yes empty your mind bill! merle I now want to add to what Joe said...
He 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." In fact (like Suresh's recent story of the Tea Master)you must first EMPTY your mind of any concepts or 'understanding' of the contents/meaning of the Sutra before you can hope to receive the bountiful blessings of its recitation. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "Bill!" wrote: > > 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? > > >
