*Lost Coin Development class notes* 2/13/07

*Administrative*

A mission statement will be created based on the following definition of Zen (big thanks to Tawni for typing up the quote)

"The practice of Zen consists of a collection of liberative techniques that rest on a profound analysis of human perception and conditioning.  In common with the seers of the other equivalent traditions around the world, the Zen adepts observed that ordinarily people are encased in a shell of emotion-laden conditioned perceptions that shape their motivations and limit their experience to a narrow range of standardized perspectives.  Ordinarily people reify the concepts they have been unwittingly conditioned to believe in and to project upon the world--they see them as objectively true realities 'out there,' rather than as the arbitrary cultural constructs they are.  Thus the zen teachers actively worked to 'untie the bonds and melt the sticking points' that were keeping their students' minds tied to habitual routines and conventional perceptions."

*Zen Letters:  Teachings of Yuanwu*, Translators' Introduction (translated with J.C. Cleary), in Thomas Cleary, *Classics of Buddhism and Zen* vol. 2 at 160 (Shambhala Publications, Inc. 2005).

*- *Daniel had email problems and will be travelling, so he'll be slow to respond to emails but will still be here for class.

*Last Week's Homework*

Discussed observing our postures.

Daniel's comments about sharing in class:

 - When Daniel "digs in" to you, it means he has faith in you and that you can take it.

 - Talk often (in class), even if it makes you nervous

Comments about observing posture (or any exercise in observing yourself):

 - When you see, just see it without judgement.  It's ok to make judgement after seeing it, but try to extend the gap so you can see it before changing.

 - Goal is not to be critical, but to see it.

 - In exercises of awareness, it's hard to see ourselves and not judge.

 - Liberative techniques always have 2 levels.  First is seeing it and second is finding meaning.  First level is deeper.

 - Our level now should be deep.  See without moving it.

*Sound is a Human Idea*

"If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?"

No. Sound is a human idea, so no humans, no sound.  There will be vibrations, but sounds is a human concept.  We put concepts on everything. We work on liberating ourselves from the concept of "self".

*Mind is Not the Brain*

What do all thoughts come out of?  Can't describe it.  Buddhists call it *mind*.  It's an empty field that doesn't fall into existing or non-existing.  When we return back to *mind* we can control perception instead of being a slave to it.

*In-Class Exercise*

 - Groups of 1-4.  Remember your group for next week.

 - Acceleration.  This is something that would happen in group anyway, but we'll use the exercise to jump start.

 - Take turns spend 2 minutes describing self, character.

 - Group rates description's accuracy on 1-10 and fills in missing pieces.

 - Rule: If you heard something you've never heard, it's probably projection.  Look for threads

 - Exercise does 2 things.  One - gives help seeing yourself.  Two - develops intimacy.

 - Think of ways you can do exercises better.

*Homework*

Read Sufi Story on page 81 of Diamond Heart.  Parable connects to In Search "Seekers of Truth".

 - We are seeking protection or truth at any given moment.

 - If you are protecting, just see it.  Then you'll see you're really seeking truth.

 - You can seek pleasure and truth, but not lies and truth.

 - Don't have to be pleasure denying.  Seeking truth will give you greater pleasure.

 - Seeing where you really are is the fundamental basis for moving forward.

Weekly Exercise: Observe negative emotions.

 - Don't change, just see.

 - Do this exercise.  We're at another octave and it's a good time to do it.
