Shane, I agree with the priest who said "who am I" could be used as both a koan and mantra.
Neither koans nor mantras are supposed to 'make sense' so your being unsure about this is not relevant or even called for. Many 'breakthrough' koans, like 'Mu' end up as mantras anyway before your experience Buddha Nature. "Who am I" is probably as good as any. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "shepherdspie1962" <shepherdspie1962@...> wrote: > > In general 'shepherds pies' are gender neutral, but in this case it is a > 'he'...and his name is not stephen...haha...thanks again for the thoughtful > replies...I will try to practice more and create concepts less...BTW, someone > mentioned koans...the priest of the zen group I went to recently said he > repeats the phrase "who am I" as a form of koan/mantra while > sitting...hmmm...not sure that really made sense to me as one could probably > just repeat an actual mantra...and not sure if "who am I" is really a Koan > either...but to each his own...i suppose the answer is always more doing and > less thinking...shane > > --- In [email protected], "mike" <uerusuboyo@> wrote: > > > > Joe, > > > > Well, I guess ignorance of the law is no defence, so guilty as charged. I > > will in partial defence tho say that in this day and age it is unlikely > > that a beginning practioner can be shielded from the plethora of books on > > Zen and other schools of Buddhism. I don't believe that what I said was > > even that heretical and would lead Shepardspie down the wrong path (the > > right path if it leads him to Vipassana) ; ) I am, however, grossly > > negligent in not suggesting he (or she - it's my belief that shepards pies > > are gender neutral) seek out a Zen centre and teacher. I throw myself at > > your mercy, m'lud. > > > > Mike > > > > --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@> wrote: > > > > > > Mike, Bill!, Shepherdspie, > > > > > > I'd say that if seeing those things is really the aim of some of the > > > practices in Zen, then it's not necessary to speak about it, especially > > > in advance of the techniques or practice methods being applied or > > > adopted. Let the methods work. > > > > > > Teaching about these issues in advance is part of the curriculum of the > > > Teaching School of Gradualism, of which Theravada is a part. > > > > > > It was not carried over in the Zen school, which is the Sudden School, > > > and part of the Mahayana. > > > > > > Now, there are Mahayana "Philosophies", as in the Yogacara and Madhyamika > > > schools, but these are philosophical schools, where talking is allowed. > > > ;-) > > > > > > I think you are perhaps bringing in some echoes or flavors from your > > > Vipassana practice, which are however out of context, and not > > > representative of Zen practice, teaching, and training. > > > > > > Each school of training has its own logic, process, and progress, and is > > > complete in itself, to itself, and for itself. That's why it is called a > > > school. It isn't fair to mix them if a person asks about Zen practices, > > > say, in a Zen forum ...except without a disclaimer such as I've made here > > > ...if you do mix them. > > > > > > I note that Bill! did not mix them. > > > > > > I don't think I did either, in my reply to "Shep". > > > > > > Well, strong practice, all. > > > > > > --Joe > > > > > > > "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. > > > > > > ------------------------------------ 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/
