No, they still take place as they do, some conscious and some not, but with
no effort nor intention.

Thanks,
--Chris
301-270-6524
 On Apr 21, 2013 3:36 PM, "Edgar Owen" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
>
> Chris,
>
> That is true only with respect to the conscious mind. The only difference
> is that all the rational computations are now taking place in the
> UNconscious mind, but they are STILL taking place...
>
> Edgar
>
>
> On Apr 21, 2013, at 3:13 PM, Chris Austin-Lane wrote:
>
>
>
> The opposite of monkey mind is not doing one thing but effortless activity
> - no one doing no thing. In cutting carrots each muscle,  nerve, knife and
> plant goes on just as it is, no need to do anything.
>
> The 10,000 things take care of them selves with no effort and no boundary.
>
> Thanks,
> --Chris
> 301-270-6524
>  On Apr 21, 2013 8:29 AM, "Merle Lester" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  bill...many thanks..yes single minded would you not say?..devoted to the
>> task at hand...question: why is multi tasking and multi thinking regarded
>> as "the enemy"?
>>
>>
>> Merle,
>>
>> This is a very common occurrence. Zen literature refers to this as the
>> 'monkey mind' because it seems to just go on and on without end and
>> out-of-control.
>>
>> Zazen (and other zen teaching techniques) specifically target 'monkey
>> mind' and try to calm it down until it eventually ceases all activity. Then
>> you can have a direct experience of reality (Buddha Nature).
>>
>> When you do things like weeding or probably painting you may focus your
>> whole being on just weeding or just painting. If you do this it is just
>> like zazen in which you may start by concentrating on your breath. This
>> single-mindedness concentration is what is meant by the zen saying, "When
>> sit, just sit. When walking, just walk. Above all don't wobble." That means
>> when your doing anything, just do that. Don't try to do many things at
>> once, and especially don't do something while thinking about something
>> else. Like painting while thinking about what you're going to fix for
>> dinner. Or when fixing dinner not thinking about what you're going to paint
>> after eating. When painting, just paint. When fixing dinner, just fix
>> dinner.
>>
>> And yes, it's much easier said than done...
>>
>> ...Bill!
>>
>> --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Â
>> > Â bill..yes i understand..thank you..yes i agree with you..the
>> intellect chatter..that is constant with me and i find it so tiring to the
>> point where i get a headache..i go out and do weeding to freshen my brain..
>> i am constantly asking questions mostly ones one cannot answer
>> anyway..round and round in circles i go... chewing it over and over... i am
>> a bit of a problem solver..that's what happens at night and i cannot turn
>> my mind off so i can't sleep..yes and then there is the emotions rocking me
>> around like a boat...i need to go watch a show on telly now..back
>> later..thank you bill!..i appreciate this post..merle
>> >
>> >
>> > Â
>> > Merle,
>> >
>> > You are definitely on the right track.
>> >
>> > You can't just turn these things off. Daido talked about that. You just
>> let them come and go. The zen story about that (there's a zen story about
>> everything) is it is like when you are busy doing something and someone
>> comes to your door. You can answer the door, tell them you'r busy right now
>> and that they can come back later. What you don't do is invite them in for
>> tea and a lengthy chat.
>> >
>> > You can begin to quiet your mind down by doing what Daido said (or by
>> chanting or bowing or koan study, etc...), and when you do reach the point
>> to where all these thoughts have been turned off (I use the word 'quiesce'
>> or 'paused' or 'temporarily halted') THEN you will experience Buddha Nature
>> - which is the direct experience of reality WITHOUT all the intellectual
>> and emotional chatter going on.
>> >
>> > And basically that's it! Then it's just a matter of 'practicing' so you
>> can keep all that chatter at an absolute minimum - not cease it permanently
>> but only use it (your intellect/your rationality) when it's appropriate.
>> Your intellect (logic/rationality) is just one of the many tools you have
>> in your human tool bag and you shouldn't treat it like it is the only one.
>> Like I've reminded people on this forum of the old saying which I apply to
>> the intellect, "When all one has is a hammer, everything looks like a nail".
>> >
>> > I call all this intellectual chatter 'illusion' and I call only the
>> direct experience of reality (Buddha Nature) 'real' - and that's where the
>> major difference of opinion (or at least terminology) between Edgar and me
>> - at least IMO.
>> >
>> > Enjoy...Bill!
>> >
>> > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote:
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >  bill! yes i know the scoreboard..sometimes it's hard to turn off
>> the mind and experience non thought..and basically it's feelings that get
>> me into a knot...i get so many different feelings flooding me..from joy to
>> utter despair...all bubbling away like a volcano... this is what i find
>> difficult to turn that switch off..however i note in my study..i just let
>> them pass as they come and then they go like a log floating down a
>> stream..am i on the right track?..merle
>> > >
>> > >
>> > > ÂÂ
>> > > Merle,
>> > >
>> > > I agree with what Mike says below and would reinforce that in the
>> statement you quoted, 'you are your best teacher'...
>> > >
>> > > If 'you' means your self, your ego, your intellect, your dualistic,
>> rational mind - then it is definitely not your best teacher (for zen).
>> > >
>> > > But if 'you' means experience, Buddha Nature, the absence of ego,
>> itellect, dualism, etc... - then it is definitely your best teacher (for
>> zen).
>> > >
>> > > ...Bill!
>> > >
>> > > --- In [email protected], uerusuboyo@ wrote:
>> > > >
>> > > > Merle,<br/><br/>Depends what you mean by "you". If 'you' means your
>> ego, then absolutely not because the mind will colour things to suit
>> itself. If by 'you' you mean reality, then absolutely yes! And by reality I
>> mean the immediacy of direct experience. Buddha said, "Be a lamp unto
>> yourself". Only you will know if the tea is hot or cold (remember that
>> topic!). A teacher is only a guide and friend. Ultimately only you can
>> workout your own salvation. <br/><br/>Mike<br/><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo!
>> Mail for iPhone
>> > > >
>> > >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> 

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