Hey guys,
I've been a long time lurker on this sub and decided to do an AMA in case I would like to participate in future discussions.
Not Zen? Suppose a person denotes your lineage and your teacher as Buddhism unrelated to Zen, because there are several quotations from Zen patriarchs denouncing seated meditation. Would you be fine admitting that your lineage has moved away from Zen and if not, how would you respond?
Well, I don't have a lineage, nor do I favour some Zen masters over others. If it would come to “admitting that your lineage has moved away from Zen” then I would be fine with it.
What's your text? What text, personal experience, quote from a master, or story from zen lore best reflects your understanding of the essence of zen?
Mumonkan is a good read, The Zen Teachings of Huang Po is even better—I haven't gone through this one yet though.
As far as I've known, there is no “essence of Zen”. Some say, quoting Bodhidharma, “Seeing your own nature is Zen.” Which indeed does sound Zen. But this the word “Zen” has been used to describe so many things. For example, there is this Zen vase. From the looks of it, it has little to nothing to do with Zen teachings, the lineage, Zen koans or seeing your own nature. So what exactly makes it Zen?
Dharma low tides? What do you suggest as a course of action for a student wading through a "dharma low-tide"? What do you do when it's like pulling teeth to read, bow, chant, or sit?
I don't know who said it, but “When hungry, eat. When tired, sleep.” This should describe my understanding of, and advice for, “Dharma low tides”.
If you want to know more, fire away!
Submitted December 13, 2017 at 04:34PM by druid3ka http://ift.tt/2BZ9u6c
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