Suresh, Below in your reply to Joe you stated:
"The situation of mine does not permit to meet any living zen teacher. Even if I want to learn Zen, I need to buy book and read it and then practice comes. ...but then you write, "...one can practice `awareness' by doing any activity." You don't need to meet a zen teacher or buy a book to practice zen. You only need to be totally aware and present in every activity you do. Sitting (zazen) is just a teaching technique which allows you to minimize distractions so you can more easily learn to do this - like practicing a sport by yourself before you go into the stress of competition. There is nothing preventing you from acting mindfully right now in everything you do. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], SURESH JAGADEESAN wrote: > > Dear Joe, > > Thanks for stressing on Practice. The situation of mine does not > permit to meet any living zen teacher. Even if I want to learn Zen, I > need to buy book and read it and then practice comes. > > Joe: How did *he* come to his clarity about what he expresses? He did > it by practice. > > Suresh: He himself mentions that it happened all of sudden just like > how it happened to Ramana Mahairhi. i.e. sudden death experience lead > to realization that they are not body, from then no end for their > experience. There is no doer like you state in zen practice, it is all > happening. > > Enlightenment is just like can happen when you contact with a > enlightened guru if you are matured. Just like when a burning wood > come in contact with dry wood, it will also catch fire. But when > burning wood come into contact with wet wood or some rock, it will not > able to burn immediately, but heat has been transferred to some > extent. > > Please note I do not take any one as authority. Authority comes only > when you don't understand. For example I don't know veda, and wanted > to learn, then I go to a teacher and learn from him. So for veda > learning he becomes my authority. But for book reading, there is no > need to assume author as some authority. > > I don't know whether you know what is `understanding'? When one states > I have understood?, what is that process that take place when one > understands? Certainly understanding happens when one's mind is > totally alert and in the present moment, then the things which are > perceived / read appear with high clarity and then it dissolves with > one's consciousness. Than whatever was perceived / read becomes his > own, and not of the other who gave. Just like mathematics formula > (a+b)2 = a2 + b2 + 2ab, I can use values and see it is right and then > it becomes my consciousness, I don't remember it, but it is part of > me. > > Similarly when I read Eckhart Tolle, or J.Krishnamurti or Ramana > Maharishi, they do not become my authority. But I understand them; > their work becomes part of me as because it is proven by my > experiment. In other words, I use `experiment' and you use "practice'. > If JK states `see' and show a direction and I see, and I see what was > indicated and realize the truth personally. > > I am now sure you are like horse eyes tied and go only one direction > and do not want to put effort to understand me rather you are glued to > Zen `Practice'. Who said I am not practicing? And What are you > practicing? Certainly you practice `awareness'. And I do practice > `awareness' on every activity of life, even in writing this mail to > you. > > Practicing is not just sitting in lotus posture with half closed eyes. > This posture makes one to be aware of present moment and prevents to > fall back on thoughts. But one can practice `awareness' by doing any > activity. > > More will come. > > Suresh > > > -- > 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/
