--- ventouxboy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > ---Interesting you don't believe in enlightenment. I > understand the > concept of Zen seperate from it, as a philosophy of > living, but then > why meditate or ponder koans? Isn't the purpose of > these to free the > mind from barriers, which is what I see > enlightenment as. > > Now you've whetted my intellectual curiosity. So > what is your > vision of Zen, in what way does it benefit your > life? > > Thanks for the feedback Alex, I will always > appreciate a different > viewpoint, it's how we learn, Guy.:)
Hey Guy, I'm in a bit of a rush now, as my course is about to start in 20 minutes. I'll see what I can squeeze for now, and then maybe give you something more cogent tomorrow. How's that? Deal? I always like to put Zen in the context. Forgive me if this is old news to you, but I'd like to reiterate that 'Zen' is a Japanese word which is a translation of the Chinese word 'Chan' which is a translation of the Sanskrit word 'Dhyana'. Now the buck stops here! What does Dhyana mean? Dhyana means concentration. Concentration on what? On examining phenomena. Most Buddhist practitioners I know, if asked what is the most important thing one needs to do in order to realize enlightenment, would say that it's to get rid of attachments. But when we examine attachments carefully (i.e. when we concentrate on them utilizing dhyana), we don't find anything particularly objectionable and bad about them. So, why should we abandon them? Why would attachments be any worse than non-attachments? Actually, to be perfectly honest here, pretty much nobody ever examines these things. Let's face it, we all take them for granted, simply because we read about them in some book, or someone told us to do so. But you see, this is the worst part, the fact that no one examines anything. Everyone is looking only for instant gratification. So: abandon attachments == attain enlightenment Simple as that. And we're done! Most people need pithy slogans, simplistic formulas (like the one above), and such. No one wants to perform the real work that is absolutely necessary in order for them to wake up. Zen is being sold nowadays as this quick and easy high road to satori. You don't have to know anything about the Buddha's teaching, just come and sit with us, and bingo! you'll get enlightened. What's more, expending any effort to learn about the Buddha's teaching will only make things worse for you. So, kill the Buddha! What I'd like to ask all of you here is to try and explain why do you think that attachment should be regarded as bad? In other words, what could possibly be wrong with attachment? Or, conversely, why do you think it's not bad? Then I'll return tomorrow and explain myself. But for now, I'd have to excuse myself. Thanks. Alex ===== No karma was produced during the composition of this letter __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Would you Help a Child in need? It�s easier than you think. Click Here to meet a Child you can help. http://us.click.yahoo.com/kx_54C/I_qJAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
