Hi Tony I am perplexed by mu as well, but just recently in Dokusan, my teacher said something that helped me experience a little more clarity on the subject. He said that penetrating Mu would be like going on an African Safari to search for a Tiger, having never seen a tiger or a picture of one before. All you could really do is sit, wait, and see what shows up. He then told me that mu was much the same. You sit and wait, not knowing quite what you are waiting to see or even what it looks like. It may come it may not, but when it does, you will know. Coming from the fundamental Christian background to Zen has been a hard transition for me. Truth in Zen is not like math, whereas in Christianity it tends to be. It is not something you pass, like a true or false test. It is evasive. Mu is like that. I hope this helps, it did for me. Phil collins song comes to mind, "You can't hurry love, no you just have to wait. Love dont come easy......" Replace love with mu, and you have a pretty good song about how to look at mu! (Although im sure phil collins would be insulted...) Gassho Paul
yogavajra <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Thanks for your reply. I guess I still don't understand how we can experience something we have no knowledge of. For example; I know 4+4=8....but only as a result of haviong beed taught 1+1=2. How can I see or experience the Emptiness of a phenomena (lets say a tree) without trying to identify that thing I am calling 'tree'? Surely only through analysis can I realize that the 'tree' exists only as a conception, a mental construct. Then I see the tree as it really is AND how it is not. Transpose this methodology onto meditating on the Emptiness of the self and this is where we can attain nirvana. WOW I know that is gonna be really contentious, but I am genuinely interested in the zen approach to this. Tony... --- In [email protected], Theresa Lovegrove <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Well, maybe that's it though, the thinking keeps us from experiencing. Like that quote I sent which mentioned satori could be experienced in a cup of tea or a walk in the garden. I think being in the present moment, the here, being empty to experience this now, requires me to not think. To not try to turn the question of how to get to "empty mind" into a never ending search that leads no where; like a dog chasing it's tail, he never stops long enough to realize it's apart of him and if he is just still he will find the tail is his. > > Maybe to understand emptiness is to just feel, the mind is just an illusion anyways right? What we are perceiving around us and trying to analyze in our everyday world does not exist correct? Like Korbyniski (forgive the spelling) when he talked about the unspeakable world, that you come to realize duality and the differences that seem to be between others and ourselves do not exist..that they are all conceptual anyways.. and that labels don't matter..the names we give things are not what make them what they are...and the labels we give things are just an illusion that distract us from the real experience of whatever they maybe..then analyzing things with labels and words seems to me again like the dog chasing it's tail...so maybe that's the problem in our discussions..sometimes I have wanted to respond but I realize I am only furthering my mind in it's chatter so I just take in what was said at that moment and choose quietness with no response then to respond with something that is > only an illusion assisting me to stay further away from the emptiness. > > I am still learning so I hope I was able to turn what I am feeling into words, and still be respectful to the beliefs of others. > > Theresa > > yogavajra <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > How then can we gain an understanding or experience of Emptiness? I > am struggling to understand how this can be done without an > analytical mind? > > Tony... > > > > --- In [email protected], "Bill Smart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > --- In [email protected], Theresa Lovegrove > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > <...snip... > > > The second thing: My mind never stops. ...snip... > > <...snip... > > > > Zazen in an answer to that. I had the same problem. My > professional > > works requires a lot of logic and constant thinking. Zazen helps > me > > put that in its proper place. When I need my logic tools I can > pull > > them out; but I can also put them back in my toolbag when I'm > > through. I've worked with koans in the past but now just > sit 'shikan > > taza' (empty mind). Both are equally effective. It helps A LOT!!! > > > > Find a teacher. Mayber he/she will assign you the koan Mu, maybe > > not. It doesn't matter. He/she will instruct you in zazen and > that > > will help you quiet your mind. > > > > Gassho...Bill! > > > > > > > > > Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi > > > > SPONSORED LINKS > Zen buddhism Zen practice Theravada buddhism Tibetan buddhism Zen alarm clock Zen garden > > --------------------------------- > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS > > > Visit your group "ZenForum" on the web. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. > > > --------------------------------- > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi --------------------------------- YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "ZenForum" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. --------------------------------- --------------------------------- Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/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/
