Hi Steve, If we subscribe to Bill!'s assertion that at the root of all religion we can find zen, then yes, I do feel that the central realisation of the religions you mentioned (esp Advaita Vedenat, Dzogchen and Zen) are the same. In simple terms, they all cite that when we strip away our mind of desires and aversions etc. then only Awareness (Spirit/Buddha Nature/Self/Tao/God etc) remains. The difference lies in the outward features of the respective paths (rituals, sutras versus tantra etc), but at their heart I would say they are the same.
Mike ________________________________ From: SteveW <eugnostos2...@yahoo.com> To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, 13 February, 2011 0:32:23 Subject: Re: [Zen] visualization --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Hi All, > > Still in India and just letting you know I'm still alive (but a lot > thinner..). > > It's been an amazing experience so far and I've learned a lot from being > here. > Just thought I'd add something to this thread. Has anyone read the book by > Ken > Wilber: Grace and Grit (1991) about his wife who had, and died from, cancer? > A > > remarkable insight into dying, death and (ultimately) how to live. Wilber > himself (at the the time of writing) had been sitting (Zen) for 15 years and > Treya, his wife, had been studying vipassana for 10 years. They both > incorporated transpersonal pyschology, yoga, Tibetan Buddhism and the > teachings > > of Ramana Maharshi (something for everyone!) into their dealing with cancer > and > > I can say it's a very powerful book. If anyone has read it and would like to > discuss it, I'd be happy to oblige! > > Namaste, > > Mike > > Hi Mike. I am pleased to meet you. I have read a few of Wilber's books, but not that one, although he mentions his wife's death in his other writings. You mention Maharshi. Tell me, do you find the central realization of the non-dual traditions of Zen, Advaita Vedanta, Kashmir Shaivism and Dzogchen to be the same? Steve >