A young whippersnapper Zennist at twenty, I would have liked to meet and old dude like myself. Meeting him would have saved me years of hearing so much Zen bullshit. I could have gotten on with the real business of Zen much faster: realizing my true nature.
I really feel sorry for modern Zennists, especially when they are fed stuff by Zen masters like Thich Nhat Hanh who said, “The basic practice recommended by the Buddha is to go home to the present moment.” Sorry, but the Buddha never said anything like this.
Listen up—Buddhism is all about realizing the pure or luminous Mind. It comes by many different names, such as unborn Mind, Buddha Mind, One Mind, suchness, the Buddha-nature to mention just a few names. When you realize this Mind there is nothing subjective about it. If your friends happen to be hanging around you during the manifestation of the Mind that is bodhi (S., bodhicittotpada) they will be so blissed out they can’t even stand up. It is far greater than what the Christian Paul realized on the road to Damascus.
Yet, the essence of this realization is quite simple: one turned to that which animates their psychophysical body. Of course, it is not easy to connect with that which animates us. Even Einstein probably couldn’t do it. But it can be done. The payoff is to see, for the first time, what all things are really made of. Yes, pure Mind. This is also where the Buddha is really coming from. The rest is bullshit.
Your present moment is nothing more than a freeze-frame on the wide screen of samsara.
Posted by: Boxing Gloves | December 10, 2012 at 07:02 AM
MStrinado; It seems, at least to me, that your objections may be based on our different understanding of the words used. In any case, I agree with you regarding the nature of Clear Light (IT is AS IT IS), so I think it’s best to leave it at that, as it is. Namaste.
Posted by: clyde | June 24, 2012 at 05:32 PM
Clyde:
Using your own phraseology, “to be present with the moment” is clearly indicative of an “encounter”. You are stating this to be some kind of an experiential “moment” in encountering some kind of phenomena, i.e., a “present moment”. Also, in your context, you state that this moment will be encountered “when the Clear Light of Reality Shines”, as if this is going to be some kind of occurrence when an objective “Clear Light of Reality” finally makes its presence known. Luminous Mind, Clear Light, ect., is not an objectifiable occurrence sparked by some kind of phenomenal present moment…IT is AS IT IS in Itself with no-thing arising or cessating.
Posted by: MStrinado | June 24, 2012 at 11:25 AM
@MStrinado; Since the Zennist used the term “bardo”, a term used in Tibetan Buddhist teachings and specifically in the Tibetan Book of the Dead, I responded from that view. The phrase “Clear Light of Reality” is a term used in the teachings and is synonymous with “luminious Mind”, a phrase used by the Zennist; both of which are synonymous with Dharmakaya.
Regarding the “present moment”, one does not *encounter* it.
Posted by: clyde | June 24, 2012 at 02:00 AM
' Your "present moment" is nothing more than a "freeze-frame" on the wide screen of samsara. '
Interesting, MStriando. Interesting thought indeed.
Posted by: X | June 24, 2012 at 12:13 AM