Hi Joe,
Agreed with your emphasis about the role of a teacher.
I would say, "Everyone and everyone thing is our teacher, because there
are Chan in everyone and everything." Yet, "no one and none needs to be
our teacher, because we were originally enlightened."
Having a teacher on one hand creates an external attachment, though the
teacher does provide guidance. Once awakened, with high spiritual
sensitivity, we'll KNOW, we don't need a particular teacher, because we
see Chan in everything and everyone around us.
Just some response to your heart-felt perspective.
Thank you for pointing out..
JM
On 5/24/2013 9:39 AM, Joe wrote:
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.
