Hi Charles, and welcome to the group. I like your response and agree that having personal myths is fine so long as one knows they are myths. Otherwise they become delusions.
As I've often tried to explain to the other members here, we live in the world of forms, all of which are illusory, not in the sense that they don't exist, but in the sense that they are not as they initially appear. So we can certainly add or subtract forms as we choose so long as we understand the nature of forms which unfortunately most other members here don't, and still realize Zen mind. All forms are part of the reality of the world, but only when recognized as the illusions they are rather than the realities they pretend to be. Illusions seen as illusions are reality, but illusions seen as reality are illusions... Forms are the way the formless Buddha Nature manifests in our daily world. Active Zen meditation is realizing the Buddha Nature in all forms in our daily world. And that includes playing with the forms of personal myth... Best, Edgar co-moderator with Bill On Apr 13, 2013, at 12:38 PM, Charles Gee wrote: > Bill wrote: > > "As you've probably learned by now I do not agree with your assertion > that zen addresses things spiritual, but hope we will get more of a > chance to discuss this important point further." > > I replied to Bill from the aspect of the Pagan concept of the "The round > of the Year" a simple appreciation of how the year is culturally > structured and the pleasure I and many others get from the various > natural events that mark its passage. > > Let me be quite clear I am an Atheist, God and the associated memes are > a construct of humanity little different from Robin Hood, Hamlet, Red > Riding Hood and all the other fabulous creatures that inhabit the sphere > of myth. > > I am a Pagan/Heathen in that those descriptors best capture the sense of > being attuned to the natural world and all that goes on in it. The > problem we all face is that words mean one thing to the author but they > have to get into the mind of the reader who can and often does have a > different set of references and definitions enough said there but a > fascinating area that amused me for many years. > > I use Zen and in particular Shikantaza as a tool, the same way I use any > of my numerous other skills, but in this case it is not my hands that > are at work but my mind. It seems to have the effect of sharpening my > mind by enabling it to come to a focus and concentrate on whatever I am > working on or over. In this day and age the clamor and strife bombard > our mind with stuff that is of benefit to those originating it, but of > little or no benefit to those receiving it. To have a silent mind that > can be focused is a very valuable asset. > > I suspect that Bill also read my reply to Merle but missed the aspect of > the question that I replied to. she asked: "charles does the pagan > believe in spirituality and souls?" > > I took this as a question about the general beliefs of Pagans as a > whole. I have known a number of Pagans in my 70 plus years and so I > replied in general terms about what I knew of their beliefs, not an easy > task and I picked my words carefully as both Spirituality and Soul are > somewhat nebulous and ill defined (hardly surprising when one considers > how they are used and misused) > > Let me be quite clear, so you know where I am coming from, I have no > time or energy available to spend on the chase for spirituality as I > consider it simply a chase after mind concepts that have no use or value > to me. As for a "Soul" a great meme for getting cash in the collection, > but of no utility to an atheist. > > I use Zen as a tool, I put up with the semi-religious trappings it has > accumulated over the centuries, but like water they wash over me and the > sun dries them off until the next exposure. Like almost anything else > it has attracted those who have found a way to extract economic (in the > broad sense of the term) advantage that does not mean they have improved > Zen, just added another layer one has to dig through to get to the > underlying aspect that has real lasting value. > > Metaphorically I have a hide akin to that on a rhinoceros and I expect > that the above my well test its capacity, so be it, an honest exchange > is always a way of clarifying my own position. > > I should be weaving so I leave this area awaiting the next salvo to arrive. > > Charles also known as Aurochs and that's no bull! > >
