Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!eagle!data.nas.nasa.gov!news
From: dogen@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (John Chq)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.eastern
Subject: Re: Did the Buddha sit zazen?
Summary: On sitting meditation
Keywords: A Ch'an monk replies
Message-ID: <1991Jun7.231029.26832@nas.nasa.gov>
Date: 7 Jun 91 23:10:29 GMT
References: <1991Jun7.203626.23521@nas.nasa.gov>
Sender: news@nas.nasa.gov
Organization: Northwestern University
Lines: 36
Approved: prabhu@amelia.nas.nasa.gov


I loved the quote from Old Frog, Len.
Sitting meditation is indeed central in all Buddhist traditions.  It is one
of the few subjects of agreement between the Pali texts of the Theravada
and the Chinese/Tibetan Mahayana Sutras.  All the great bodhisattvas are
said to have mastered the hundred deep samadhis, and the Buddha
contemplated his breath for seven days prior to his Nibbana.

The only times zazen is criticised, as I recall, is when it is seen as an
instrument for enlightenment (as opposed to Dogen's view in which it is an
"expression" of Buddha-nature), or when one becomes attached to the
activity--the calmness induced--itself. Even Bankei said one should not be
adverse to sitting, even though we are already Unborn.

It is also interesting to note that many of the great "sages" of Buddhism
attained enlightenment by means of their own efforts in zazen; only
subsequently did they go to an established teacher for authentication and
further cultivation.  In fact in the Korean tradition of zen (which
strongly follows Chinese chan), it is not unheard of for a disciple to
leave the presence of his teacher and sangha, go off by themselves to the
mountains, and pursue a rigorous 'program' of isolated sitting; only to
come back many years later (up to 10) to recieve more instruction or
verification of awakening.

The very notion that all one has to do is "be in the presence of an
enlightened being"  is somewhat poo pooed in Mahayana; hence the derogetory
term "sravaka buddha" (a lower form of awakening due to the hearing only of
a sage).  This is not to invalidate the need for a teacher; but in the end
we must resume our Buddha-nature by our own efforts.

							J. C.
-- 
*******************************************************************************
-- John Cha
"The present is always more interesting than the future or the past"
*******************************************************************************