Steve, I don't know anything about Korean Zen, but I don't have a problem with what you've said (although my methods are different in the same circumstances). Similarly, I empathise with the Dzogchen claim that meditation is not essential for enlightenmentm but is useful for developing mindfullness, moral development, concentration etc. Only after Realisation is meditation essential for deepening the initial breakthrough.
Mike ________________________________ From: SteveW <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, 1 March, 2011 7:30:41 Subject: Re: [Zen] Change --- In [email protected], Maria Lopez <flordeloto@...> wrote: > > The construct are the ideas of Nirvana and samsara but Nirvana and samsara > are >real once the idea has been throw away....For as long as we are in an organic >form that is the way it is. Well, at least for me based experience so far. > >  > What you are given description below are different mental states. And we > are >going far away from the initial subject of self and selfless. > >  > And here it goes again the question how Selfless is applied in a hell >enviroment without getting swallow by it?. > >  > Mayka > Hi Mayka. I hope you don't think it rude of me to talk to you about this, since your question is to Mike. And I don't know if Mike would agree with me on this one. I happen to endorse an understanding from the Korean version of Zen(Son) called Sudden Enlightenment And Gradual Cultivation. I do not believe that applied practices lead to Awakening, but I believe that Awakening leads to applied practices. I believe that our negative habits of thought, word and deed do not automatically vanish when we awaken to our Buddha Nature. But I do think that awakening to our Buddha Nature leads us to undertake cultivation of practice. For example, I happen to be what Buddhists call a Hate-Type in terms of habitual reaction to people, places and things. Because I have awakened to this realization, I undertake the cultivation of the Paramita of Patience. In practical terms, when Aversion/Hate arises, I am aware of it and before it can take hold, I focus on the Name of the Buddha. If I manage to do this early enough, then the Aversion vashana is deprived of the motive energy needed to reinforce itself. But practicing the Paramita of Patience does not lead to awakening. Rather, awakening leads to practicing the Paramita of Patience. Sometimes I am successful in this, and sometimes not. But either way, "I" am not doing it. In my opinion. Steve > > > > > > > > > >
