Monk's 200-year-old corpse found in lotus position

[Jundo]

What a wonderful history lesson--Shikantaza, now I know; the eight fold path through the precepts becomes clearer as I go along. Question again--what do you think about coffee--is it an intoxicant? I had a fondness for caffeinated coffee, made a decision to drink decaf about 3 years ago, now thinking this social drink is in no way like alcohol, which I left behind almost 28 years ago, and in no way like tobacco or nicotine, which I left behind 14 years ago. If I think about the middle way, anything can be overdone. I used to weigh about 260 lbs. and about 4 years ago I lost a lot of pounds by intention. I now weigh about 174 lbs. I feel so much better that now it is actually fun to get up out of a chair, or to walk around. So back to the original question--what about coffee?

Zen monks have a long and loving relationship with caffeine ... An old post (from about 200 years ago) ...

Oh, I forgot about the coffee! (Probably because I need a cup of coffee! )

In reality, Zen folks have a long and deep connection with caffeine. Bodhidharma is said to have brought tea to China (probably a myth), and Zen folks tea from China to Japan (likely a true story). I have never been to a Zen monastery in Japan where the green tea is not flowing freely, especially during Sesshin and such.

So, I see nothing wrong with coffee, before or after Zazen (not during!). Drinking tea or coffee before Zazen is not frowned upon ... although, be careful of the resulting "bathroom need" that may result in the middle of sitting! Of course, every body is different, and some people more sensitive than others. If it makes someone too "edgy" during Zazen, best not to drink so close to the time or at all.

Legend says that tea leaves are just Bodhidharma's eyelids ...

http://thedragonswell.blogspot.jp/2013/12/bodhi-dharmas-eyelids.html

I think that whoever cooked up that story was suffering from too much caffeine!

In all cases ... everything in moderation.

Gassho, Jundo

[Nindo]

I must be missing something. (It's me, often I have to pause movies so my wife can explain to me haha!)
If the student was born in 1852 and was being taught by this teacher until he was say 20, then the teacher lived until at least 1872. Certainly not 200 year old mummy.
Sattoday

OK, you got me
The original Mongolian article does not mention this speculation about the other Lama, just that the body might be 200 years old.

http://morningnews.mn/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=21574

Google Translate:

Mongolian state, especially for men's mummified body was found in the territory of the capital city of Ulaanbaatar.
The body of the court's analysis give the person from the National Police yesterday at 18:30 hours at the Institute of General and Protected Areas. However register Songinokhairkhan district territory, but some sources, Bayanzurkh district hides the proof is found in the box Roach.
Transferred to buddhist monks during G.Pvrevbat and political communities an opportunity to visit.
The first is the opinion of this attributed to the remains of more than 200 years old. Anyway, on this mummies, we will deliver detailed in the next issue. By the way, told the "living god" As of today, 160 years old Itigelov noted.

Gassho
Nindo

[Banto]

Thanks! It's all very interesting.
So is the caffeine part above, I was wondering the same. I notice green tea,especially matcha, affects me much differently sitting than coffee. Curious.
Sattoday

[Jundo]

Some further information on this story. Of course, there are many flavors of Buddhism, many ways to interpret things ...

A mummified monk found in the lotus position in Mongolia is 'not dead' and is instead one stage away from becoming a real-life Buddha, it has been claimed.

... Dr Barry Kerzin, a famous Buddhist monk and a physician to the Dalai Lama, said: 'I had the privilege to take care of some meditators who were in a tukdam state.

'If the person is able to remain in this state for more than three weeks - which rarely happens - his body gradually shrinks, and in the end all that remains from the person is his hair, nails, and clothes. Usually in this case, people who live next to the monk see a rainbow that glows in the sky for several days. This means that he has found a 'rainbow body'. This is the highest state close to the state of Buddha'.

He added: 'If the meditator can continue to stay in this meditative state, he can become a Buddha. Reaching such a high spiritual level the meditator will also help others, and all the people around will feel a deep sense of joy'.

...

Ganhugiyn Purevbata, who is the founder and professor of the Mongolian Institute of Buddhist Art at Ulaanbaatar Buddhist University, said: 'Lama is sitting in the lotus position vajra, the left hand is opened, and the right hand symbolizes of the preaching Sutra.

'This is a sign that the Lama is not dead, but is in a very deep meditation according to the ancient tradition of Buddhist lamas'.

http://siberiantimes.com/other/other...e-says-expert/

Gassho, J

[MikeTango]

Really interesting thread.
It´s absolutely amazing to know about an ancient master who keep inspiring Buddhism students, 200 years after his/her death. And not through its writings, as usual, but through its own body, literally.
I remember my old Zen teacher saying: In zazen, the correct posture of the body is everything.
Gassho
#Sat Today
Miguel