> location of the mind (if there is something, it must
> be located somewhere).
why is it that we insist on delineating things with boundaries?
isn't the notion of "form is emptyness & emptyness is form" telling us
there are no boundaries?
this boundary-lessness is not just the interdependence of all physical
form - but also energy (which science tells us is just part of a
continuum with matter anyway), including life energy, which flows thru
everything without boundary. it's not that there is 'nothingness' -
it's just that there is no real delineation of any distinct thing in
particular.
i've been thinking about religion lately - mostly in relation to our
inability to get along (peace, justice & politics are big problems for
me) & trying to decide what _is_ religion? humans have such a strong
inclination to investigate, understand & build (beautiful) paradigms
to describe the universe & our relationship to it. i guess i'm
imagining "beautiful" here in the sense that einstein might have
experienced when he was striving for a 'unified theory'.
it seems as if there are 2 distinct ways in which we investigate our
world - 1) the description of phenomena from a distinctly seperate
point of view (scientific examination) & 2) a direct experiential
integration with the world (most religions & even the 12 step programs
all speak of surrendering to that 'higher power' - or allowing god to
manifest thru us - being 'a perfect instrument of thy peace' sort of
experience).
if the religious experience is this practice of integrative direct
experience of the world - allowing god (or the world) to manifest
through us most perfectly (which i imagine the meditation practice to
be about), then how can we improve our ability to share/teach this
experience (or at the very least not fight over it). we have a strong
desire for community - to love one another & be loved. it seems to me
to be increasingly urgent to be able to speak about & teach (our
children) this ability to be present to the moment & touch that
powerful part of us that is manifested in love.
i don't have a mature zen practice - but lately i've been imagining
the meditation practice as a time of 'being with an open heart' to
_all_ that is (the good, bad & ugly - i'm sure the atonement gatha at
the beginning of sitting has played a big role in leading me to this
place). so, this brief period when i'm sitting is a time of undoing
the habit energy of my closed heart putting a boundary between myself
& the world & only 'owning' that portion of 'my identity' that i'm
able to accept.
i'm new to this forum, & have rambled on too much. i have a strong
interest in exploring how this practice can help in fostering peace in
the world.
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