 AM, Merle Lester wrote: >> >> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> yes joe..how do we know when the master /guru /teacher is >> >>> enlightened?..merle >> >>> >> >>> Merle, >> >>> >> >>> Yes, good point! >> >>> >> >>> Did it get lost?: The question you were anxious to have answered. It ran >> >>> like: >> >>> >> >>> "How can we tell if the master is really enlightened, or not?", >> >>> >> >>> or something close to that. >> >>> >> >>> So please have a go at an answer, Sensei. >> >>> >> >>> --Joe >> >>> >> >>> > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: >> >>> > >> >>> > Â what question?..merle >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > > >
