Amanda - Digest Number 146, reply to jb

[Guest guest]

At 05:39 AM 5/5/99 -0700, you wrote:

>"Amanda Erhart" <mumblecat

>Is this bliss the same talked about in Zen teachings

>about the meditative quality of all everyday

>activities ?

 

"Sort of." Zen talks about mindfulness in all everyday activities, being

entirely present and aware of every single action, an entirely focused yet

relaxed awareness. Zen Buddhism is all about awareness - being aware of

everything done, doing NOTHING out of a sense of habit. Zen encourages

observation of even the most mundane daily activities. There is a

meditation involving walking - to be aware of the mechanics behind every

step. One should be aware while eating of the movement of the arm in

picking up food with a fork, the opening of the mouth, the taste and smell

of the food. One should be aware when thinking that one is thinking.

Absolute awareness and presence in every second of daily life - this is the

yoga of Zen. Zen does not talk much about bliss, but mostly about freedom

from suffering, peace, and eventual enlightenment. Zazen meditation is the

main practice that leads to enlightenment, but the meditative quality is

encouraged to eventually include every moment of every day.

 

Disclaimer - I am not a Zen Buddhist, but have done extensive reading and

studying of it.

 

Hari Om,

 

Tim

 

 

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[Guest guest]

On Wed, 5 May 1999, Tim Gerchmez wrote:

>

> "Sort of." Zen talks about mindfulness in all everyday activities, being

> entirely present and aware of every single action, an entirely focused yet

> relaxed awareness. Zen Buddhism is all about awareness - being aware of

> everything done, doing NOTHING out of a sense of habit. Zen encourages

> observation of even the most mundane daily activities. There is a

> meditation involving walking - to be aware of the mechanics behind every

> step. One should be aware while eating of the movement of the arm in

> picking up food with a fork, the opening of the mouth, the taste and smell

> of the food. One should be aware when thinking that one is thinking.

> Absolute awareness and presence in every second of daily life - this is the

> yoga of Zen. Zen does not talk much about bliss, but mostly about freedom

> from suffering, peace, and eventual enlightenment. Zazen meditation is the

> main practice that leads to enlightenment, but the meditative quality is

> encouraged to eventually include every moment of every day.

>

> Disclaimer - I am not a Zen Buddhist, but have done extensive reading and

> studying of it.

>

> Hari Om,

 

i have studied at the feet of a Zen master, still doesnt make me an expert

by any stretch of the imagination, but i would only add that in all of

these activities, it is spontaneous and natural, also correct in function

situation and relationship.

 

This sort of awareness is like the sun shining, it needs no *i* to say

what it is. it just drinks tea and chops wood and carries water.

 

It hears a baby crying, and gives her milk, it sees traffic coming, and

does not walk out into it. It falls off the top of the cliff to give an

answer to a student, even at the price of life. After all, what is wrong

with dying when the situation, relationship, and function are correct?

 

So there is no forced "I am picking up the fork and being aware". Only

pick up the fork and eat.

 

Zen starts with the bodhisattva's vow that starts "Sentient beings are

numberless, i vow to save them all...." Within there, there is no room for

ego.

 

of course i could be as usual babbling in delerium, so if what i say

doesnt click, you can forget that you heard it .

 

--janpa