Friday, September 17, 2010

Mindfulness

Today, while surfing through facebook, i came across this video of a lecture by an american monk Paul Muenzen about the diamond sutra. He said that the first chapter of the diamond sutra is the most important chapter of the entire sutra.

Now, for one who is familar with the buddha sutras, he/she would know that the first chapter is usually an introductory chapter that always starts with 'Thus I have heard...' and talks about buddha going about his daily chores before sitting down for Q&A. this is the first chapter of the diamond sutra:

"Thus have I heard. Upon a time Buddha sojourned in Anathapindika's Park by Shravasti with a great company of bhikshus, even twelve hundred and fifty. One day, at the time for breaking fast, the World-honored One enrobed, and carrying His bowl made His way into the great city of Shravasti to beg for His food. In the midst of the city He begged from door to door according to rule. This done, He returned to His retreat and took His meal. When He had finished He put away His robe and begging bowl, washed His feet, arranged His seat, and sat down. "

Its a simple chapter that gives the setting of the situation whereupon buddha gave his sermons and lectures. This, according to Paul, a Zen monk is the most important chapter.

The diamond sutra is the summary of the Maha Prajnaparamita sutras (the Heart Sutra is a summary of the diamon sutra, some says). It talks about emptiness. The buddhist concept of emptiness is very different from the concept we know. It is not the absence of something, rather it is the inter-dependency of phenomenon and nounmenon, without which reality does not arise. this is called 缘起 in chinese and translated as dependent arising, the core principle in Mahayana buddhism. Buddha tells us that nothing exists independently, and nothing arise from nothing. Since that is the case, nothing is permanent but is always in a flux of change. Emptiness is a name given to this characteristic of reality as:

"it is not there before, it is not there after, so where is it?"

In this first chapter, it tells us how Buddha practises emptiness, which is through mindfulness - i call it psychological or spiritual discipline. By understanding emptiness, buddha is thus void of a 'me' ego, without the 'me' ego, he does not get attached to the need for nice food, but takes any food offered. Being the world honoured one, he begs for food so that sentient beings can accumulate good karma by giving, without ego, he is not ashame to beg for food - this is emptiness.

Without a 'me' ego, he is discipline in his actions, his time table is strictly adhered to as he does not get deviated by any thoughts - or 'mind monkey' by going around thinking 'hmm...i'm not hungry, i'll eat later' or thinking 'maybe i'll wear my new rode to beg' or thinking 'I will go to this house for food as they serve good food'. Its simple, time to beg, beg. Time to eat, eat. Time to sit down to give lecture, lecture. Not swaying a bit, not affected by anything, just go with cause and effect.

Emptiness, so profound in practice, yet an extremly simple concept achievable by mindfulness.

URL of Paul's lecture: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_f9864bdbM&feature=related

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