r/zen • u/[deleted] • Mar 14 '18

Huang Po: Motionless Mind

Not til your thoughts cease their branching here and there, not till you abandon all thoughts of seeking for something, not till your mind is motionless as wood or stone, will you be on the right road to the Gate.

  • Huang Po
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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '18

Hahaha, just because we practice and study Zen doesn't mean that we automatically become perfect Zen masters. I still get angry, and I still have plenty of wild emotions, but imagine my same personality at this point without Zen! Admittedly, my understanding of Zen at this point has a more intellectual foundation to it, meaning that I can explain concepts and talk of the Dharma itself, and I am only influenced by it up to a point in regular life. Now that I have this understanding, the next stage is to live within it, and act in full accordance with it to become a better person.

So yes, there are still plenty of attachments and aversions, and human errors and weaknesses. These things take years if not a lifetime to master. I find Ewk's tactics deplorable, but what really bothers me about him is that he is the one person who makes the community a worse place because of his actions. No one else here, no matter what they do, comes close.

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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '18 edited Dec 03 '20

[deleted]

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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '18

Thanks for the compliment. One of the reasons I am here so much in the community is also something I've tried to teach you as well; it takes great strength and fortitude to "put yourself out there" in the community, and to say what is on your mind without being afraid or holding back.

I think that there are tons of lurkers here, reading everything we are saying, but not realizing that the true essence is to dive right in, fearlessly. I don't mind opening my mouth and looking like a fool to someone wiser than me, because I am ultimately here to learn. You don't learn as much or gain as much strength and fortitude without putting yourself out there and becoming a target. Its quite important to my own practice and understanding of things.

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u/sje397 Mar 19 '18

I put a few things you've said lately together and came up with a thought that I thought I'd pass on... The useful part of meditation seems to be the part where we discover, expose, and deal with our own internal issues. I think meditation is an efficient way to do that. I think that is the way to really quieting the mind, rather than learning to control it.

I also want to compliment you... Feels to me like there are good things going on with you lately. Not necessarily easy things, but they seem good. To me. Who knows nothing about such things :)

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u/[deleted] Mar 19 '18

I sincerely appreciate your attention and your compliments. You are exactly right; so many good things are happening so quickly for me because of my overall efforts here in the community and in life outside of it. Paradoxically, it is both slow and fast. There was an insight of mine that happened from here a few weeks back, and I'm learning to ride it like a wave. You are seeing it as it is happening; I fall back a few steps every now and then here of course, but overall it is going quite well. You are a compassionate and kind soul, and you can't hide from one such as me! haha

I love it when someone here shows they fully understand meditation! You are so right; we still this body to expose the mind in full, bringing everything within us into the forefront in high definition. I'm trying to learn better not to seek anything in zazen and my mindfulness practice, and it has great benefit. How strange that in the mere act of observing the mind, not trying to control it or suppress thoughts, clears the mind of extraneous thoughts!