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Click here if you want to learn how to meditate. On This Page 
Before we start, I should point out that the word Zen is anglicized. Typically in Japanese the word Zen is pronounced as SEN, however, SEN is also the sound of the number (1,000) in Japanese. Think $10 just in cents and you have Sen Cents. Ni-Sen is 2,000 and Sun-Sen is 3,000 etc. Root: The word "Zen" originates from the Sanskrit word dhyāna (diana), meaning "meditation" or "meditative state". Intermediate: The practice was carried from India to China, where it was called Chan (禅), and thence it spread to Japan, where it was pronounced (renamed as) "Zen". Finally: It is most commonly known as Zen. (unless you are in China or India) Not everything with the word Zen in it has the same meaning. For example: My joke It is however, applicable to modern day meditation because of the massive amount of information we are exposed to on a daily basis which has little if anything to do with spiritual First simple example: One of my teachers taught me the following. The more you have, the less you have and when you understand this, the more (greater) is your take-away. Translation... This means that the more you "learn" (of wisdom), the more you realize just how little you know and it is only at that point that you have the "potential" to be humble enough to actually start learning (thus the greater your "potential" take-away). Which one is true? ↟↟ The Sixth Patriarch Platform Sutra.
Or Hui-Neng's
One Translation ↟↟ Bodhi originally has no tree Bodhi represents the original enlightened soul with awareness of knowledge and wisdom, and the body represents the tree. You are looking at the Tree Of Life every day but you do not see it. The mirror has no stand A mirror on a stand is static and stationary - like the ego. Take the "silver" from the back of the mirror and all you have is transparent glass. (mirrors used to use silver "paint" on the back to create the reflection. Silver was also used as money). The mirror is originally clean and pure The mirror reflects "The Enlightened Soul" (in this case) and it was created without blemish. It is only our physical actions that cause it damage and pain. Where is there room for dust to settle? BE where you in the Note that there are many variations of these 2 sayings.
The Hui-neng story (regardless of whether or not he actually existed is a brilliant parable Upadez-Arthav-Akya (उपदेशार्थवाक्य)) which shows that it is not intellect by way of education that everyone needs to follow and that the "Path of the Heart" is more profound than most people realize. Hui-neng could be a very good example of how uneducated people may have a better spiritual grasp on the Truth than the most glorified University student. A perfect example of this is myself. Like most men over 60, we start having prostate "issues" so at the behest of my wife we went to see a ductor who suggested a diuretic tablet. After a 20 second online search, I found out that the recommended "tablet" had 25 side-effects, several of them quite serious (like liver and kidney damage). I politely pointed this out to the doctor and I may have just as well been talking to a rock. We left the doctors office and went home where I ordered Stinging Nettle ROOT (powder) which I made into a tincture and less than 3 weeks later my prostate "issue" had cleared up (so long as I take some nettle root tincture every day). This is one of the meanings of "The pennies of the poor are worth more than all the gold of the rich". If you understand these simple words, then this Most people think vertically because they do not exercise other parts of their brain. If you want a short cut to Spatial awareness, then please consider the Zen thinking often includes: ↟↟
One of the benefits of studying The Mahabharata and / or studying The Talmud is that they expand your mind to encompass all of the above.
Consider the implications if Example 1: ↟↟ You cannot "be" if you think you "are". This statement seems to contradict itself. When in fact, what it actually means is that you are what you are and not what you think you are. Perceived reality is based on how you translate any information you receive and your perception of whether that information is right or wrong - as we are told by the Main Stream Media - which usually has some kind of political or corruption bent these days (or worse). Jesus Paradox These perceptions become part of the The first problem is that the clouds of physicality block out the sunlight of your soul. The second problem is that you are disconnected from spirituality. This is common for many people because we see the lies in main stream religion and we do not know how to handle this. The Third problem is that we have been handed down corrupt teachings - especially by "the" catholic church (eg: One answer to this is to be in the "Mind of No-Mind" which has the potential to bring your soul to the point of Creation itself. The "Mind of No-Mind" allows you to detach yourself from the illusion of corporeal reality. One of the problems in the way of ascension is Karma and atonement for past and present "sins" (for want of a better word like transgressions). Zen may make you smarter but you still need to atone for This current cycle we live in is nothing more than a test for people to grow spiritually. As one of my teachers once told me, "plants grow faster in manure". This cycle is best described in Vedic lore and is called the The fourth major problem is that we are lied to by Main Stream Scientists about the supposed age of our existence on this planet. Their view is that evolved monkeys walked in from the desert and built the pyramids 3,000 ± years ago when there is clear water damage on the Also consider that even the Dynastic Egyptians claimed to have "reclad" the sphinx at least once that we are sure of and possibly twice which may throw the creation of the Sphinx (at least) back significantly more than 13,000 years. Plus you also have the missing Sphinx which is supposed to be facing "West" which would possibly calculate out at 780,000 years ago ++. To better understand Zen itself, you need to have an open mind and to be well educated with FACTS. The "Mind of No-Mind" can also be likened to listening to "The Silence" and being in between deep slow breaths. For simple people, Zen is about being, simply being. For those who are over endowed with intellect it is much harder, we have to fight our way through the lies and untruths and misinformation in order to reach a place where we can start to discover our own path to the Creator. For example: Before you click this link, answer the following question. What color is our Unfortunately, there are so many road blocks and detours, most people just give up and the really sad part of this is that for a great many of these people, they are SO close to ascension and getting off this planet that if they had persisted, there is a very good chance that they may not need to return to this level. You could liken this as reading a "street map" from one city and then trying to navigate around an entirely different city. Zen (IMO) allows you the ability to walk around the mountain or even fly over the mountain, instead of trying to dig your way through the mountain with a spoon. If your heart is not full of love and truth, then you cannot cross the "rainbow bridge" (my words) to get to the source. This may sound like an over simplistic solution, and that is because it is over simplified. I will cover this at another time because it requires a more advanced approach. This I will tell you this however, you will need to be compliant with both Breathing meditation and Controlled meditation. Example 2: ↟↟ Who am I before I was born? Not who was I? One answer to this riddle is if you ask who "was I", then you need to account for every lifetime in this current Universe Cycle and "possibly other This is because we do not know IF our Universe is also undergoing a series of The word "WHO" is a grammatically definitive reference to our Human form only, because you also cannot use the word "what" to define a concept you have no idea about - and which any belief you may think you have is based purely on a premise or supposition you have been taught. Thus your question can only be based on human logic in the present tense. (this is because languages change over time) Example 3: ↟↟ Why do you want to learn the truth? If you have an answer, then you are not ready. The reason that you are not ready is because "The Truth" is not "actively" seeking you. When "The Truth" inside you exists in "passive mode", it is because it is subordinate to your whims and desires and distractions - thus your "physical worldly desires" will inhibit and even overrule most (if not all) of the epiphanies your soul will experience and try and alert your consciousness to. Think of it in terms of a "soul" muscle you do not use, which eventually atrophies into oblivion. Then it is back to the However, when "The Truth" is actively seeking you, it means that this pervading life-force engulfs your entire being and consumes your thoughts, speech, actions plus your intent - and becomes the Master of your heart. There are How will you know if you are meditating or It is only by opening your heart up to the Universe itself, that you can even begin to understand the magnitude of the potential you have inside your very soul. If your brain is spinning at this point, then you are standing before the first step. The Word ↟↟ The word Zen is derived from the Japanese pronunciation (kana: ぜん) of the Middle Chinese word 禪 (Middle Chinese: pinyin: Chán), which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna (ध्यान). Zen may be approximately translated as "contemplation", transcendent, "absorption", or "meditative state". Dhyana (Vedic) == Zen (Japanese) == Chan (Chinese). I was taught that there are 4 basic Zen
** One answer to this riddle is to transcend physicality and become the very essence of your existence which is your soul. In this way you become what you "are" and not what you are not. (the body) Consider this, when you die - as we all do - your body ceases to exist on every level, yet your soul (Atma - Atman) continues. It is "The Spark" which connects you to the Divine. One of my Buddhist teachers once told me this allegory. Firstly I must point out that I am a male and this has nothing to do with sex: He said. "How close can you get to the one you love if you are wearing 100 layers of clothing?". He said, "Your mind and body are like the layers of clothing - this is why we do Fasting". Then he asked me this question, "How close can you get to the Creator if your body seeks physical desires and vain compliments?". Multi Layered Example ↟↟ Zen - by its own existence - can also interact on a legalistic level. 1 quick She gets into an argument with another cow and kills the other cow. Some of the questions which arise from this are:
While these and other questions need to be answered, it is also important to note that you need to have the ability to think of these layered questions in the first place. This is all about education, self-education and more education. There is an old joke I like which says: You will not get these jokes if your are ignorant. It is all about education and more education. Existential Lateral Thinking ↟↟ The Double Slit Experiment is a good example of existential lateral thinking. Some say that The Double Slit experiment is oxymoron proof that we exist - but only when we are looking. ... or is it when we are not looking? Zen is a word from the Japanese school of The "catch" is that you still need to learn the "scriptures" because this is the foundation of many of your questions. Also, if we did not have basic "scriptures" to work from, then any "fool" - either by design or accident - could alter the scriptures and certain knowledge would be lost. However, IF someone develops the ability to study in the Akashic Records, then this lost knowledge "may" be rediscovered. Again there is a "catch" to this concept. Logical or Illogical? ↟↟ Sometimes "true" Zen may appear to be illogical until you unpack the context. For Example There is a Buddhist teaching I was taught which goes like this. One day a Monk overheard a man wishing that he would wake up one day and be 20 again instead of his current age of 50. After a few minutes, the Monk asked the man if he could offer a suggest and the man said "yes". The Monk said "you are 50 and you want to wake up once and be 20"? The man said yes. The Monk suggested the following. "Why not go to bed thinking that you are 50 years older than you are every day, and then every day you wake up, you will be 50 years younger"? There is a follow up to this. My teacher went on to say that "to a fool, time brings old age and not wisdom".
The problem with Timeline is that things change over time so what is "true" today may not be true tomorrow. Unless there are hidden meanings hidden within the texts. A quick example of this is slang? Too many examples (per country) to demonstrate properly. This is often compounded by mis-translations. Graphical Representation ↟↟ I have seen 2 graphical representations of the concept of Zen. One was a dot and the other was a circle, both represent the elegance of simplicity. But Zen is not just elegant or simple, it often has perceivable and imperceivable logic - and sometimes both at the same time - which may be understandable on many levels. One day I asked my teacher, "Is Zen logical"? His answer was interesting and multi layered. He asked me, "How do you draw a circle within a circle"? After a minute or so I smiled and he said, "See, the answer is logical on one level and logical on another level". So now I was confused and asked him to explain. So He asked me again, "How do you draw multiple circles within a circle"? I said, "You start in the center". "Yes" he said, "You start within". "Why do you start within?" ↟↟ "Because each circle represents the amount of people you interact with as you grow older." "And while the other circles are around you, they are Not You. So you must start to make any changes at the central point of your existence - which is you." "Eventually, your stability (or instability) will affects others around you which in turn will decide the outcome for you and eventually everyone else in this world." He said, "Remember, Zen is not "the" answer, it simply offers you a higher path".   Just because you cannot immediately see the hidden answers does not mean that they do not exist. (Think about Atoms) This brings us back to Zen examples which seem to defy time. This is where having scriptures comes in handy as they provide a foundation for knowledge.
*** What does it mean? "Be where you are" and "You are where your mind is"? Most people do not control their thoughts and they are like a ship in a storm without a motor or rudder and they are completely at the mercy of external events. Many of these events are physically tangible and thus real, however, many are not real. Zen offers you a way of dissolving the un-real problems and diminishing (in most cases) the real problems - especially when combined with advanced meditation. Zen works on a lot of "WHAT IF" scenarios - just like the Talmud - and this exercises your Brain (muscle) and helps keep your brain healthier. Most people live within multiple circles - or at least they think they do. In most cases, these limiting circles are self imposed - and once you realize that these circles are a construct of your society's conditioning, you can usually start to enjoy your life much better without the tiresome stress of things you "Must Do". Just like Zen per se is often subjective to specifics and the time the student is at the required level. It is also open to various interpretations by scholars and would be scholars. The Talmud on the other hand is much more readily available and just as confusing. You can read The Talmud online here for 3 Abstract Zen Examples ↟↟
I asked my (Japanese) teacher, "Is there another word for Zen (禅)"? He answered, "Wa". (和 = Kanji and は = Hiragana) "Wa" is Japanese for "is" or "am" or "are" (same meaning in Japanese), so Watashi Wa (私は) means I am - while Anata Wa (あなたは) means You Are and Kanojo Wa (彼女は) means "she is" etc. As a word, "Wa" has many meanings including but not limited to the following: Harmony, Atmosphere, Peace, Japan (the country itself) and other meanings. Wa is also used to ask where someone is. For example, "Where is Bob", you would say "Bob Wa?". There is a joke in Japan that when the Father cooks a meal and the kids sit down to eat, the first thing they say is "O'kah'san Wa"? (Where is mother?) Why is this here? This is here to show you that (in this instance) some words are more complex that 1 or 2 simple meanings, so unless you study these variations, you cannot see the full picture and thus how do you expect to elevate your mind if you are limited by ignorance? We often see this in translations of ancient texts and religious doctrines. The translators either did not understand the variations of the word, or they did not know any hidden meanings (if applicable and especially with Hebrew) or they were unaware of the nuances - for example the word Summary ↟↟ One of my teachers put it like this. 
Consider Zen in our modern lingo. You engage in Zen thoughts (possibly) on a daily basis, but you may not be aware of it. How would you explain the following to someone from another planet (or even another country). "I got my ass handed to me on a plate." What does that mean exactly? Actual translation is: "I lost badly". Now think about how someone who does not speak your language would interpret that statement. Also consider that it is "stated" in the Past Tense so it would be obvious to the other person that "Your Ass" was not missing from its proper position. How many more like this can "you" think of? Remember that once you understand and know the answer, any question is simple and easy. But first you must climb the mountain before you can enjoy the view.
A few more questions - for now. The Zen Of Har'money ↟↟ When I first started learning the foundations of Zen, my teacher asked us (in English), "what is the Zen of harmony"? He said that before we could answer that question we had to find the structure of No-Mind. After some time, one of the students asked "Was there any other hints to find this answer"? The teacher said, "Yes, you need to examine the meaning of the word closely". He said, "Some languages have perfect words which ''may'' also bring different levels of Enlightenment (or the ability to ascend higher) and HarMoney was one of these". He said that, "On the right day, Enlightenment may come from the sting of a bee". Note that he did not spell out the word but he did accentuate the letter M. Several days later - in our morning meditation, one of the other students suddenly proclaimed, "Money causes Harm?". Harm Money The teacher just smiled and said nothing. He had given us a JigSaw puzzle with all the right pieces, but neglected to tell us that the jigsaw puzzle was upside down - or in this case, inside out. Homework I would like you to think about this for a while and see if you can come up with at least 1 logical answer to the above puzzle. NOTE: When you think about such things in depth, it stimulates your brain - as opposed to simply being told the answer. Contemplation, like meditation - like protracted praying, all help stimulate more blood flow to the brain and also stimulate new brain cells, especially if you supplement with Lithium Orotate. So how did we Next Journey ↟↟ One evening our teacher spoke to us before our evening meditation and said, "Consider the lilies of the field, they are your spiritual bread". Your homework - if you choose to accept it - is to find these "lilies of the field". It is not an impossible mission, but you do need to look with an open mind. I will tell you this however, this is an ancient quote and has nothing - at all - to do with religion. Consider This ↟↟ The "Truth" is the "Truth" but there are no "obvious" signs pointing the way - as one of my teachers "pointed" out to me one day. He said that my job was to find out "what is the reason for this". So Dear Reader, I now pass this responsibility on to you to find out "your" answer. The secret to this answer is to "Seek" the Truth with all your Heart - and only then will it reveal itself to you. And remember, just as you are not yet ready for the answer, your friends and family will also not be ready for anything you tell them. But you can slowly effect a change in them by meditating on the Truth and mentally projecting this into the Universe. Believe it or not, it actually works so long as you do not use words to describe this projection. You must become a Conduit of pure intent and any thoughts, words or names or descriptions you may envisage as "your truth" will be wrong and you will simply cause damage. Thoughts refers to multiple thoughts. So the object of the exercise is to have 1 I was taught that once you start naming names and thinking, it is like pouring jell-o (jelly) through a fine sieve. The purity of your "intent" is measured by the stillness of your mind after your initial PreCog thought. The more you practice this method, the stronger and faster you will become until it becomes an intuitive part of your life - like breathing. This is why you must first ascend to the place of No-Mind so that this Divine healing energy passes directly via your soul into the Universe and to those around you. Transcendence ↟↟ This is one of the secrets of Transcendence. Great Rewards: Also remember that even humans with low level souls have the "potential" capacity to do this and it is a way of helping many people ascend by helping to reduce and even eliminate some Karmic debt in many cases. Finally ↟↟ I will leave you with this thought. Study Zen all you like, but unless you are Zen and live Zen 毎日, then you have achieved very little. Rote will not help you. Quick Note: 2 meanings of the kanji 日 (nichi) literally are "sun" and "day". So a "hidden" meaning is that Zen helps to bring light every day. Then remember that Zen is not the answer, it is part of the Path. Zen helps train your mind for the unexpected encounters you usually have. You learn to notice things like the logo at the top of this page incorporates an alien meditating, a Tori-i (tor'ee-ee) and the Japanese sign for Yen 円. Implying we may go from the ($$$) material, through to the spiritual, and may be higher. Thank you. May love and light bless you and yours.
"Be or Be Not" The End Of Zen is to "be" but for most of us we need to exhaust our intellect first. Our brains are like a Formula 1 racing car driving around a parking lot. Once you exhaust your multitude of different questions, you need to exhaust your different reincarnations, but this can be a much faster process if you repent your "sins". These include past and present transgressions and this must be genuine. After that you need to This requires you to put your mind into a place before "One". Once you reach that place of "Unity" and this must be done with "Love", then Zen no longer applies and you are literally above physicality. It is only at this level that you have the "potential" to by-pass all of the intermediaries and communicate directly with The Creator. I am not saying that The Creator will acknowledge or respond to you but at least you are in a much higher place than you are now. You may find thiese interesting as well. Advance Spiritually?Good luck.
You need a sense of humor to watch this. Q: What is the sound of one hand clapping? This is the wrong answer. :) |
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