CORRECTION:
--- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote: [ED] That everyone possesses an (undefined and indescribable) 'Buddha Nature' is a concept-premise of Zen. [Bill!] Yes. And 'everyone' includes all sentient beings. [ED] Is one expected to detect any extra intelligence, or elevated virtue, or added value to the planet in persons who claim to have experienced Buddha Nature? [Bill!] No. 'One' is not expected to detect anything special in those that have had awareness of Buddha Nature. [ED] So, one sits on one's zafu for thousands of hours over decades for no reason whtsoever. [ED] Until this concept-premise of 'Buddha Nature' is better clarified, I will tend to regard it as the purely natural phenomenon of a rather pleasant mind-space or mind-state arrived at after much Zen clear-mind (mind-less) practice. [Bill!] ... [ED] So your response is 'No': To clarify the concept of 'Buddha nature' one usually has to engage in thousands of hours of shikantaza over decades to experience the mind-states of kensho-satori, aka 'Buddha nature'. [ED] I do not regard this perspective as discounting Zen practice in any way. [Bill!] Nor do I. Although I will say that zen practice is not at all necessary to realize (become aware of) Buddha Nature, nor is it the only way. But it's the only way I am familar with enough to recommend. [ED] Other techniques (in Buddhism, Hinduism, Sufism, Christianity) can entail 'higher' states of consciousnes, which may or may not be similar/identical to 'Buddha nature', and with different 'flavor'.
