ZAZEN anyone?

by AK - Jeff 23 Replies latest social physical

• 

  OnTheWayOut

  I am going to reply as someone totally ignorant of Zen.

  Nobody can "know all about Zen" because Zen seems to be about
  focusing on the individual experience and not the official statements
  and teachings of Zen. Individual experience supposedly adds to
  insight which can lead to enlightenment. Who would have much
  individual experience- ex-cult members who start searching for the
  real truth.

  Sure, there are books and Zen masters out there to get you started.
  We cannot learn unless someone starts us out as a teacher. But
  the ability to become a Buddha is within each one of us, so each must
  have a different experience on their different path to understanding.
  I could imagine that Zen could be great for one such as me who has
  been so bitter at WTS since discovering the real truth. It might help me
  to focus on benefiting from the bad experience. Almost a process of
  elimination: JW's don't have the path to enlightenment, but I have learned
  so much.

  I may one day look into Zen. It kind of reminds me of the movie from
  the late 70's- ALTERED STATES. It was theorized that each person
  has the molecules or atoms in their body that were present eons ago,
  so they should be able to tap into that time period.
• 

  cognizant dissident

  Yes, I was surprised to find that out myself, Parakeet. I practice Vipassana meditation for two years now. (That's why I found it so humorous that Tula was an expert after 3 or 4 times.) After two years, I realize, how little I know about anything. Even though some teachers believe in reincarnation and some are more formal than others in using ritual, it took me a while to wrap my brain around the fact that no one was the least bit concerned whether I believed in God or not or how faithful I was to religious ritual. Quite an eye opener and introduction to non-dogmatic spirituality.

  Cog
• 

  Hope4Others

  I think meditation has personally help me feel calm and more relaxed and take each day as it comes. I do not feel anxious as I did in the borg. I'm not very good at meditation because

  I find it hard to quite my mind long enough. My mind races constantly on things or ideas. I think with anything its just being consistent doing it. So I'll keep at it. I like the inner peace.

  Hope4Others
• 

  patio34

  Hello Tula,

  I applaud you for your skepticism and critical thinking! After having been duped by JWs for so long, I'm careful to employ my critical thinking also. I wish I had been more like you before they came a-knocking at my door!

  By way of explanation, I offer the following:

  You had quoted as a "Zazen teaching" this:

  "The wind moves but the mountain does not move" (etc.)

  It seems to me that the above quoted is not a teaching (like the Four Noble Truths) but what is called a koan. This is a nonsensical-seeming saying that's used for meditation to be interpreted anyway the meditator can make any application. Some of them never do figure out a meaning (not THE meaning). I utilized one once; it went something like this:

  A monk in training said to his teacher, "it's too hot!"

  The teacher said, "why don't you go where it's neither hot nor cold?"

  The monk said, "how can I do that? It's always hot or cold here."

  The teacher said, "wherever you are it's neither too hot nor cold."

  Or something like that! It was helpful for really exploring a thorny statement and examining it from all sides. I came up with several explanations and it was enlightening. Most Zennists and Buddhists don't utilize such meditation assists though.

  All the best,

  Pat