Mechanics of Enlightenment

[dharmasponge]

Hi all,

The Tibetans are clear in terms of how Enlightenment happens - a non-conceptual experience of Emptiness (usually through a very analytical form of meditation). So to the Theravadin schools, insight gained through experiencing Anatta through meditation and developing Pannya.

How does Shikantaza facilitate 'Enlightenment'?

Thanks,

Tony...

[Hans]

Dear Tony,

although I am by no means an expert, even "the Tibetans" have a colourful multitude of different models based on different ontological assumptions.

There is no single one-and-only true Zen doctrine set in stone, but if one really feels the need to look into some of the most important historical influences that get into some technical details, one could do worse than to look at the following (Ashvaghosha's Awakening of Faith):

http://www.thezensite.com/ZenTeachings/Translations/Awakening_of_faith.html

A famous and very short Zen formula would be:

"A special transmission outside the scriptures,
Not founded upon words and letters;
By pointing directly to [one's] mind
It lets one see into [one's own true] nature and [thus] attain Buddhahood."


Btw. most of the Tibetan Mahamudra and Dzogchen texts I have come across over the years seem to make it clear that realising emptiness alone does not equal anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.

In Shikantaza we resolve that kind of thing on the cushion , dropping likes and dislikes, opening into that which arises to the point where practise and enlightenment are not two.
That's what we cultivate, through non doing we turn milk into cream, which has always been fully present the whole time.

Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

[Kokuu]

The Tibetans are clear in terms of how Enlightenment happens - a non-conceptual experience of Emptiness (usually through a very analytical form of meditation)

That sounds very much like Gelug school thinking to me. Other Tibetan schools are less analytical in their approach.

Dogen's take on enlightenment (as I understand it) is pretty simple - practice and enlightenment are not two. From Fukanzazengi:

The zazen I speak of is not meditation practice. It is simply the dharma gate of joyful ease, the practice-realization of totally culminated enlightenment. It is the koan realized; traps and snares can never reach it. If you grasp the point, you are like a dragon gaining the water, like a tiger taking to the mountains. For you must know that the true dharma appears of itself, so that from the start dullness and distraction are struck aside.

And from Bendowa (On the Endeavour of the Way):

When even for a moment you sit upright in samadhi expressing the buddha mudra in the three activities, the whole world of phenomena becomes the buddha's mudra and the entire sky turns into enlightenment.


Gassho
Andy

[Hans]

Hello,

Karasu found some great quotes there. Thanks!

In general talking about all of this sometimes can be very beneficial, but often it creates more problems than just entering into THIS directly.

Other power, self power, gradual, sudden, primordial, doing, non-doing, thinking, non-thinking.

Gems and headache material at the same time.

Sitting is our gateless gate of Shikantaza, but in truth it extends to and permeates everything, regardless of time and space.


Gassho,

Hans Chudo Mongen

[Kokuu]

In general talking about all of this sometimes can be very beneficial, but often it creates more problems than just entering into THIS directly.

I totally agree, Hans. We can talk around it all we like but sitting is the front gate to seeing how things are.

Each of the Buddhist schools has its own model of how awakening is achieved but most of the practices essentially come down to the same thing - sitting with mind/experience.

Gassho
Andy

[Daitetsu]

Hi there,

IMHO we should also note that even Soto Zen does not deny there are things like (peak event-like) satori/kensho besides practice-enlightenment.
There is no single "recipe" for this.

You could try the following though:
- Teacher hits you with stick on head
- Someone else hits you with stick on head
- Teacher yells at you, so you get almost deaf
- You get 30 blows with a stick by a teacher
- You run head first into a wall
- You let your teacher cut off one of your fingers
...
SCNR - I just love these stories and IMHO it should be allowed to make some jokes even about this topic...

Gassho,

Timo

[Jundo]

Zazen on the cushion is all there is, Enlightenment realized, not one drop to add not one drop to take away ... Wholly Holy Whole, Completely Complete ... Buddha sitting Buddha ... Buddha Buddhaing Buddha. Enlightenment is sitting itself.

But that is when sitting on the cushion!

Rising from the cushion (as we do and must), all of life manifests and is manifested as Zazen in its Vast meaning ... in the kitchen, the child's nursery, the office, driving the car ... Enlightenment realized, not one drop to add not one drop to take away ... Wholly Holy Whole, Completely Complete ... Buddha sitting Buddha ... Buddha Buddhaing Buddha.

One will have various momentless moments of "a non-conceptual experience of Emptiness" now and then ... but such realization (piercing, grocking) is not enough, for more vital is the realization (making it real, bringing to life) of how one thus lives. THAT is Enlightenment as Practice itself ... for Enlightenment must be put into Practice.

Emptiness, beyond me and you and love and hate and lack and gain and coming and going ... must simultaneously be realized (grocked) to be, and realized (brought to life) in/as/through this world of me and you and love and hate and lack and gain and coming and going. That is the real trick that takes Practice!

Gassho, J

[Myosha]

Thank you.


Gassho,
Edward

[Taigu]

In a nutshell, Bro Jundo expresses it.

Gassho

T.

[Mp]

Wonderfully words Jundo! =)

Gassho
Shingen

[Koshin]

Deep bows

Gassho

[Tiwala]

Soto might be one of the most hands on approach to buddhism you can find, as I see it

Gassho, Ben

[Jundo]

I had no better place to put this, found online just now ...

[dharmasponge]

If one sees the illusion of self In meditation, would life (post cushion) not be changed forever?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Myosha]

Suzuki answered it well, ". . .The secret of Soto Zen is just two words: not always so."


Gassho,
Edward