Search found 15 matches

by desertman001
Sun Nov 10, 2013 11:01 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Shikantaza
Replies: 39
Views: 8658

Re: Shikantaza

whether you sit with close attention to breath or just sit with awareness returning to posture you are putting a leash on your mind. When you stop tugging on the leash you can enter Shikantaza and sit clearly. Proper posture should be ingrained so when the leash gets a tug you can simply return to y...
by desertman001
Tue Aug 13, 2013 9:27 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Mystical Unity and Kensho
Replies: 147
Views: 29582

Re: Mystical Unity and Kensho

Astus, the quotes provided by jeepers make it obvious that some type of mind exists after the conditioned, without claiming an atman exist, since no separate existence is implied. I get the logic you imply but that logic cannot escape the conditioned. If the unconditioned state is unaware how could ...
by desertman001
Tue Aug 13, 2013 5:08 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Mystical Unity and Kensho
Replies: 147
Views: 29582

Re: Mystical Unity and Kensho

Astus, you can not apply the logic of the conditioned world to make a complete estimation of the illogical nature of the unconditioned, There still may can be a non dual aspect of what you experience as Mind that is existent in a manner that is not within what Buddha defined as phenomena. Trying to ...
by desertman001
Mon Aug 12, 2013 8:23 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Mystical Unity and Kensho
Replies: 147
Views: 29582

Re: Mystical Unity and Kensho

Astus, when I said "at its core" back on page one, I have to say the experience of recognizing Mind as having unconditioned nature is also why I called it a "core". This insight passes but it can take a portion of the self concept with it and leaves with you a permanent( if pract...
by desertman001
Mon Aug 12, 2013 7:35 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Mystical Unity and Kensho
Replies: 147
Views: 29582

Re: Mystical Unity and Kensho

Thanks koji.
by desertman001
Tue Jul 23, 2013 8:01 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Mystical Unity and Kensho
Replies: 147
Views: 29582

Re: Mystical Unity and Kensho

Astus, ok thanks I didn't know that.
by desertman001
Sun Jul 21, 2013 6:09 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Mystical Unity and Kensho
Replies: 147
Views: 29582

Re: Mystical Unity and Kensho

In dependent arising the first condition is ignorance, followed by mental formations then consciousness then mind and matter. This is all before the senses and before birth. So what is it that is being ignorant? Does this imply a mind prior to form? Is the condition prior to mental formation emptine...
by desertman001
Sun Jul 07, 2013 9:32 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Mystical Unity and Kensho
Replies: 147
Views: 29582

Re: Mystical Unity and Kensho

Thank you Koji. That was well defined. Astus I would only add that "This mind is Buddha" is also a good description of the core as it manifests in the moment. The finding of that core is the recognition that it has been part of the mundane experience of mind our whole life, just unrecogniz...
by desertman001
Sun Jul 07, 2013 7:13 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Mystical Unity and Kensho
Replies: 147
Views: 29582

Re: Mystical Unity and Kensho

The mystical aspect is this Kensho experience of recognizing your own mind as being, at its core, neither permanent nor non permanent or unborn. This experience is unnapproachable by logic, actually antithetical too it. I don't think we can remove the mystical from Kensho till it happens.
by desertman001
Wed May 29, 2013 5:45 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: What state is this?
Replies: 12
Views: 3511

Re: What state is this?

Jesse, I get a similar experience from Zazen. As long as there is still something to let go of, like any appreciation of the peacefulness, the meditation feels like it's on track. After that it may become Shikan Taza.
by desertman001
Wed May 15, 2013 7:30 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Bankei on Zen Practice
Replies: 13
Views: 5579

Re: Bankei on Zen Practice

great effort to gain something called enlightenment is wrong but great effort to lose our delusion is not. Even though enlightenment could be defined, in a sense, as a new view, it is achieved by letting go of false views. I think this may be why you can't make an effort to acquire enligjtenment
by desertman001
Sun Jan 06, 2013 6:20 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: "Zen is Going to Hell and It’s the Boomers’ Fault!"
Replies: 26
Views: 6884

Re: "Zen is Going to Hell and It’s the Boomers’ Fault!"

Combining a baby boom generation with an increased interest in Zen made for a lot of teachers. So the next generation would have to see more older teachers in the mix.
by desertman001
Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:22 pm
Forum: Zen
Topic: Is Zen Rational?
Replies: 27
Views: 7359

Re: Is Zen Rational?

If our true nature is unbounded, unchanging, formless Mind, the same before birth as after death, then zen is perfectly rational.
by desertman001
Wed Sep 14, 2011 4:38 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: See Nature, Become Buddha - Can You?
Replies: 40
Views: 10738

Re: See Nature, Become Buddha - Can You?

When we talk about being already enlightened it couldn't mean the wisdom or realization that is the outcome of practice. Enlightenment in that sense means our buddha nature is now and always has been our nature. There is nothing new to be gained other than recognizing that this mind is Buddha. Yet t...
by desertman001
Wed Sep 14, 2011 3:23 am
Forum: Zen
Topic: Rocky Zen
Replies: 56
Views: 12532

Re: Rocky Zen

Buddha nature is unbounded,nondual, but we still ask if a rock has Buddha nature! Of course rocks 'themselves' are not sentient. but they are not really 'themselves' because there is nothing outside of Buddha mind. In that sense no seperate things should be considered as really seperate. In that sen...

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