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Buddhists/Advaita and Zen

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Expert: - 11/13/2008


Question
Hi,

Do you beleive that Advaita and Zen are compatible? Theyre may be minor conceptual differences but they seem to talk about the same nonconceptual nondual awareness (Enligtened state.)

Answer
Correct Zen means putting down all your ideas and returning to before-thinking mind. That means don't hold ideas about "Advaita" or "Zen" or anything else. Certainly throw away ideas like "nonconceptual nondual awareness" and "Enlightened state."

Only ask "What am I?" If you ask strongly and sincerely, a big Don't Know appears, which cuts through all thinking. What are you doing right now? Your true teacher is this moment, just now... it's not found in ideas.

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Stuart Resnick

Expertise

I'm a long-time practitioner in a Korean-style Zen school. I can answer questions regarding Zen, formal sitting meditation, self-inquiry, the practice of "koan" transmission, and offer the particular perspective of this school on the great life questions.

Experience

18 years of formal practice with the Kwan Um School of Zen, currently with the Empty Gate Zen Center of Berkeley, currently a "Senior Dharma Teacher" at this center, I give periodic talks and informally answer questions of students interested in Zen practice and teaching style

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