--- In [email protected], "yogavajra" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
What does 'Mu' mean? I am not after a solution to the Koan, but until I understand what it means (in English) its just a noise LOL Thanks! Tony... Hi Tony - I know others will add to this in a more eloquent and deeper way but here's a stab at it. "Mu" is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese character "wu". It is often used as a negative (negation) marker in front of a noun (like the English prefix "non-" or "un-" or the suffix "-less"). For example, if you saw the Zhang Yimou film "Hero", the protagonist played by Jet Li is called "Wu-Ming" where "ming" = name. The English translation is "Nameless". Check out this usage of "mu" in this 5 line snip from the "Heart Sutra": http://www.theartofcalligraphy.com/sutracopying.html (As you know, Japanese is read right to left, top to bottom. Line 1 would be the column of 11 characters running down on the far right.) If you go to Line 3, "mu" would be the 5th, 7th and 11th characters in that line. In Line 4, "mu" is the 7th character. In Line 5, "mu" is the 2nd, 7th, 10th and 11th characters. In all eight of the above usages of "mu", "mu" negates the noun that follows. And so in Line 3, "mu-shiki" (the 5th and 6th characters) = "without form"; "mu- ju (the 7th and 8th characters) = "without feeling", etc. The problem in translating "mu" or "wu" is when it stands alone. In the Zen Buddhist context, when "mu" or "wu" stands along, the meaning of the term is totally context driven. Given that, it is really difficult to give a one-word translation. Here's a list of common translation for both "mu" and "wu" standing alone: "nothingness, non-existence, emptiness (Note: The Japanese character "kuu"/Chinese "k'ung" is the more common term for the Buddhist "emptiness". In that snip from the Heart Sutra, "kuu" appears in Line 1, 10th character and Line 3, 3rd character. In Zen, when "mu" stands alone, it is often used synonymously with "kuu" - with writers changing back and forth between the two characters. There is another Zen usage of "mu" in addition to the above. "Mu" is sometimes used to "indicate" (the "finger"?) the ineffable ( the "moon"?). D.T. Suzuki suggested this usage of "mu" in certain Zen koans. The obvious "danger" then is whether this usuage of "mu" is a statement of "being" or "knowing" I'm curious about what others say about "mu" in the Zen context Gassho, ryhorikawa ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Click here to rescue a little child from a life of poverty. http://us.click.yahoo.com/rAWabB/gYnLAA/i1hLAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi 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/
