Merle,
Conviction is up to you to find, or be blessed by the circumstances, or
instance, of its arriving.
I only speak from experience, and do not mislead. But, recall that I have
practiced formally, and in the orthodox fashion of the Chan or Zen Buddhist
sect. We did not make these things up, as we went along. Thus, my
assumptions, if any, are those of the Zen school.
But the Zen school is based on experience, not assumptions.
Thus, I must say that my expressions are based on experience, as has been urged
in the way I undertook practice, for at least 2400 years since the Buddha
entered his Parinirvana. And, before that. This is as the Buddha taught.
When Maha-Kasyapa smiled, as the Buddha held up the flower in silence, there
were no assumptions. There was clear understanding and realization. It was
unity. Unity of just One.
This can happen anytime. Just connect yourself to GROUND, and lightning has a
good, a better, chance of striking. No fear!
What is GROUND?
It's not the usual stuff. Not fluff. A Teacher can help, here.
--Joe
> Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote:
>
> joe..so awakening is not a spring storm from what i gather here..
> .how can you make that clear assumption?..
> can not it be a spring storm?...
> you have made clarification here
> however i am yet to be convinced...
> merle
>
> No, Merle.
>
> Awakening dawns in a lightning flash. There is no time taken.
>
> Experience this, and be happy. It may last for days, or months. It depends
> on one's preparations (overall practice).
>
> It is not a one-shot deal: awakenings are possible continuously.
>
> Awakenings are mostly a physical state: if anyone tells you that awakening
> has anything to do with thinking, or takes time to dawn, then they have never
> been so blessed, themselves. Awakening is a grace, but it takes all one's
> efforts to make oneself *susceptible* to the lightning striking. It strikes
> gently. And changes everything. But you cannot measure the length of time
> it takes to dawn. It is, well, "Sudden". And called-so, for millennia, for
> good reason.
>
> Else, it's all fantasy, projection, and a posturing parroting of reading.
>
> This is serious. This is a matter of Life and Death.
>
> It concerns the body. In fact, it's the ONLY significant matter of life and
> death, independent of health, or length of years lived.
>
> Awaken once, awaken several times, or never awaken. We have THIS life in
> which to practice. We know nothing about other lives... .
>
> Again, this is ...SERIOUS. It's called, "The Great Matter".
>
> No, not the Grey Matter. Nope!
>
> Ancients said: "Awaken in the Morning, and happily die in the Evening!"
>
> Mayor Ed Koch of New York City said, in 1972, "Heroin: it's so good, don't
> even try it ONCE." (and then it was plastered all over the Subway in
> Public-Service-Announcement signs).
>
> Storms take time to manifest. Awakening does not. Zen is the "Sudden"
> school.
>
> Even in Soto Zen, awakening is sudden. Progress in Zazen and overall
> practice is steady (or not...), but awakening is Sudden, and something that
> the Teacher will recognize, at about the same time that you do. There's no
> hiding it.
>
> And, there's no faking it.
>
> ...no matter which of the three surviving Zen schools you practice in, or in
> any hybrid of them.
>
> Quiet, gentle Lightning; not storms, Merle.
>
> One flash will do you. And it may last a while. Depending on you. And on
> causes and conditions. And that is the *START* of Zen practice. Then you
> may begin.
>
> --Joe / in Lightning-Country, Sonoran Desert, USA / Summer 2013
>
> > <merlewiitpom@> wrote:
> >
> > joe...yes indeed... the music comes from the heart..the zen awakening
> > comes as swiftly as a spring rain storm..merle
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