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.
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