“Zen is about consciousness, but a consciousness that is transformed…Zen consciousness does not try to fit things into artificially conceived a priori structures. It is simple attentiveness to reality. It ‘simply sees what is right there and does not add any comment, any interpretation, any judgment, any conclusion. It just sees.’… Zen is interested in the real, not the verbal….Zen involves attentiveness and receptivity to what is….Awareness of Zen, therefore, is not the self-conscious awareness of a reflecting, knowing, talking ego, but pure awareness-an awareness that is immediately present to itself.”-William H.Shannon, Thomas Merton’s Paradise Journey, Writings on Contemplation
note: I’m reading Shannon’s book mentioned above in between the 2 books about St. Augustine. I’m on schedule with St. Augustine’s readings.I worked out today.
edgarone2