thinking...really bill..must it be discarded full stop?...merle Merle!!! BINGO!!!!
Buddha taught that 'all sentient beings have Buddha Nature'. Humans aren't the only beings that are sentient. Merriam-Webster Online defines 'sentient' as: "Sentient : able to feel, see, hear, smell, or taste 1: responsive to or conscious of sense impressions <sentient beings>" What is important to me in this definition is what is does NOT say is a characteristic of 'sentient'. It does NOT list any intellectual qualities like logic or reason - basically what we call 'thinking'. So...it is now and has been for over 40 years that 'Buddha Nature' refers ONLY to sensual experience, and is not at all dependent upon the human intellect. So...back to your question... "...what about animals and vegetation... have they true essence too?" My answer is YES! Of course. Animals and plants that have the ability to experience their environment have 'True Essence" which can also be called "Buddha Nature". ...Bill! --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > bill..i see..very human type of understanding..... what about animals and > vegetation... have they true essence too?..merle > >  > Merle, > > I believe in zen (and Buddhist) terminology "Buddha Nature" is the same as > "true essence" in the subject graphic. > > ...Bill! > > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > >  so what is true essence?...merle > > > > > >  > > I agree with this the way I interpret it ... But I say it a lot more > > clearly in my book... > > > > > > Edgar > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Sep 11, 2013, at 12:28 AM, Bill! wrote: > > > >  > > >Here's a nice one posted especially for Edgar for two reasons: > > > > > > > > >1.  to see if he's still around > > >2.  to get his comment. > > > > > > > > >I generally like the message, but could do without everything after "He's > > >saying..." up to the last sentence.  I like the last sentence. > > > > > > > > >...Bill! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
