Edgar,
Of *course* rationality is part of our life as Zen people.
I think the point I share with Bill! is to note that, in order to experience an
awakening, particularly a first awakening, we find that we must drop
ratiocination either willingly, or else we find quite naturally that it simply
does not participate or act within the process. This "process" is a part of
our daily practice, and I speak here especially about the intensified pitch of
practice during the intensive work usually done in the traditional way as on
sesshin or retreat, where people most often awaken, if they ever do.
I'm not sure if you've ever engaged in that intensive work as on sesshin, and
so you may have no such experience. And so without a referent, no wonder you
regularly seem mostly vacant about Bill!'s and my meaning, and of course that
would be natural.
I observe that, after awakening, we can and do use everything freely and
without obstructions, provided we continue to practice. Reason is a part of
that if we like. I, for one, found that I had to do mathematics in a different
way, so it's not without some changes, too.
If we cease practice or do not include enough of it in the balance of our daily
life, vexation returns, and that includes a lot of thinking even when we don't
care to think and do not profit from it. That is the disease of the world, and
the disease that our practice treats, carried out correctly and with the
guidance -- and under the watchful eye -- of an excellent teacher.
There are many, many reasons or motivations to practice, and different people
bring them all. Some to awaken. Some to perfect their character. Some for
health. Some for stress-reduction. That's another discussion, and can be a
good one.
Lunch!
--Joe
Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote:
>
> Bill,
>
> What you two still don't seem to get is that your daily life IS PART OF (or
> should be part of) your Zen.
>
> So long as you falsely claim that rationality is incompatible with Zen, and
> that much of your daily life is rationality, you will remain unable to bring
> Zen into your daily life....
>
> It's quite simple even though it remains unrealized for you and Joe....
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