Below Joe wrote: "Meanwhile, even if the content or concepts of the Sutra do not engage you, you should know that recitation is for THE BREATH. You see, our practice is a *physical* one."
This comment is absolutely spot-on... ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "Joe" wrote: > > Merle, > > Dunno. You brought up the Sutra. > > I mentioned that I've studied it over some 35 years, and that the > 400-character "heart" of the Heart Sutra is a prevalent feature in formal Zen > practice at every Zen dojo in the world. > > I'm sorry if these facts have hurt you, somehow. > > If you don't yet know how the formal recitation of the Heart Sutra helps us > in our practice, then you should attend 7-day sesshin at a zendo, after > practicing formally for about a year or so with a teacher and sangha, and > daily at home, to get the body and "mind" in a condition to be ready for > intensive practice. > > But even in ordinary daily practice at the zendo, the Heart Sutra is recited > ritually by all, in Morning Service, etc., and you would therefore become > very well familiar with at least the words of it: you'd recite it by heart > and would not need to look at the text. > > Meanwhile, even if the content or concepts of the Sutra do not engage you, > you should know that recitation is for THE BREATH. You see, our practice is > a *physical* one. Those who have yet to engage in it do not appreciate, and > of course cannot appreciate, this fact, because they have no experience of > this, and so do not know. They may wrongly think that chanting is like > prayer or invocation, or something. > > I can't say much about painting, and I don't know what you mean by "rules" of > painting, as I am not an Art teacher as you have been. > > But in Music, I find I am a better Cellist by learning and practicing > "etudes". These are nicely musical studies -- not merely technical, > exercises -- for the fingers and the ear, and for the bow-arm. Working with > them helps a player with repertoire immediately. > > In painting, if I practice technique and paint-mixing as a beginner, please > do not fault me for not yet being an expert or a virtuoso. > > Do I fault you for knowing so little from either practice or study about the > Zen tradition, yet nonetheless (your) always using the word as if it meant > something in particular? Yes. > > Yet, I don't say you can't help yourself and others through Practice. You > say you practice already, and that's great. We can all do a little better. > '-) > > Practice brings stamina, health, and life, and can lead to Awakening. > > I don't urge practice upon you, though. There's a lot to do in life. We > choose what's important, and what's possible. And all the rest is thrust > upon us, or may seem accidental. > > In Buddhist practice and Zen practice, we emphasize "Causes and Conditions". > It's a way to appreciate our situation, and, in the best cases, to see > openings (for change). > > --Joe > > > Merle Lester wrote: > > > > diamonds hearts and all will be revealed! > > Let's make a more complete list: > > diamonds hearts spades and clubs > > (you left out the black suits) > > > Merle Lester wrote: > > > > guess what joe... > > > > you can recite whatever a trillion times but it has to have substance in > > your life... > > > > no i have not read it... > > to tell you the truth it just came to me in an insight.. > > > > how zen is that?... > > > > the diamond and the heart.. > > > > so there you go.. > > > > i'm zen and you are mr. recite it... > > > > zen is about hitting the nail on the head instantly.. > > > > where are you coming from as you labour away day and night practising never > > really "getting there" > > > > throw your books and recitations away > > > > open your heart then see what happens! > > diamonds hearts and all will be revealed! > > > > you cannot paint by rules either joe... > > you have to be free to create, explore and visualise.. > > otherwise you are just repeating  the same old crap > > to be truly YOU you have to let go of the props, the books the mantras > > and let loose > > now don't tell me that isn't pure zen? > ------------------------------------ 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/
