Category Archives: Mahayana Buddhism

Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Zen

Projections via GreatMiddleWay

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Consciousness (mind and mentation) is “the stuff” what we mistake to be subject and object, me and mine, us and things. There is no substantial me, mine, us, things, but only internal representations in our experience.

When you see a movie, the actors and the scenery are not there in the theater. They are images on film, projected on a screen. These images look like various persons and things, but they are all “made” of the same stuff: light and shadow.

In the same way, our every experience is only in and of consciousness, taking the form of (transforming into) subject and object, self and beings, phenomena and their characteristics. Our experience is never extra-mental. It is always internal.

Source: Projections

Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, My Poetry, Poetry, Zen

What you do not.

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Instead of what you need; what about what you do not?

In a world of depressive materialism; poverty and pollution

I dont intent to tread on trend; pretenders I severed an end

Theres a fine line drawn in the sand; trampled

Without mindful intent; a spiritual glance

What is the zen and the trance; compassion enhanced

And when does my third eye open; to notice what controls my emotions

Carefully ponder; what I do and what I do not need

Eat, sleep and breathe

Clothing and shelter and ease

Calming peace and honourable deeds

No harm. No foul.

What I do. And what I do not need.

 

-Nina

 

 

Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Stories, Writing, Zen

Masterpiece and Spontaneity. A Zen Story.

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Masterpiece and Spontaneity

A master calligrapher was writing some characters onto a piece of paper. One of his especially perceptive students was watching him. When the calligrapher was finished, he asked for the student’s opinion – who immediately told him that it wasn’t any good. The master tried again, but the student criticized the work again.

Over and over, the calligrapher carefully redrew the same characters, and each time the student rejected it. Finally, when the student had turned his attention away to something else and wasn’t watching, the master seized the opportunity to quickly dash off the characters. “There! How’s that?,” he asked the student. The student turned to look. “THAT…. is a masterpiece!” he exclaimed.

Meanings: “Originality is what makes each of us a masterpiece. Don’t stick to the same old way of doing things.”

“Stop thinking and just do what’s natural for you, instead of what’s expected. Some of our best work is done when we least expect it.”

“You can’t perform perfectly under the watch of critical eyes. When you don’t force perfection, it happens by itself, spontaneously. Great things happen when you least suspect it.”

“Whenever you watch over someone you make them self-conscious and uncreative. It’s like trying to teach a child. If you let them alone they will usually figure it out themselves and it will be great.” – See

Source: Masterpiece and Spontaneity. A zen story.

Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism, Poetry, Zen

Here and There ; GreatMiddleWay

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Here and There;
Post by Tashi Nyima

 

As a river, when full, must flow

and reach and fill the distant plain,

so what is given here, indeed,

will reach and bless the beings there.

As water on a mountain top

must soon descend and fill the plain,

so what is given here, indeed,

will reach and bless the beings there.

 

—Buddha Shakyamuni, Nidhikanda Sutta, Khuddakapatha

Source: Here and There