Edgar, Although a standard standard hand position is not mandatory in zen, it is strongly encouraged in Zen Buddhism.
If, as you say, you believe (as I do) that hand position does not really matter then you shouldn't have any objections to the recommendation of the standard Zen Buddhist hand position (Japanese and Korean) as described by Joe in an earlier post. After all the hand position doesn't matter, does it? ..Bill! --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > Bill, > > As I've said hand and body position can be useful for beginners to settle > into sitting but has nothing to do with Zen itself. > > Actually it often gives people one MORE thing to think about. > > Notice how MUCH Mike thinks about it.. When some beginners can't maintain Zen > mind they may become frustrated and take comfort in saying 'well at least my > hand position is better than yours'! > > But the take away lesson is Buddha is Buddha no matter what position your > hands are in or whether your spine is straight or not..... > > Edgar > > > > On Apr 7, 2013, at 4:42 AM, Bill! wrote: > > > Mike, > > > > I agree with you that the initial glimpse of Buddha Nature ('kensho' in > > Japanese) is just the beginning of practice. > > > > My remarks in this thread have mainly been about the positioning of your > > hands during meditation - sitting, standing, walking, etc... My point is I > > do think Zen Buddhist teachings in this area have merit if for no other > > reason than that just gives you one less thing to have to think about. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], uerusuboyo@ wrote: > > > > > > <br/>Bill!,<br/><br/>I'm sure you'd agree that you're just as likely to > > > awaken to Buddha Nature while sitting on the toilet as you are while > > > sitting on the cushion. But that's not the point. A glimpse of Buddha > > > Nature is just an initiation or invitation to continue living the Dharma. > > > Without deepening it it just becomes one of many experiences (albeit a > > > 'special' experience). Enlightenment (for want of a better word) is a > > > moment to moment experience and without continuing practice to deepen it > > > it's easy to backslide into unskillful living again. <br/><br/>I think > > > Edgar and William believe that after an initial glimpse of Buddha Nature > > > that is it - that once experienced there's nothing more to do. For Edgar > > > to believe that he experiences Buddha Nature 24/7 just goes to show how > > > delusional the ego can be. <br/><br/>Mike<br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo! Mail > > > for iPhone > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ 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/
