Have You Any Question (Satan, Zen)

zenzero · #1 04-01-2008, 09:03 AM

FRIENDS,
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION, WILL SURELY FIND AN ANSWERE.
QUESTIONS SHOULD BE RELATED TO *THE PATH OF ENLIGHTENMENT*
meaning to state that we are at RF to be enlightened and so the goal should be focussed in the type of questions too.

SO GO AHEAD AND ASK!

LOVE & RGDS

Kungfuzed · #2 04-01-2008, 10:01 AM

Do you use trampolines to reach zen or just a giant coutch?

stephenw · #3 04-01-2008, 10:15 AM

Yes thank-you zenzero.
I have lot's of questions. My first is regarding the idea of no-self.
I have a hazy idea that the self is an individual unit of consciousness distinct yet part of everything, I don't think this is mere attachment, could you comment on the concept of no-self bearing in mind my notion of the self. (I also find conceptualisation of no-self impossible, perhaps you can assist)

I also perceive duality as far into myself as I am capable of seeing. What's the Zen view regarding duality ?

zenzero · #4 04-01-2008, 10:40 AM

Friend Kunfuzed,
The answere is one needs NOTHING.
Yes, just do nothing, not even THINKING.
Try it, you will be enlightened.
Friend Stepohenw,
You are one who can be seen as making real efforts in finding REAl answres.
Begining is an end in itself.
Rgds SELF/No self,DUALITIES.
The idea is to follow as much as one can; rest just leave it as any effort in stilling a silent lake only disturbs it more, makes it more muddy.
The real answeres has to come from within and for that one needs to still the mind like when the lake is still the moon reflection on it becomes clear.
Mind is like that, it is muddy with thoughts and only way to still it is not touching or encouaging the thoughts. By and by one by being non-attached to thoughts; one becomes non attached and slowly the mind settles and becomes thoughtless [the mud settles] and the reflection becomes clear.
Duality is like eg a magnet. A Magnet has two poles, One cannot have a magnet with one pole. Cut the magnet into two thinking that the north will be in one half and the south pole on the other half. It never happens. You have again both the poles on two pieces after cutting it.
Buddha never talked about god/satan because they both complete the whole.One cannot choose one as it is a pacakage deal. Therefore remain in the middle where like in a pendulum which swings, it remains oequal on both sides when it crosses the middle for a brief period. So only focus on the middle and do not swing with the pendulum whenever it is on either side.
Self or no-self is only when the thinking remains the self is distinct individual and as soon as thinking is still/ settles then one finds that both are correct. Though each have a distinct body but at the same time is a part of the whole and this whole is something which is always in a flux [moving] and changing forms but finally they are all coming out of nothingness.
Main thing is to practice meditation in some form to understand or see TRUTH clearly rather be truth itself.

Friends,
Do excuse me if the responses are not in the language you may be familiar with but am sure that by and by we shall be able to understand each other. Do not forget that we come from the same source and are one by birth [even DNA]. Yes can surely state that DNA can only make individual distinctions but in totality there will be a common thread between all of existence.
Love & rgds

whereismynotecard · #5 04-01-2008, 11:13 AM

It is impossible to not think... (meaning that there can exist no time when your mind is not thinking of something, even if it is just something quite small, such as if you are thinking, "What am I thinking? I am not thinking of anything. My eyes hurt, because I am tired, the computer is on; I am typing...") and even if you did not think, you wouldn't remember it, because how could you? You base your memories on what happened, and how you felt, and if you were not thinking anything at all, you would not remember how you felt, because you wouldn't have known you felt anything...

Seriously... it is difficult to explain... Everyone is always thinking, and if they aren't they will never know it.

stephenw · #6 04-01-2008, 11:14 AM

Thanks zenzero,
That's a very useful answer. After I think about it I'll be back with lots more questions !

TurkeyOnRye · #7 04-01-2008, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whereismynotecard

It is impossible to not think... (meaning that there can exist no time when your mind is not thinking of something, even if it is just something quite small, such as if you are thinking, "What am I thinking? I am not thinking of anything. My eyes hurt, because I am tired, the computer is on; I am typing...") and even if you did not think, you wouldn't remember it, because how could you? You base your memories on what happened, and how you felt, and if you were not thinking anything at all, you would not remember how you felt, because you wouldn't have known you felt anything...

Seriously... it is difficult to explain... Everyone is always thinking, and if they aren't they will never know it.

Not when your consciousness is flowing with the continuous stream of presence. Your mind is then essentially this very moment. Focus on this very moment and you can then quiet your mind. Whether you are technically thinking or not is a bit irrelevent.

zenzero · #8 04-01-2008, 09:45 PM

Friend Whereismynotecard,
Yes,
It is the most diffidult thing to do.
That is the reason Zen masters used their sticks, some beat there students to get their mind to go blank [no thoughts] to enable them to get enlightened.
That is why Zen is all about Sudden enlightenment.
Once a person reaches that state for a brief second; he will always go back to it. It is such a powerful state that it draws the individual towards it on its own accord. Thats Nature /Tao. The experience is called Satori. Also a Satori is only the begining of the journey, Hindus call it TWICE BORN rather the individual is born for the first time after that experience and from then it is towards Nirvana when no thoughts arises.
A space with a gap of split seconds of no thoughts to a state of thoughtlessness is the jouney.
It needs great effort on the part of the individual to reach that stage and mind [which I call Satan]is constantly coaxing / disturbing / annoying / pulling the individual away from that what we call god. The effort if directed becomes a form of meditation / dhyana.
To start one must understand that dhyana means awareness and so one needs just to be aware / alert / wakeful at all times. The mind never allows one to do so and so the effort must include not to percieve any thoughts in dualities like good/bad etc. Whatever happens in daily life remain calm and just take it as *It is like this* or * It had to happen* Yes, it is true that whatever has to happen happens due to the karmic forces and natural happenings. A great Acceptance is required to calm the mind. Slowly and only by meditation can one understand the MIND and be able to calm it. Reading & understanding is all at the mind stage and from there it is a quantum jump to the other pole of no-mind.
As suggested earlier; one can start with awareness of their own breathing and slowly develop the breathing to be deep and calm. Watch your breating at all times.
Practice that for few yaers before your next question.
This is not a joke, believe me all Zen masters do the same thing as unless you have that experience; all your questions will be difficult to find answeres simply because of the two poles both stand one in the mind and the other in no-mind.
Love & rgds