Mike,
In practicing Silent-Illumination as transmitted in Ch'an, one is advised to
sit, and, when the breath has settled, be aware of the body sitting there.
This can be "total body-awareness", if possible, otherwise perhaps be aware of
what is most observable. It is good if you can be aware of just the total
body, sitting. Perhaps after a time -- in any one sitting, or perhaps over
months or years -- the feeling of a body may disappear. Then, one simply
maintains awareness of the lack of feeling of a body, and whatever it entails,
in terms of sensation or lack of sensation. One is still to be very clear
about "everything", even the environment.
The best instruction on this is the original one, by Ch'an Master Hongzhi, in
the form of the poem, "Silent Illumination". The modern Ch'an master, Master
Sheng Yen, has translated this, and has commentary on it in two books in
English, esp. in his THE METHOD OF NO METHOD -- The CH'AN PRACTICE OF SILENT
ILLUMINATION.
And, Taigen Dan Leighton and Yi Wu have the excellent little volume,
CULTIVATING THE EMPTY FIELD (2000).
Practice of the method does not include asking who or what is experiencing:
that would be Koan practice, or philosophizing.
--Joe
> uerusuboyo@... wrote:
>
> <br/>Bill!, I'm interested in your point that there is no observer when
> sitting shikantaza. If so, are all sensations in the body-mind not
> experienced? If they are experienced, who or what is experiencing them? I'm
> also interested in other member's perspectives on this when they get passed
> the "He said - she said" current thread..
------------------------------------
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/
