Bill, Thank God Bill is making progress and finally embracing my teaching (which is the same as the teaching of all the Zen masters)!
Though I'm sure he'll disagree with that.... Edgar On May 2, 2013, at 2:53 AM, Bill! wrote: > Merle, > > As usual I'm not exactly sure what Edgar means when he says 'Zen', but I > could add that zazen (zen meditation) is not the only facet of zen practice > (if that's what Edgar means by 'Zen'). Any activity can be zen practice - > like washing the dishes or taking out the garbage - or in your case painting. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > > > Merle, > > > > Correct. Zen is 24/7. Not 2-3 hours a week.... > > > > Edgar > > > > > > > > On May 1, 2013, at 9:01 PM, Merle Lester wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > I was thinking that what edgar means..correct me if incorrect please > > > edgar.. > > > > > > you get these dudes going to retreats, etc..going to christian churches > > > etc and they think hey presto that's it..done my bit.. > > > > > > i'm now squeaky clean so to speak..full of self righteousness..and how > > > many times have we witnessed this?... > > > > > > one needs to practise 24/7 in the real world... > > > > > > in the so called supermarket... > > > > > > the compassion and universal oneness and interconnection that one > > > experienced in the sitting surely...?... > > > > > > you can sit till you drop..you can go to sermon after sermon however if > > > nothing "sinks in" then it becomes a farce... > > > meaningless "bullshit" just for appearances and to satisfy some ego > > > hungry soul... merle.. > > > > > > whoops sorry group..no soul..just a very hungry ego > > > > > > > > > Merle, > > > > > > "24/7" ? > > > > > > Some -- many -- attend retreat, and sit that way. But maybe they don't > > > open this time. They -- we! -- keep practicing, and keep coming back to > > > retreat. This is called practice. It's all practice. If we keep it > > > simple, and are dedicated, it is practice. There is no "opening" the > > > mind. There is just attending to your method of practice. Will the mind > > > open? Maybe. But that's not something to attend to. Only the Method. If > > > the mind "opens", you'll *experience* THEN what that means. We must not > > > assume we know what that means. We DON'T know. Even when it opens. > > > > > > --Joe > > > > > > > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > > edgar...it's still quality of sitting..as he says he has the "empty > > > > cup"..you might sit 24/7 and it would be useless if you did not open > > > > your mind surely?...merle > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
