Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site randvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!houxz!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!sdcrdcf!randvax!edhall From: edhall@randvax.UUCP (Ed Hall) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: Open Letter to Jeff Message-ID: <1872@randvax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 9-Aug-84 13:18:56 EDT Article-I.D.: randvax.1872 Posted: Thu Aug 9 13:18:56 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 12-Aug-84 01:38:08 EDT References: <38@tekfdi.UUCP> <903@pucc-h>, <1266@nsc.UUCP> Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica Lines: 19 Ah, meditation. Chuq is right--there are a lot of different definitions for it. However, I have to disagree with his saying that ``serious'' meditation involves a shutting-out of the external world. In Zen meditation (zazen) the student is instructed specifically not to shut out the outside world--but not to allow it to disturb concentration, either. This may seem to be a subtle difference, but it is quite important: one of the chief objectives of Zen is a clearing of the perceptions, a removal of the coloration of perception caused by expectations. Thus walking becomes just walking, etc., with the action and the perception of the action being part of the same reality. This is opposed to the object of certain other types of meditation, which are aimed at devotion to a diety or concept, or at shutting out external reality as an aid in contacting an inner or ``higher'' reality. Personally, I disagree with these as objects of meditation, but to others they certainly may be valid aims. -Ed Hall decvax!randvax!edhall