[Buddha-l] Non-Dual Awareness, continued.

[Vicente Gonzalez]

gte> 1. When did the Pointing Out / Instant Recognition approach arise within
gte> Buddhism (or what are the earliest occurrences you are aware of)?
gte> 2. What are (some theories on) the origins of the Pointing Out / Instant
gte> Recognition approach?
gte> 3. Is there evidence of Pointing Out / Instant Recognition in the Pali Canon?

one example can be the Sariputta and Moggallana history:
http://accesstoinsight.org/canon/vinaya/mv1-23-5.html 

there is not difference with some famous episodes of instant
recognition in the Chan/Zen/Son. In example, the sixth patriarch
Hui-neng or the same Chinul. 


gte> 4. Has anyone made a convincing argument that Nibbana (the only "unconditioned"
gte> dhamma) in Theravada Buddhism is a reference to the Unconditioned Mind Essence?

probably not. because in Mahayana, the Essence of Mind is the same
emptiness. The real question is how they can be different things.

In realizing the nature of the mind, the Vajrasamadhi Sutra (400 a.c)
was very influential in the later Zen. Here appears a clear negation
of Dhyanas as the nature of the true Dhyana: 

"Boddhisattva - replied Buddha - Dhyana is movement. No movement, no
Dhyana: it is the true Dhyana that gives rise to nothing; it lacks the
outward forms of the Dhyana that does give rise. The nature of the
true Dhyana is to linger nowhere, it lacks the movement that marks the
lingering Dhyana. Know only that in the real nature of Dhyana there is
neither stillness nor movement, and you will attain to the perfect
Dhyana that gives rise to nothing all".


in the Path of Purification vs. Instant Recognition, some key works
are:

"Sudden and Gradual", P. Gregory.
"Tsung-Mi and the sinification of Buddhism", P.Gregory.
"Paths to Liberation" R.Buswell, R.Gimello.


br,