Yes, Mike, Everything that I posted, as well as, those from my Teacher
and Buddha, and everything been discussed in this forum, are what we
called in our school, as "formed dharma". "Formed dharma" only
describes the dharma and not the dharma itself. Thus "formed dharma"
are empty by nature. Dharma itself is formless and can only be synced
to, can not be understood, grasped, practiced, etc.
The word illusory been discussed so far really mean "do not attach to
all forms and phenomena", because they are impermanent by nature, thus
empty. Yet during their short life span, they still existed. I believe
that's what Edgar's "reality" mean.
Most of these discussions are on par. Because each of us are attached
to a particular logic and definition, that's why we have these
discussion. The key to discuss is not whether I am right and you are
wrong. But is to see the truth is everything that is posted here in the
forum.
Each of us are right from our own perspective. Chan is to see all
perspectives and not just our own.
After all, opinions are empty, illusory forms in the first place.
By saying everything is Chan, I meant to say that all forms and
formlessness existed in the world are caused by the wisdom and life
force of the universe. When we are ONE with it, we will be able to
accept it, understand it, see its wisdom, feel its life force and
fulfill it, at each moment. When we are separate, then we loose our
connection with it, then we are driven by our ego.
With palms together,
JM
On 5/29/2013 12:28 AM, [email protected] wrote:
Bill!,
I also meant to add that saying everything is illusory is just as
problematic as Edgar's (and JMJM) saying everything is Zen.
Mike
Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPad
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From: * Bill! <[email protected]>;
*To: * <[email protected]>;
*Subject: * Re: [Zen] Nature of Illusion
*Sent: * Wed, May 29, 2013 6:44:48 AM
Mike,
I have always believed 'dharma' as used in this 3rd part of the
Bodhisattva Vow refers to 'the teachings of Buddha'. I agree that
teachings are thoughts, so I do agree the use of the term 'dharma' in
this vow refers to thoughts.
The 1st part of that vow refers to 'sentient beings'. The 2nd part of
that vow refers to 'desires'. The 4th and last part of that vow refers
to 'the Buddha way'.
I consider all of these thoughts, and I consider all of them illusions.
We can 'save all sentient beings', 'put an end to all desires',
'master all the dharmas (teachings) and 'attain/accomplish the Buddha
Way' all at one and the same time by doing just one thing - dissolving
the attachments we have to these illusions by ceasing the arising of
dualism which is the function of our human intellect.
This doesn't mean we never have illusions or never use our intellect,
or never form attachments again. We do. But now we realize 'sentient
beings', 'desires', 'dharmas' and the 'Buddha Way' are illusory and
can better resist forming attachments to them. We grow stronger at
keeping this balance through continued practice - and that for me
means zazen.
That's the way this all fits together for me.
...Bill!
--- In [email protected], uerusuboyo@... wrote:
>
> Edgar, Bill!,<br/><br/>I don't have much invested in this topic, but
just to clarify a few things I'd like your feedback.<br/>When we make
our vows at every sit, one of those vows is "The dharmas are
numberless, I vow to master them". Applying that to this topic, for
me, means that a thought (a dharma) is real even if the object of that
thought isn't. For example, if I said Edgar is a 20 year old member of
a famous boy band, then the thought is real (a dharma) *even though*
it is a delusional thought. <br/><br/>Mike<br/><br/><br/>Sent from
Yahoo! Mail for iPad
>
