teaching of a zen master
We went to a meditation retreat in Berkeley on Saturday. Zen master - Ven. Hyunoong Sunim was there for the Dharma talk. Amit and I really enjoyed what ever he said. Even though there were a few things which we could not understand or I should say "feel" but we loved the experience.
Here are some of the things that he said or I should say that our interpretation of what he said. We could be completely wrong :-)
- Acknowledge and accept the ever changing mind. Everything around is constantly changing and that includes our mind. The worry/sorrow/anger comes because we get attached to that mind and do not let it change. Acknowledge this change and let your mind change. As everything else it is also impermanent.
- Remember that every one of our thoughts (the good, the bad and the downright ugghh) co-exist with our Buddha Nature. But "What is Buddha Nature?" Well, there is nothing that defines it....but the master gave a very good example - when a new born baby is hungry he cries and knows that he is hungry. What makes him realize that he is hungry is the Buddha Nature. He knows he is hungry even though he does not know any language or does not understand anything about this world or nature. His Buddha Nature perceives the hunger.
Now try to feel the above. Don't try to understand it :-)
(Amit's interpretation of "Buddha Nature" is absolute awareness/true awakening which is albeit dormant in all of us).
- As soon as you try to define Zen or Buddha Nature, the essence of it would vanish.
- Somebody asked the master that he is practicing to overcome anger. So when he gets angry he realizes his anger and can see it but is still not able to control it. To this the master replied that the mistake he is doing is that he is watching the anger. Don't watch the anger. Watch who is the perceiver of the anger and the anger will go away. This is true for all other emotions like worry, jealousy, hatred etc. Be kind on yourself. When ever you are in such a situation, remember that it co-exist with your "Buddha Nature". It will vanish.
- Practice to Observe the observer but then there is no observer :-)
- Read books/spiritual literature etc to realize or have faith in the fact that truth exists inside you. But then you have to find your own truth/awakening. Don't get attached to the "ways" or "techniques". Find your own way by practicing. The master said that he is just a medium to inculcate that faith in us. If we are not able to develop that faith through him then we can forget what ever he said.
- While meditating, don't try to control your mind or thought by trying too hard not to think. Just let a thought come and go. Don't get attached to any thought. Watch who the perceiver is.While I was meditating at the retreat, I tried to watch the perceiver for all the thoughts that I was getting - my anger, frustrations, worries, likes, dislikes etc. I realized that all those thoughts were born out of some prejudice or notion or judgment or common sense that I had developed since I was born. Then, in the last hour of meditation, I started feeling very hungry and was very restless. I, then closed my eyes to watch the observer of this perception of hunger and then I realized that this thought had come from just the simple fact of Being. This "awareness" existed even before I knew any language or had any common sense to judge anything. It was a beautiful realization.
- Don't get attach to any thought or notion. This includes the notion of good or bad; right or wrong; beautiful or ugly; love or hate...
- "I don't know" is a very good state to be in. :-)
- Awaken yourself and be spontaneous- It is not important for how long do you practice. What is important is to practice the correct way.
- Always share your experience with the Master. Don't self validate.
- We found a very interesting quote inside the monastery. It goes -
Knowing obstructs Zen
Not knowing obstructs Zen
Remember this. What will you do?
Here are some of the things that he said or I should say that our interpretation of what he said. We could be completely wrong :-)
- Acknowledge and accept the ever changing mind. Everything around is constantly changing and that includes our mind. The worry/sorrow/anger comes because we get attached to that mind and do not let it change. Acknowledge this change and let your mind change. As everything else it is also impermanent.
- Remember that every one of our thoughts (the good, the bad and the downright ugghh) co-exist with our Buddha Nature. But "What is Buddha Nature?" Well, there is nothing that defines it....but the master gave a very good example - when a new born baby is hungry he cries and knows that he is hungry. What makes him realize that he is hungry is the Buddha Nature. He knows he is hungry even though he does not know any language or does not understand anything about this world or nature. His Buddha Nature perceives the hunger.
Now try to feel the above. Don't try to understand it :-)
(Amit's interpretation of "Buddha Nature" is absolute awareness/true awakening which is albeit dormant in all of us).
- As soon as you try to define Zen or Buddha Nature, the essence of it would vanish.
- Somebody asked the master that he is practicing to overcome anger. So when he gets angry he realizes his anger and can see it but is still not able to control it. To this the master replied that the mistake he is doing is that he is watching the anger. Don't watch the anger. Watch who is the perceiver of the anger and the anger will go away. This is true for all other emotions like worry, jealousy, hatred etc. Be kind on yourself. When ever you are in such a situation, remember that it co-exist with your "Buddha Nature". It will vanish.
- Practice to Observe the observer but then there is no observer :-)
- Read books/spiritual literature etc to realize or have faith in the fact that truth exists inside you. But then you have to find your own truth/awakening. Don't get attached to the "ways" or "techniques". Find your own way by practicing. The master said that he is just a medium to inculcate that faith in us. If we are not able to develop that faith through him then we can forget what ever he said.
- While meditating, don't try to control your mind or thought by trying too hard not to think. Just let a thought come and go. Don't get attached to any thought. Watch who the perceiver is.While I was meditating at the retreat, I tried to watch the perceiver for all the thoughts that I was getting - my anger, frustrations, worries, likes, dislikes etc. I realized that all those thoughts were born out of some prejudice or notion or judgment or common sense that I had developed since I was born. Then, in the last hour of meditation, I started feeling very hungry and was very restless. I, then closed my eyes to watch the observer of this perception of hunger and then I realized that this thought had come from just the simple fact of Being. This "awareness" existed even before I knew any language or had any common sense to judge anything. It was a beautiful realization.
- Don't get attach to any thought or notion. This includes the notion of good or bad; right or wrong; beautiful or ugly; love or hate...
- "I don't know" is a very good state to be in. :-)
- Awaken yourself and be spontaneous- It is not important for how long do you practice. What is important is to practice the correct way.
- Always share your experience with the Master. Don't self validate.
- We found a very interesting quote inside the monastery. It goes -
Knowing obstructs Zen
Not knowing obstructs Zen
Remember this. What will you do?
posted by Gagan (Liza) Chawla at 6:16 PM
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