According
to Zen Buddhist cosmology there are ten thousand different
states of mind to view and understand life through. Most
people experience only a few of the ten thousand states
of mind during their entire lifetime.
Through the practice of Zen it is possible for you to gain
entry into any of the ten thousand states of mind. Each
of the ten thousand states of mind presents you with a different
view of essence and experience.
Most persons spend their lives stuck in relatively low states
of mind. In these states of mind their views of themselves
and the world around them are often severely limited.
Through the study of Zen you can learn to move from lower
to higher states of mind at will. Higher states of mind
offer you a much more accurate picture of reality.
In lower states of mind you are unhappy, and the world around
you appears to be dismal. You doubt your own good ideas,
make unnecessary mistakes and get yourself into unfortunate
situations. When you learn to live in higher states of mind
you are the master of circumstances and situations. You
can address your career, relationships, artistic and athletic
interests with the full power of your mind and create a
level of success in live that few human beings experience.
In advanced Zen a person comes to realize that the existence
of things and their ability to perceive them correctly is
completely dependent upon their state of mind.
There is no self, yet we all exist. All phenomena are "empty,"
yet they have Buddha nature. With this knowledge a Zen master
is able to change who he is and the world around him simply
by moving from one state of mind to another.
Rama, Dr Frederick Lenz
Reprinted from "The Zen Experience"
© 1987 Rama Seminars Inc.
