Originally Posted by Phaelyn

I was thinking about how us humans make these machines, like take a tank for example, then we get inside of it and do things we could not do without the machine. We point the tank gun at a little house, push a button, and the tank totally blows up and destroys the little house. So we make machines and use them to do things we can't.

This human body is another machine we got into to do things we can't. (and made by us in the non-physical realm) With it's brain, appearance, memory, emotions, animal traits such as sex, hormones, and on and on, even the aging process is there and a part of the machine for a reason. It helps to create a story, to get the consciousness within ready to leave the body, as the body become broken in various ways as it ages.

So we are in this machine that is presenting a certain experience and reality, a context to live within, the thoughts and beliefs and all of that, relationships, but where am I going with this that relates to zen...!

Well ZEN is realizing none of this is me! All of it, or none of it...so say one recognizes this.... so the mouse gets off the treadmill....no more path, practices, teachings, teachers, something to seek, .... this is all content from this body and brain, this machine, designed to present all this stuff to hypnotize us to it's reality. But then we wake up.

We step completely out of the "game" manufactured by our brains/minds. So then what! Well life is mysterious and I'm still in the body. But it's like being in a new universe to explore. What really is water!? What is it's taste? Why is it transparent! Every moment becomes ...um......yea I don't know of any words.... it's just better... everything is better.... quiet, still, connected, harmonious....awe inspiring.... vast.... the sky starts right here at my feet and goes up without end.... infinite! Infinite yet I am here looking up... I am in the infinite!.......

A unique human is a myth. Someone somewhere is exactly like you, a few variations, but dang similar....so this self we think is important and unique...that we have created though thought and experience...ya not unique... not special, can be dropped, it was a good fit for awhile... it was a fascinating thing to create and work on, like a book we love, or like a room.... a room we elaborately decorated with painstaking detail...but still a room.... and outside our room which is me is a whole new world to explore and become acquainted with.

Originally Posted by sentient

Alan Watts’ talks - interesting and entertaining as always ….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkhfbE2R5jQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ4gem0Nd7U

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Thanks for bringing up the subject of Zen Joe!

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Originally Posted by Joe Mc

Made me think of this quote.

When you do something, you should burn yourself up completely, like a good bonfire, leaving no trace of yourself.

Shunryu Suzuki

I wrote this Haiku after sitting this morning. Thought I'd share it with you, hope you don't mind.

At dawn Buddha
By sunset it has gone
Sleeping once more

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

One of my favorite and, at one time, most puzzling Zen meditations was Yunmen's "dried ****stick". :D

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/monkey...editation.html

(Note that 4 letters in the link were censored but that word is in virtually every translation of Yunmen's unorthodox Zen meditation. Replace the 4 letters inappropriately :biggrin: and you will be able to read the story.)

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

One of my favorite and, at one time, most puzzling Zen meditations was Yunmen's "dried ****stick". :D

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/monkey...editation.html

(Note that 4 letters in the link were censored but that word is in virtually every translation of Yunmen's unorthodox Zen meditation. Replace the 4 letters inappropriately :biggrin: and you will be able to read the story.)

Originally Posted by Joe Mc

Yes im familiar with the s hit stick koan :biggrin:

Here are a few lines i penned this morning after sitting for a bit ...could be in response to the s hit stick koan ...thanks for the inspiration. :D

The azz*of the chair
Supports the azz of my body
The azz of my mind
Between cloudy weather
Iphone 6 or dslr
The ending of illness
The beginning of the end ….
…. I conclude that somehow
this is all in all an asses life
That through some miracle
I can appreciate ..even work with
Smile at sometimes.

* trying to beat the filter ..what an ***

Originally Posted by Still_Waters

I love what you wrote. I'm not surprised that you were familiar with this "Zen Meditation".

A while ago, I read the koans from the Gateless Gate and the Blue Cliff Notes. At that point, I mentioned to the head of a NY Ashram that I stopped reading Pantanjali's Yoga sutras. Her response was, "Of course. This starts where the Yoga Sutras stop." She then added, "You WILL order a copy of this book for me. " :D I did. :smile: Zen is awesome, but not necessarily for everyone.

I once stayed at the monastery of the Grand Zen Master of Korea in Gjungju. I asked him a question.

"I have never heard any stories about the Buddha getting angry. Do you know of any instances where the Buddha got angry?"

After a long pause, he looked at me and responded.

"I do not know what is in the mind of the Buddha."

:D