Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

[ezzirah]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

This thread is hilarious!

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

I like the thought that "it keeps polishing nothingness" That's one of the reasons I find Soto Zen so powerful, is that it is an amazing path to nothingness.

[Jundo]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

I like the thought that "it keeps polishing nothingness" That's one of the reasons I find Soto Zen so powerful, is that it is an amazing path to nothingness.

Nothingness is not nothing (although neither is it necessarily to be called "something The Void is not a void. Emptyness is not empty.

Gassho, Jundo

(Does that mean "Free Refills"? Two for the price of One? )

[disastermouse]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

I like the thought that "it keeps polishing nothingness" That's one of the reasons I find Soto Zen so powerful, is that it is an amazing path to nothingness.

Nothingness is not nothing (although neither is it necessarily to be called "something The Void is not a void. Emptyness is not empty.

Gassho, Jundo

(Does that mean "Free Refills"? Two for the price of One? )

Emptiness is surprisingly 'full'.

Chet

[Jundo]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

I like the thought that "it keeps polishing nothingness" That's one of the reasons I find Soto Zen so powerful, is that it is an amazing path to nothingness.

Nothingness is not nothing (although neither is it necessarily to be called "something The Void is not a void. Emptyness is not empty.

Gassho, Jundo

(Does that mean "Free Refills"? Two for the price of One? )

Emptiness is surprisingly 'full'.

Chet

That is why I am turning more and more to the "Dance" image for some feeling of "Emptiness" ... all of reality engaged and engaging in one great modern jazz, non-stop, powerful dance ... dancers and all reality just absorbed in the constant motion of the Dance so that no distinction of dancers and dance remains (I mean, there are dancers, but really also not and there is just the dancing) ...coming from where? going where? ... but just this step and this step and this leap and this fall ...

But where is "it", this thing you call a "dance"? It is just an ongoing swirl ... just dance dancing the dance ... nothing to "nail down" ... There is not a "thing" there, only the constant swirling and twirling and naked interconnected motion and expression .. all fully exerting ...

Dancers dancing each for themselves, sometimes bumping into other dancers, tripping on their own feet ... yet sometimes able to see beyond themselves to the great harmony of the total Dance ...


We feel as dancers in a dance, across a stage we run,

each dancer dancing solo, our connection nearly none.

But when our steps are flowing, as leaves in wind a’frenzy spun,

it’s not hard to see that dancers, stage and dance are truly One.


It is free, yet it is not chaos. There may be some rules to the dance, some choreography ... but much of it seems up to us how we choose to go. LIFE DANCE!

Lose your self in that, lose your "self" in that great Dancing which is your Self Dancing. It's going is your going.

So, everyone, just dance your dance.

"Emptiness" or the "Void" is something like that perhaps ...

Anyway ... our "Zen Buddhism in three 'easy' steps" must include these dance steps.

Gassho, J

[AlanLa]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Aha! Yet another three-step plan: the cha cha cha

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Allow me to better explain what I meant. If I understand the basic principals of Zen ( a lofty undertaking, to be sure ) then I understand it to be along these lines:

Zen is emptiness, but only so far as that emptiness can be called "the space between" things and attachments. Much like the empty space inside a room with nothing in it. It is defined only by the walls, ceiling and floor. Without those walls (which could be said to be like the walls we put up in our mind made out of attachments, conceptions, etc.) that 'space between' them wouldn't be held back by anything, and would actually encompass everything, which is the natural state of that 'space' in the first place. In that way Zen is emptiness, but since that same space is actually found between every thing we can conceive, Zen is also everything.

I could be off a little, like my profile shows I'm still a little young here, but I look forward to hearing everyone's responses and deepening my understanding of the Way.


Gassho,

Christopher.

[Jundo]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Allow me to better explain what I meant. If I understand the basic principals of Zen ( a lofty undertaking, to be sure ) then I understand it to be along these lines:

Zen is emptiness, but only so far as that emptiness can be called "the space between" things and attachments. Much like the empty space inside a room with nothing in it. It is defined only by the walls, ceiling and floor. Without those walls (which could be said to be like the walls we put up in our mind made out of attachments, conceptions, etc.) that 'space between' them wouldn't be held back by anything, and would actually encompass everything, which is the natural state of that 'space' in the first place. In that way Zen is emptiness, but since that same space is actually found between every thing we can conceive, Zen is also everything.

I could be off a little, like my profile shows I'm still a little young here, but I look forward to hearing everyone's responses and deepening my understanding of the Way.


Gassho,

Christopher.

I suggest you put the question off for now, do not approach these things so intellectually. Just sit with it all. Maybe you will come to see the walls and doors, ceiling and floor, you too soften and dance with each other ... that may help ...

In the meantime ... TAKE THIS PRACTICE IN SMALL, EASY STEP BY STEPS!

NO PLACE TO GET TO, BUT STEP BY STEP.

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

I can see where my approach could be a bit of a speed bump, so I will take your advice to heart. Thank you, Jundo.

Gassho,

Christopher

[gakuse345]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

You (J) seem to be on the right track, counting your breaths as you sit, what is happening between the time you loose count and the time you realize you lost count?

[disastermouse]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Allow me to better explain what I meant. If I understand the basic principals of Zen ( a lofty undertaking, to be sure ) then I understand it to be along these lines:

Zen is emptiness, but only so far as that emptiness can be called "the space between" things and attachments. Much like the empty space inside a room with nothing in it. It is defined only by the walls, ceiling and floor. Without those walls (which could be said to be like the walls we put up in our mind made out of attachments, conceptions, etc.) that 'space between' them wouldn't be held back by anything, and would actually encompass everything, which is the natural state of that 'space' in the first place. In that way Zen is emptiness, but since that same space is actually found between every thing we can conceive, Zen is also everything.

I could be off a little, like my profile shows I'm still a little young here, but I look forward to hearing everyone's responses and deepening my understanding of the Way.


Gassho,

Christopher.

Way too much intellectualizing, Chris. Even the floor and walls are empty. Emptiness all the way down, although it feels differently when you smack your shin against the 'emptiness' of the table. What is that pain? Also empty.

Chet

[AlanLa]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Christopher, your mind is generating thoughts of emptiness. Watch out for that by just sitting with those thoughts, just watching them. Those thoughts, and everything else, will drop in time. Give the process time..............


............. and let me take this time to announce a cosponsorship deal we have just made with the makers of Buddha Juice. Now, instead of operators standing by, they are sitting on their zafus drinking Buddha Juice while waiting for your calls. Very peaceful, very profitable... in the spiritual sen$e, I mean :roll:

[disastermouse]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

Christopher, your mind is generating thoughts of emptiness. Watch out for that by just sitting with it. Everything will drop in time. Give the process time..............

I just want to add that this 'dropping' can sometimes be facilitated by a thorough inquiry into your actual physical sensations as you, say, press your hand against a wall. Where exactly in the sensations is anything that could be called a 'wall'? Where exactly is the point of separation between that which you call 'me' and that which you call 'wall'? Strangely, no such points can be found. Noticing this can have a powerfully quieting effect on the 'know-it-all' mind....but usually not for long unless you repeat the innocent experiment again without the mind appropriating whatever story you tell about 'no me-no wall' as 'something I know'.

Chet

[chicanobudista]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

One thing about intellectualizing "emptiness" that I have seen (and you are warned by teachers) is that it often leads to a type of nihilism.

Everything is empty so **** it! There is no meaning. Life is meaningless. Etc.

I seen severe depressive folks go on the wrong direction on this while studying Buddhist meditation. :wink:

So. Sloooow down on the "emptiness" juice. :P :mrgreen:

[Jundo]

Re: Zen Buddhism in three easy steps

One thing about intellectualizing "emptiness" that I have seen (and you are warned by teachers) is that it often leads to a type of nihilism.

Everything is empty so **** it! There is no meaning. Life is meaningless. Etc.

I seen severe depressive folks go on the wrong direction on this while studying Buddhist meditation. :wink:

So. Sloooow down on the "emptiness" juice. :P :mrgreen:

It is sometimes a sad dance, sometimes a happy dance ... but at heart, there is a JOYOUS DANCE OF LIFE.

Nishijima Roshi and many teachers often say that Buddhism is not a negative philosophy (which some folks sometimes think, because we are always going on about how "life is suffering" and "birth and death" and all that) ... nor is it nihilistic, neutral, meaningless or empty ... but is quite JOYOUS, OPTIMISTIC, POSITIVE, GLAD TO BE ALIVE at heart.

"Emptyness" is freeing! A dance.