Mike, I agree. For me that was made apparent when I stopped creating delusions while working on the koan Mu. I think you need to stop these delusions so you have a reference (Buddha Nature) so you can then realize they are just that - delusions.
...Bill! --- In [email protected], "mike" <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > I agree with everything you wrote, but i would add that most Buddhist > teaching techniques ( including Zen) aim to not only stop creating delusions, > but to see that the delusions we create are due to a belief in a mind and a > self and ignorance of impermanence. I add this only for Stephen's interest, > not because ts news to you. > > Mike > > --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > Hi, and welcome to the group. > > > > All Zen Buddhist teaching techniques are geared toward one thing, and that > > is halting the mind from creating delusions. These include chanting, > > bowing, koan study, work detail and of course zazen (zen meditation). > > Zazen is the most often used and I think the most effective. > > > > The best way to learn zazen is to go to a Zen Buddhist sangha and receive > > firsthand instruction. If you can't do that there are many sites on the > > WWW that can give you step-by-step instructions on how to begin practicing > > zazen. > > > > In the beginning I was taught to 'count my breathes'. That's 1 on an > > exhale, then 2 on the inhale, 3 on the exhale, 4 on the inhale, etc..., > > until you get to 10 and then just start over. If you loose count (which > > you will) or if you find yourself counting 15, 17 (which you will) just go > > back to 1 and start over. Try to concentrate on the numbers and if you > > start thinking about anything else, like 'I wonder what's for dinner' or > > 'gee, I'm really sitting well today', just go back to 1 and start over. > > > > Keep doing this until you can successfully count your breathes for 10 > > minutes or so. This ought to be enough for you for about at least a week > > of more until you can do that. > > > > It doesn't really matter how long you sit at one time. I'd suggest you > > start with 10 minutes and work up to 20 or so. There's no need to go > > longer than that unless you really want to. I usually sit 40 minutes but > > I've been doing this for almost 50 years so I'm used to it. > > > > Keep us informed of how your sitting is going. And of course good luck, > > although luck really has nothing to do with it. I guess it would be better > > to say 'good determination'... > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], "shepherdspie1962" <shepherdspie1962@> > > wrote: > > > > > > Hi: > > > I've read several books on Zen. My favorite being "the teachings of zen > > > master huang po". In it he says that the cause of our delusion is our > > > analytical thinking, i.e., always judging things as good/bad, > > > right/wrong, etc. From his perspective the point of practice seems to be > > > to discipline our minds so that we can stop this kind of thinking. But I > > > wonder if there are different techniques that work sufficiently well or, > > > if some techniques might work for one person while another technique > > > works for someone else [for example: chanting versus silent meditation]. > > > Also when sitting I'm not sure if I should be trying not to think at all, > > > or if I should be repeating a mantra, or repeating a koan, or just > > > sitting and letting my mind do whatever it does...feedback appreciated. > > > thanks. > > > > > > ------------------------------------ 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/
