I find that no-self is present in each totally ordinary moment; when the toe hits the chair, there is no self. Understanding no-self is the first state, and ends when i start to mistake the mental activity "stupid others, hurting me; stupid me, carelessly stubbing my toe," for something other than my habitual response to stubbing my toe. Anatta is forgotten not because we didn't do something but because we did something to forget it.
Anatta isn't to say you can lose yourself (or should) it is to say no one anywhere ever had a self. It is a false idea, and each moment rolls on with out any selves around. In general, zazen and the path is not something to do. It is realizing, in your body, the lack of need to try to do things. Trust in life to take care of each moment, whether you are sitting or speaking or stubbing your toe or writing or whatever. Thanks,Chris Austin-Lane+1-301-270-6524 On Jun 4, 2011, at 7:05, [email protected] wrote: Hi Ed, > The anatta aspect may need a little more effort to penetrate ....more effort and as much letting go. SiskaFrom: "ED" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Sat, 04 Jun 2011 12:48:05 -0000To: <[email protected]>ReplyTo: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Zen] Zen, zen and Theravada Buddhism Hi Pain underscores the three characteristics of being in Buddhism: dukkha (suffering), anicca (impermanence), and anatta (no-self). The anatta aspect may need a little more effort to penetrate. --ED --- In [email protected], siska_cen@... wrote: > > Hi Mike, > > > Vipassana meditation encourages you to face that discomfort and gain insight into the impermanence of that pain/discomfort and how our body/mind reactes to it (usually aversion). > > I've seen you relating pain to insight into impermanence a few times. I often read this in books or articles too. Why isn't it related to suffering and no-self too? When experiencing pain, one can see it as pain instead of *my* pain. This is not insight of impermanence, is it? > > Siska ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> 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/
