Re: Buddhist / Bardon

["Flesmih Natas" <flesmihnatas@...>]

Wow!
I'm really stunned at the response to this question. All of 
the insight is really appreciated, thank you all so very very 
much!!! Though, I guess I could have described a few things a bit 
better... Zazen is simply a daily meditation, which mine is simply 
that of one-pointedness; I got the word from a book by Shunryu 
Suzuki. I have not yet learned Vipassana, but in late December I 
will be going on a 10-day retreat to learn it :o) About what I said 
about Bardon's steps sounding like stages of meditation: First 
lesson (of Step One) is like when you first practice meditation and 
think, "Wow, look at all the thoughts!!!". The Second lesson (of 
Step One) comes quite naturally when everyday thoughts are more 
sequential in the fact that they don't seem to switch subjects of 
their own accord. Also, mindfullness also comes semi-naturally, but 
it is truly is a 24 hour a day meditation which at times can be very 
difficult. Then, Lesson Three (of Step One) is the point that the 
author Ken McCleod describes the mind as an "ocean without waves"; 
the attention has been cultivated to the point where one can blank 
the mind at will. I must say, though, I completely agree with the 
post (forgive my bad memory, I can't remember the author) that said 
the practices are, in a way, contradictory. The mind in Buddhism is 
stilled by relaxed attention and in Hermetics the mind is forced 
into a blank state by the will. 
Once again, I just want to thank everyone who has posted and 
those who will post in the future; it is really amazing when people 
are willing to help others with no thought of reward.

Namaste,

Derrick