Path: ultra.sonic.net!news
From: i@no.self (!)
Newsgroups: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.zen,alt.philosophy.zen,alt.buddha.short.fat.guy,talk.religion.buddhism,alt.philosophy.taoism,alt.religion.buddhism,talk.religion.misc
Subject: CORRECTED Teachings of Bo Hum
Date: 5 Mar 1999 00:50:30 -0800
Organization: Sonoma Interconnect,Santa Rosa,CA(us),http://www.sonic.net
Lines: 342
Message-ID: <7bo5sm$at7@bolt.sonic.net>
References: <7bjm4n$7s0$1@nnrp1.dejanews.com>
Reply-To: tyagi@houseofkaos.abyss.com
NNTP-Posting-Host: bolt.sonic.net
X-Newsreader: NN version 6.5.1 (NOV)
Xref: ultra.sonic.net alt.magick.tyagi:16147 alt.zen:126703 alt.philosophy.zen:21321 alt.buddha.short.fat.guy:99214 talk.religion.buddhism:73060 alt.philosophy.taoism:46025 talk.religion.misc:279999

ilgu@mailexcite.com quotes:
# (Selections from the teachings of Zen Master Bo Hum)

correction follows

# --- Historical Background of Zen Buddhism (What is Zen?) ---
# I. Buddhism
#
# Throughout history, many people have believed in Causality. Basically,
# it teaches us that one who does evil gets eventually punished. (The
# idea is similar to the relationship between action and reaction in
# physics.)

strange notion. causality is the identification of the locus of change

# In ancient India (around 2,500 years ago), there was a holy man named
# Sakyamuni. He became a Buddha at an early age, and kept on teaching his
# followers for the rest of his life.

fiction. not advisable to believe this

# ...he formulated a systematic analysis on the nature of
# Causality, which has come to be known as the "Twelve Links of the Chain
# of Causality" (often called "Dependent Origination" or "Conditioned
# Genesis"):

a deceptive doctrine which postulates supernatural hokum without logic

# 1. Ignorance - Human sufferings ultimately start with one's own
# Ignorance. He does not see the Truth behind himself and his surroundings,
# which he feels are very much Real (but actually void and illusional).

human sufferings are quite real. existential suffering (dukkha) has
 its basis in craving (tanha). ignorance of cosmic impermanence 
 perpetuates this craving

# 2. Impulse - Out of Ignorance, he begins to take wrongful actions 
# (mental or physical) against himself and his surroundings, which 
# he feels are Real.

surroundings are real, though not unchanging; actions are not so 
 much 'wrongful' as "based in a paradigm out of synch with
 one's desires", and, combined with craving, enhance dukkha

# 3. Consciousness - The wrongful Impulse generates and solidifies a
# wrongful Consciousness. (The relationship between Impulse and
# Consciousness is similar to that between a moving electric charge and
# the magnetic field generated from it. One is action, and the other is
# reaction.)

natural outgrowth of individual existence is consciousness.   
 indisciplined, it is ungainly and full of troubles

# 4. Idea (Name and Form) - The wrongful Consciousness harbours 
# illusional Ideas in the form of Names and Forms, and 
# "hallucinations" are started.  This is what you call Reality. 
# (Mind creates the universe.)

universe is not created, but a secondary phantom is generated
 in anticipation of apprehension of desire

# 5. Six Senses (five senses plus mind) - The wrongful Ideas, although
# illusional, give rise to Six Senses. Now the universe feels like Real,
# though illusional. (Mind also creates the sense organs.)

separation extends until reflection begets the objects of sense as
 individualized items

# 6. Contact - A Contact gets established between one's Six Senses and
# their objects.

grasping the past, sensation is rendered absolute

# 7. Feeling - The Contact is sensed as Feelings such as sweetness and
# bitterness, or pleasure and pain.

being subsumed to imagery of desire, preference arises

# 8. Like/Dislike - One develops the natural habit of seeking something
# sweet (Like), and avoiding something painful (Dislike).

the reaction to preference arises as well

# 9. Clinging - One makes the mistake of overshooting his Likes and
# Dislikes, and starts to Cling to what he Likes (or hate what he
# Dislikes).

choice becomes habit

# 10. Existence - The strong force of Clinging to something (or hating
# something) generates a Karma for future Existence (or a cause for getting
# reborn).

here is where the translations break down and all manner of folly
 is rendered as supernatural hogwash

identifying choice becoming habit, the desire for a choosER 

# 11. Birth - The Karma for future Existence eventually materializes as
# another Birth.

grasping self, a phantom is accepted as indication of identity

# 12. Old Age and Death - Birth leads to Old Age and Death.

differentiating and choosing, suffering substitutes for life

# This Chain of the Twelve Links also constitutes a closed circle. Thus,
# Old Age and Death give rise to Ignorance, and the cycle repeats itself
# endlessly. However, the primary importance is placed on Ignorance.

corrected: suffering inspires further ignorance (the poignancy of
 awareness during stress and pain inspires us to seek sleep)

# Buddha's intent behind this formulation was twofold:
#
# First, to show how one can systematically analyze the operation of
# Causality in order to find out where the problems are and what the
# problems are. (That is, define the problem.)

fundamentally correct

# Second, to show how one can free himself from this endless cycle of
# rebirth and sufferings (Samsara) by breaking any of the Links in the
# Chain: The overcoming of Ignorance will cause the Impulse to cease. 

an error, this cycle can NOT be 'broken', merely dissuaded,
 permanently fended off by virtue of absorbed attention 

# By overcoming Impulse, Consciousness ceases... By overcoming Birth, 
# Old Age and Death cease. And by overcoming Old Age and Death, 
# Ignorance ceases, etc. (That is, solve the problem.)

here is where the fantasies are used to dupe the foolish. what is
 called "Old Age and Death" are not the physiological processes.
 the Buddhists who claim to overcome these know nothing of the
 Middle Way. instead, as described above, the attachment to any
 particular phase of the life cycle, or to life itself, may be
 transcended
 
# Closely related to this formulation is the Buddha's doctrine of "Four
# Noble Truths", which was expounded in his first sermon:
#
# 1. Finding out what Suffering is (Existence is Suffering.)

a byproduct of consciousness is existential suffering or
 deep dissatisfaction

# 2. Seeing the Arising of Suffering (Suffering is caused by Ignorance.)

this dissatisfaction comes from grasping at the impermanent

# 3. Seeing the Cessation of Suffering (Wisdom can root out Suffering.)

a condition of fundamental satisfaction is possible

# 4. Seeing the Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering (Eightfold Path
#       is the preferred way of Wisdom.)

means of obtaining this condition are described in rough 
 (a formula, the combination varies for each of us) in
 characteristics instructed as '8-Fold Path to Nirvana'
 
# Buddha's intent behind this sermon was also twofold: That is, define
# the problem, and solve the problem. Once the problem is understood,
# one can be in charge, controlling the coming and going of Sufferings.

another fundamental misunderstanding. this being 'in charge' and
 'control' is a hallmark of KARMA

# Thus, one can work out the problems himself without relying on something
# or somebody: ONE TAKES REFUGE IN ONESELF. (By the way, this coincides
# with the spirit of Zen or Zen Buddhism that has been developed in later
# years.)

there is no 'self' in which to take refuge. this is a central feature
of Buddhist instruction (anatman)

# Although our Buddha delivered many more sermons on many different
# occasions, the main message he was trying to get across can be 
# summarized thus:
#
# 1. Because one does not realize the empty and transient nature of human
# life, he holds onto false views to take foolish actions, thereby creating
# bad Karma and suffering from it.

there is no one to hold onto views

# 2. If one realizes the empty and transient nature of human life, he will
# give up the false views and stop foolish actions, thereby avoiding the
# sufferings coming from bad Karma. And, he will recover the pleasure of
# Nirvana (Ultimate Peace, True Happiness, literally "blowing out" (as of
# flaming desires)).

no one recovers any pleasures. all views are false (incomplete),
 no actions can be 'taken', for there is no continuous locus of change

# Now, we need to answer the question "What is Buddhism?". 

the science of waking

# we have something called "The Precept given by Seven Buddhas" (Seven
# Buddhas here include our Sakyamuni Buddha and the six ancient Buddhas
# before him):
#
#    "Don't do evil,
#     But do good.

this is roughly the equivalent of "create karma"

#     Thus keep your Mind clean.
#     This, then, is called Buddhism."

roughly, "enter Samsara and wake up"

# This Precept of Seven Buddhas has been THE BENCHMARK of our daily 
# conduct (whether you are enlightened or not) for the past billions 
# and billions of years, and so it will be for the coming billions 
# of years. It is the very foundation of Buddhism. 

disbelieve in the claims of tradition; take no advice on its merits
 by authority alone; always test the instruction provided; consider
 carefully how what is instructed fits with previous experience;
 the 'foundation of Buddhism' is avidya, ignorance. this is already
 defined in the 12-link Causal Chain. this chain cannot be broken,
 but it may be dissuaded. there is no other foundation from which
 to approach waking

# And "it provides what is Right" for
# the Eightfold Path of Lord Sakyamuni (right view, right thought, right
# speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness
# and right concentration).

'8-Fold Path to Nirvana' are variable characteristics instructed 
 by religious as specific behavioral standards. in fact they form a
 formula, combination changing position with respect to ignorance
 
# For a clear understanding of this Eightfold Path, it is categorized 
# thus:
# 1. Control of  - Karma of body      - Right Action
#    Karma         (watch your body)  - Right Livelihood
#                - Karma of mouth     - Right Speech
#                  (watch your mouth)
#                - Karma of mind      - Right View (understanding)
#                  (watch your mind)  - Right Thought
#                                     - Right Effort (to practise
#                                                     diligently)
# 2. Practice of - Dynamic meditation - Right Mindfulness (watch over your
#    meditation                               (Sati)       body and mind;
#                                                          leads to
#                                                          Vipassana)
#                - Static meditation  - Right Concentration (leads to
#                                             (Samadhi)      Dhyana)

'Right' ought imply here 'perfect for the circumstances' rather than
 some fixed Solution which achieves any specific condition desired

# II. Taoism
#
# In ancient China (around 2,500 years ago), a religious system called
# Taoism was firmly established by a holy man named Lao-tzu. 

the existence and role with respect to what is called 'Taoism' of
 this 'Lao Tzu' individual are heavily disputed. in fact there are
 numerous writings and miraculous events attributed to this being
 which are plainly fallacious. guard carefully against the hazards
 of legend when considering the 'history' surrounding Master Lao

# the basic teachings of Taoism can be summarized thus:
# 1. Discover the Ultimate Truth behind man and universe, and,
# 2. Practise this Ultimate Truth by becoming One with it, then,
# 3. These are the correct Way (Tao) of human existence.

neither are there easily-discerned 'basic teachings' of Taoism
 (though certain mystical and religious principles are evident)
 nor is what may be surmised so reconciliable to a single goal

# III. Zen Buddhism
#
# Around 500 AD, Bodhidharma from India brought Zen Buddhism with him
# into China. Bodhidharma's Zen Buddhism was readily assimilated by the
# Taoistic mind of China, and has been successfully transformed into
# "Chinese Zen Buddhism". (Bodhidharma is regarded as the First Patriarch
# of Chinese Zen Buddhism.) The Chinese Zen Buddhism flourished greatly
# under its Sixth Patriarch named Hui-neng (638 - 713 AD), and Platform
# Sutra is ascribed to him.

Bodhidharma is another legendary being. several stories indicate his
 ability to transcend bodily pain and sacrifice all for the Great
 Awakening. consider legends about patriarchs dubious and likely
 mythologies until given reason to proceed otherwise

# The word "Zen" is short for Zen Buddhism. It is a Japanese 
# pronunciation of the Chinese word Chan. Chan, in turn, is a 
# Chinese pronunciation of the Pali word Jhana (Sanskrit Dhyana, 
# literally means Concentration).

almost. consider dhyana==> ch'anna (ch'an)==> zenna (zen)

better translated literally as absorption; indicates a particular
 presence of attention that may be practiced; 'concentration'
 implies too much emphasis on mentation to Western readers

# Here is the traditional "Four Phrase Summary of Zen" (by Bodhidharma):
#
#    "Not depending on words and letters,
#     Transmitted mind-to-mind outside of Sutras.
#     Pointing directly to the Mind,
#     Seeing into one's Original Nature, attaining Buddhahood."

and here is my response (attrib. to tyagi tzu):

	Koans of words and letters,
	Passing between windows of Sutras,
	Vacant of Original Nature,
	Blind to the Fantasy Mind, destroying Buddhaheds.

# Now, we can answer the question "What is Zen?". 

answering questions fulfills the beginner. consider your station

# "Understanding what Mind is".
# 
# Now we know "where we are standing and what we are doing" 
# (Don't forget it):
#
#    Keeping your Mind clean is Buddhism,
#    Understanding what Mind is is Zen.

now is visible the very 12-Link Causal chain! grasping fictions
 called 'Buddhism', informed of its pertinence to waking, first
 we are handed pillows. told to close eyes and attend to what
 is interior, the sense of apprehension is objectified. now it
 will be called "Mind" ('your Mind'). stripped of 'dirt', the
 preference is installed. 'understanding' generates karma
 ("Don't forget it"), and 'Zen' is left behind in a cloud of 
 ignorance

seizing upon "where we are standing and what we are doing",
 teachers create needy students
-- 
emailed replies may be posted; cc replies if response desired