Hello Merle,
Reincarnation means our spirit is beginningless and is undying. Each
generation we come to earth with a different body. If you are
interested about this subject, go read these books:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_0_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=many+lives+many+masters&sprefix=many+lifes%2Cstripbooks%2C312
Since human beings on earth lives mostly in suffering, we must stop
reincarnation. In other words, liberate our spirit from these cycles of
birth and death. Buddhist call it Dependent Origination.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependent_origination
It is just because the world is filled with greed, hatred and delusions,
we need to let our spirit soar to save this world. Only when our spirit
soar above these contamination, we then are able to have wisdom to
fulfill the purpose of our lives, that is to liberate everyone.
When our spirit is covered by our mind and karmic temptations, then its
original quality such as loving kindness, peace, joy are buried. Clarity
is lost. Actions becomes self serving.
JM
On 5/22/2013 8:19 PM, Merle Lester wrote:
jm...
i am keen on chan..
what do you mean by reincarnate?..don't you mean recycle?...
ashes to ashes dust to dust..hence dust to soup then the cycle begins
again...?
this reincarnation "theory" has me bamboozled...
is it not just another mind game?
how can you be free with spirit soaring when there is so much
suffering in the world caused by the greed of others?
merle
Hi Bill,
Thank you for asking.. Below are my comments for your reference.. I
have read this article awhile back..
Chan by definition is One and ALL. Meaning it is the absolute dharma
applicable to ALL things - body, mind and spirit. As well as it can
answer every question written in the sutra and bible. In other
words, with a simplest practice, it can rejuvenate our body, clear our
mind and let our spirit shine by eliminating all karma. And at the
end of it all, our spirit will stop reincarnating. We will be in heaven.
Most of the Chan teachings by an unenlightened master, stops at the
mind level, because they don't have the spiritual power to help people
to eliminate their karma. This article ends at the mind level. For
most of the people, if one can achieve ego-less, it would already
deserve celebration, because the world will be a better place. This
is what we call "Chan Living", or everyday Chan. Living by fulfilling
each moment. But you still reincarnate.
Most of the Chan teachings does not cover the spiritual practice,
because it deals with lights, chi and abstract phenomena. Yet, once
you experience consistent phenomena with lights and chi, you will know
they are the actual causes of everything. The world is really run by
energy. In other worlds, the spiritual practice is the practice
dictating our body and mind. Fundamental Chan practice is a spiritual
practice. If you recall, seven or eight years ago, when I first join
the forum, I asked, "is there spirituality in Zen?"
BTW, how do we know whether a person is enlightened or not? The proof
is in his dead body. If he dies at his preferred time without
sickness, and there are relics after he was cremated, then he is
enlightened.
My Shifu said, "the parents of all my disciple, even though they do
not practice, they still will have relics when they die." I have
witnessed that every time.
In short, I like to suggest to the forum, instead of using your mind
to judge whether you wanted to try our way of meditation or not, just
try it diligently for six months, then you shall experience. There is
nothing worth any of us to hang on too, or to hold them with our life.
Chan is taught beyond words and through transmission.
Chan is about direct experience of ALL things. Using our mind to
filter or discriminate only narrows our scope resulting in practice
with our mind and not our spirit. Let our spirit soar and be free.
Thank you for the opportunity to share,
jm
On 5/22/2013 1:19 AM, Bill! wrote:
Mike and JMJM,
Mike, Thanks for this link. I pulled up the article will wait to read
it until JMJM says he thinks it's worthwhile doing so. I don't want
to have 3 or 4 versions of Ch'an rolling around in my head. The mix
we get here on the Zen Forum about zen is confusion enough, and I
trust JMJM's insight and knowledge on Ch'an.
JMJM, If you would please read the article cited below and tell me
what you think of it. It's looks pretty thorough. It's by Ch'an
Master Sheng-yen (1977) if that helps you make that determination
without reading it.
Thanks...Bill!
--- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>, uerusuboyo@... wrote:
>
>
Joe,<br/><br/>http://www.abuddhistlibrary.com/Buddhism/C%20-%20Zen/Modern%20Teachers/Sheng%20Yen/What%20is%20Ch%27an/What%20is%20Ch%27an%20-%20Master%20Sheng-yen.htm<br/><br/>Found
this online and thought you might be interested. It was originally
written as a pamphlet to be handed out, but was then lost. Someone
found one of these old pamphlets and thought it was so good it should
be shared. Even if you've read it before..
Enjoy!<br/><br/>Mike<br/><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPad
>
