Comments on: Investigating the Stages of Enlightenment http://themiddleway.net/2007/10/05/investigating-the-stages-of-enlightenment/ Commentaries on Meditation, Zen, Buddhism, and Mindfulness Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:37:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Jerilyn Miripol http://themiddleway.net/2007/10/05/investigating-the-stages-of-enlightenment/#comment-11299 Jerilyn Miripol Mon, 29 Oct 2007 02:19:55 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2007/10/05/investigating-the-stages-of-enlightenment/#comment-11299 How can I begin to meditate. Should I have a mantra? What are the basic premises of Buddhism? How can I begin to meditate. Should I have a mantra?
What are the basic premises of Buddhism?

]]> By: Yem http://themiddleway.net/2007/10/05/investigating-the-stages-of-enlightenment/#comment-11181 Yem Tue, 23 Oct 2007 01:48:58 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2007/10/05/investigating-the-stages-of-enlightenment/#comment-11181 'not arriving' is where I am. After the realization of some of th truth, enable and unwilling to move forwards. If you stop learning and training, turning backwards sometimes is the process of going forwards ‘not arriving’ is where I am. After the realization of some of th truth, enable and unwilling to move forwards.

If you stop learning and training, turning backwards sometimes is the process of going forwards

]]> By: Gary http://themiddleway.net/2007/10/05/investigating-the-stages-of-enlightenment/#comment-10974 Gary Sun, 07 Oct 2007 14:51:56 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2007/10/05/investigating-the-stages-of-enlightenment/#comment-10974 In the original Theravada teachings of the Buddha, the Blessed One taught about the conditioned (sankhata) and the unconditioned (asankhata), or Nibbana. Seeing things as they truly are involves seeing that they are impermanent (anicca), unsatisfactory (dukkha), and not self (anatta). Nibbana is permanent (nicca), and is also called Amata (= 'the Deathless'). It is satisfying, but is also not self. It is empty (sunna) - sunyata in Mahayana Buddhism. Seeing the unconditioned and unborn (ajata), is to be the unconditioned, the unborn. The five khandhas are all conditioned states (form, feelings, perceptions, thoughts, and consciousness), and are therefore not Nibbana. But enlightenment (Bodhi) isn't found 'outside' these conditioned states. 'It' is to be experienced right in their midst. The great, if eccentric, Japanese Zen master Bankei often referred to the Unborn being realized any time that we care to look. It's the way that we look that will determine what we see. Look in the conventional sense, and we see the conditioned realm, but look detached from identifying with any of the five khandhas, and the unborn will be known. That we may all see the unborn! Gary In the original Theravada teachings of the Buddha, the Blessed One taught about the conditioned (sankhata) and the unconditioned (asankhata), or Nibbana. Seeing things as they truly are involves seeing that they are impermanent (anicca), unsatisfactory (dukkha), and not self (anatta). Nibbana is permanent (nicca), and is also called Amata (= ‘the Deathless’). It is satisfying, but is also not self. It is empty (sunna) – sunyata in Mahayana Buddhism.

Seeing the unconditioned and unborn (ajata), is to be the unconditioned, the unborn. The five khandhas are all conditioned states (form, feelings, perceptions, thoughts, and consciousness), and are therefore not Nibbana. But enlightenment (Bodhi) isn’t found ‘outside’ these conditioned states. ‘It’ is to be experienced right in their midst. The great, if eccentric, Japanese Zen master Bankei often referred to the Unborn being realized any time that we care to look. It’s the way that we look that will determine what we see. Look in the conventional sense, and we see the conditioned realm, but look detached from identifying with any of the five khandhas, and the unborn will be known.

That we may all see the unborn!
Gary

]]> By: Gregor http://themiddleway.net/2007/10/05/investigating-the-stages-of-enlightenment/#comment-10953 Gregor Sat, 06 Oct 2007 02:47:01 +0000 http://themiddleway.net/2007/10/05/investigating-the-stages-of-enlightenment/#comment-10953 Wade, Thanks for this, I think you are right. The practice is sort of a backwards step taken to return to our organic state. whatever that really means, beat me? I have no way of putting that into words, other than to say I think we touch it during Zazen. Wade,

Thanks for this, I think you are right. The practice is sort of a backwards step taken to return to our organic state. whatever that really means, beat me? I have no way of putting that into words, other than to say I think we touch it during Zazen.

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