Mike, I don't like the word 'mindfully', although I know it's used a lot in various zen schools to describe 'Buddha Mind'. I think it's a misleading term. 'Mindful' to me conjurs up an image of a mind 'full' of something, and of course that's not the state that I am suggesting in my posts below. I am suggesting an 'empty mind', or better yet 'no mind'.
Back to your question: "...how does one 'mindfully' perform a kind act...". THE LONG ANSWER... In an 'empty mind' or 'no mind' state there is no 'one' or 'self', so 'one' does not perform anything. 'Kind' is a dualistic judgmental term so the quality of 'kindness' has to be determined by someone (some 'self') that is operating in a dualistic mind-state in order to make that judegment. Because 'kind' is both dualistic and judgemental the judgement itself is relative, or a matter of perspective. By that I mean is the act 'kind' in the judgement of the actor, the one acted upon or the one observing? This depends on just who is doing the judging. When you are manifesting Buddha Mind (empty mind, no mind) you are not creating dualisms or judgements, so 'kind' is just a moot term. So...'one' may or may not perform an act that 'one' considers kind, or an observer might judge to be kind; but when there is no 'one' (Buddha Mind) there cannot be a kind act, except from the perspective of the recipient or an observer. THE SHORT ANSWER... Clean your bowls! ...Bill! --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > So how does one 'mindfully' perform a kind act (without it making it an act > of false modesty)? > > > Mike > > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Sunday, 2 October 2011, 18:22 > Subject: [Zen] Fwd: Re: [Zen Living] Supreme Vehicle > > > Â > ED, > > Congratulations! You've repeated the phrase about 'second nature' so many > time it must intself be second nature by now. > > Yes, you are correct. If actions like these are not 'second nature' (Buddha > Nature actually), then you should consciously try to do them. That's called > practice - zen practice. You keep practicing until you hit the mark - that > is you don't consciously try to do them any more. 'You' don't even do then > anymore. They just happen. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], "ED" <seacrofter001@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > ED, > > > > > > IMO... > > > > > > My point is if you are purposely or consciously performing a 'kind' > > act, then you have missed the mark. > > > > > > Bill, > > > > IMO ... > > > > Until performing acts of kindness become second nature and are performed > > without thought, do perform them consciously. > > > > > Like all such labels or categorizations, the qualifier of 'kind' or > > 'good' or 'bad' or 'compassionate', etc..., is placed on actions by your > > discriminating mind, or someone else's discriminating mind. > > > > Until performing acts of kindness become second nature and are performed > > without thought, do perform them consciously. > > > > > > > If before you take the action you classify it as 'kindly' you miss the > > mark by a large margin. (In this case you are projecting an action, > > judging or classifying it and perhaps only acting if it passes judgement > > or is classified as 'good'. > > > > Until performing acts of kindness become second nature and are performed > > without thought, do perform them consciously. > > > > > > > If while you are engaged in the action you classify it as 'kindly' you > > miss the mark. (In this case you may have acted spontaneously and > > without motive, but your discriminating mind has kicked in and is > > starting to judge and classify.) > > > > Until performing acts of kindness become second nature and are performed > > without thought, do perform them consciously. > > > > > > > If after the action has been completed you classify it as 'kindly' you > > miss the mark only slightly. (In this case you may have not missed the > > mark before or while acting, but you have missed the mark by applying > > judgement or categorizing your action after-the-fact.) > > > > Until performing acts of kindness become second nature and are performed > > without thought, do perform them consciously. > > > > > > > As in the zen teaching story I related, only if you do not consider > > anything you do 'kindly' or 'special' do you squarely hit the mark. > > > > Until performing acts of kindness become second nature and are performed > > without thought, do perform them consciously. > > > > > > > > > > > Others may observe your actions and call them 'kindly' or 'selfish', > > but that's up to them to make that judgement. It should not a concern of > > yours at all. > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > Until performing acts of kindness become second nature and are performed > > without thought, do perform them consciously. > > > > > > > > --ED > > > > > > > > > > > > Bill, > > > > > > > > Non-judgmentally, every person is 'just THIS' in the evolution of > > > > his/her 'kindness'. > > > > > > > > --ED > > > ------------------------------------ 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! 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