Donald, JMJM, To learn Zen meditation, a teacher is not only so useful, but necessary. It's also necessary to practice with the group that the teacher has attracted, at least for a while.
As you know, people need to get started correctly. Also, then they naturally need guidance -- and support! -- when they come up with questions. And the teacher needs to make corrections to the posture, and offer the kyosaku when requested. All these things are done compassionately by a good teacher, in recognition of "no separation". It's the teacher's nature to behave compassionately this way. In the Ch'an and Zen sect, these are the natural roles of a teacher. It is not academic, and it is largely physical, to enable the natural flow of energy and the restoration of health. You know this. It may be compassionate in the circumstances to offer Merle the idea that there is "no teacher", but I think that is just your compassion in your thinking that, because Merle is at a far distance, she may not find, and may not wish to find, a teacher. Yet, a teacher could get her started with the basics in the most correct and enabling fashion, based on her precise physiology and state of flexibility, health, and resilience. And in fact, there are established Zen teachers on her continent, of authentic lineages. So I;d say, Yes, there ARE teachers. And you are one of them. They don't teach "Zen": they teach methods, and attitudes toward methods. Teachers and their sanghas are key to our development in the Dharma ...as much as our dedicated practice is. I think you are too compassionate in Merle's instance in your saying that there are no teachers (of correct and correctly applied methods). If this involves ego, please don't consider to reply, and I will understand why. Best regards, Tnx, --Joe > <chan.jmjm@...> wrote: > > There is no teacher and no student. > Just meditate as i suggested for six month. You shall witness > yourself. ------------------------------------ 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: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/