Going back to Bodhidharma, the tradition which has been named Zen or in Chinese Ch’an is about cultivating our mind, that is, bringing our mind to enter the principle or Dharma. This means to see mind unmoved which is transcendent. In doing so, we are able to distinguish mind as pure unmoved essence or principle from mind which is constantly stirring itself with desires, emotions, mental images, abstract thoughts, etc.
This is like first seeing water, this being H2O; then being able to distinguish water from wave-phenomena. When we directly enter into the principle or Dharma, we then come to understand that the phenomenal world we perceive, including our psychophysical body, is a transformation of the principle. This also means that phenomena are dependent originations of the principle. Phenomena reveal the active nature of the principle. It is just not a lifeless principle. For example, our internal thoughts are a function or activity of the principle. But they also hide the principle; making it not seem to be present in which people come to believe there is no such thing!
Those who undertake the study and practice of Zen have to be dedicated to realizing the principle as impossible as it might seem. Helping us along, we are aided by studying the discourses of the Buddha, and by meditation which stills the action of the physical body so mind can be studied and observed so as to uncover, not the waves, but the very substance or essence of the waves!
Are you saying that this world and body do not truly belong to us, but that what we are is in a different , higher realm, though it may be linked to the lower?
Posted by: Steve | February 20, 2015 at 10:08 PM
I have a lot of questions trying to realize the principle. Also sending you an email. Please check it out! Thanks.
Posted by: 100PercentProle | February 19, 2015 at 08:40 AM