Mayka, We just have to be careful with mindfulness - it's very much a double-edged sword in that it can be the catalyst for awakening to reality, but it can also make us think we've 'got it' when in fact it's nothing but our ego taking a very subtle rest. Also, we need to get past the way we think of mindfulness. In the beginning we tend to find ourselves consciously employing it at specific times. "Right, I've done the tidying up, taken a shower and washed the dishes. Now I'm going to take the dog out and really focus on what I'm doing, feel the wind on my face, not zone out and follow any thoughts and really be here" All well and good. But what we've also done there, by definition, is to separate ourselves between not being mindfull and being mindful which in turn also reinforces the sense of separateness from our intrinsic awareness of Budhha. In simple terms, there is an awareness that is unborn and undying right now whichin Vedanta is expressed as 'I Am'. That awareness is right there with you when you're washing the dishes and putting out the rubbish and is there prior to just when you think, "Now I'm going to practice mindfulness" and it's there when you stop being mindful.
Mike ________________________________ From: Maria Lopez <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thu, 31 March, 2011 7:39:29 Subject: Re: [Zen] Why bother with Zazen? Better Orgyhouse Mike: That's right Mike. However, previous indications in the map and tools were most useful to experience reality as it is, and not as we imagine it to be. Mayka --- On Wed, 30/3/11, mike brown <[email protected]> wrote: >From: mike brown <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [Zen] Why bother with Zazen? Better Orgyhouse >To: [email protected] >Date: Wednesday, 30 March, 2011, 22:21 > > > >Mayka, > >>Bill has a point. The less adds on the most likely to experience reality as >>it >>is. > >Taken to the ultimate conclusion being that we don't need *any* of the >precepts >in mind to "experience reality as it is". > >Mike > > > > ________________________________ From: Maria Lopez <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Sent: Thu, 31 March, 2011 4:52:54 >Subject: Re: [Zen] Why bother with Zazen? Better Orgyhouse > > >Bill has a point. The less adds on the most likely to experience reality as it >is. > >At the same time Steve also has a point. Living philosophies may embrace in >compassion the whole universe. > > >Mayka > >--- On Wed, 30/3/11, SteveW <[email protected]> wrote: > > >>From: SteveW <[email protected]> >>Subject: Re: [Zen] Why bother with Zazen? Better Orgyhouse >>To: [email protected] >>Date: Wednesday, 30 March, 2011, 17:52 >> >> >> >> >> >>--- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote: >>> >>> Steve, >>> >>> I fundamentally disagree. >>> >>> Buddhism, as well as Judiasm/Christianity/Islam, and all other religions I >>> know >>>about are based on the essense of zen. They are all, including Buddhism, >>>just >>>layers that have been built up around zen and serve to occlude the essense >>>of >>>zen to varying extents. I will say that Buddhism has the least occluding >>>layers >>>of the religions I have read about, but it still has a lot. >>> >>> ...Bill! >>> >>Hi Bill! In my opinion, there are two aspects to the human phenomenon of >>religion. One aspect is the evolved religios which binds society together in >>a >>shared identity. This is just an evolved trait that is useful from the >>view-point of group selection. The other aspect is the awakened insight into >>Suchness. But some religions as they exist now are more effective vehicles >>for >>encouraging awakened insight into Suchness than others. Within each of the >>Big >>Three Abrahamic traditions, there have arisen minority mystical movements >>that >>are a spontaneous expression of Enlightened Mind, but they have always been >>regarded as heretical. Even the most literal-minded Pureland Buddhist >>realizes >>that the ultimate goal is awakening. They just want to go to Buddhist Heaven >>where they imagine that awakening will be easier. But they still understand >>that >>ultimately it is more than just going to Heaven. And so, as you yourself >>note, >>Buddhism has the least occluding layers. The average Christian would not >>regard >>Meister Eckhart as being a real Christian. >>Steve >> >> >
