Present Moment

[Risho]

Re: Present Moment

I forgot if I mentioned this already, but there is definitely a link between sci-fi nerds and Zen. I'm a huge TNG fan, by the way :mrgreen:

I love Uchiyama Roshi's book. I have nothing more to add really, but I have a similar understanding of time. It's all how we see it. But I do get hung up on us creating the world.

It makes sense in a way. I mean the way we perceive the world is limited by our senses of perception. If we cannot taste, then does something have a flavor? If it didn't then how could someone who can taste, taste its flavor? Similarly, to a blind person, color doesn't exist, but that doesn't mean things do not have what we call color. But I guess that's the keyword here... each of our perceptions of the world.

[Shokai]

Re: Present Moment

But do you perceive green the same way I do?

[Hoyu]

Re: Present Moment

Shokai wrote:
There we go passing judgement ! (you, for thinking the birds are good; me, for centering you out for doing so)

Would it not better to let the bird fly by without adding to the thought?

Very well put Shokai!
I must say guys that reading the back and forth between Shokai and Heitetsu on this one is akin to watching professional boxers go at it(but much more peaceful and noncompetitive)! I have deep respect for the insights of the two of you. You are both very wise and it is interesting to see the differences in thought play out on this one. A pleasure to read_/_

Gassho,
John

[Shokai]

Re: Present Moment

_()_

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Present Moment

Shokai wrote:
There we go passing judgement ! (you, for thinking the birds are good; me, for centering you out for doing so)

Some how I blanked on the second part of this. Sorry ops: . It's true that the birds aren't always good. Sometimes they're the birds of Alfred Hitchcock, but good or bad, we should acknowledge that they exist and then let them fly to where they will without getting attached to them. Oh, you violent birds! I see you there!

Very well put Shokai!
I must say guys that reading the back and forth between Shokai and Heitetsu on this one is akin to watching professional boxers go at it(but much more peaceful and noncompetitive)! I have deep respect for the insights of the two of you. You are both very wise and it is interesting to see the differences in thought play out on this one. A pleasure to read_/_

I also must profess my profound respect for Shokai. I learn much from our interactions and I hope that others may find our talks to be helpful in some way. Thank you, Shokai, for your practice and your patience with me.

[Jundo]

Re: Present Moment

Birds flying in a clear, open sky ... sky's flying is open clear birds ...

Heading forward past to future, boundless timeless space ...

The going just coming arriving, the path's a point a line a dance ...

The course giving form to emptiness, no traces 'cept in a viewer's eye ...




Lovely!



.

[Taigu]

Re: Present Moment

Indeed


gassho


T.

[Shokai]

Re: Present Moment

Shit happens !!

_()_

[Kyonin]

Re: Present Moment

Hi Shards,

I think it boils down to paying attention on what you are doing. Once I had a car accident because I was distracted with my own thoughts.

What I think Uchiyama refers to is to the fact that you are just not paying attention to what you are doing because we tend to embrace mental images of the past or fantasies about the future.

If I have a terrible fight with the wife and then hop on the car and start driving, you are driving, yes. But you also keep fighting with the wife in your head. Thinking, judging and justifying yourself. Next thing you know is you get hit by a semi.

From a few years to the present I've been practicing mindfulness doing small daily tasks. For instance, while shaving I put special attention on being in the present moment. Why? Because it makes sense. I am using a razor against my skin! So being mindful of the present moment keeps me from cuts and burns.

As a matter of fact, you can tell when I wasn't paying attention and I was distracted thinking of whatever, because of the red dots on my face!

That was a silly example, but living in the present is to be 100% aware of what you are doing right now.

[Hoyu]

Re: Present Moment

Choco wrote:
That was a silly example

Hi Chocobuda,
I thought that was a great example! As our teachers often remind us, Zen encompasses all of life. Even shaving. Which makes me wonder what Dogen, in the Shobogenzo, has to say about how even that should be done?

Gassho,
John

[journeywriter]

Re: Present Moment

Chocobuda,

When I read your post, I thought, "What if I had a terrible fight with my wife and then went to shave?" :shock: :shock:

Sometimes I practice mindfulness because I really enjoy it (eating, drinking tea, etc.). Other times, I practice mindfulness as a survival technique! :lol:

Gassho,

Stephen

[Hoyu]

Re: Present Moment

When I read your post, I thought, "What if I had a terrible fight with my wife and then went to shave?"

:lol: Good one Stephen!

Gassho,
John