Edgar,

I think we're getting dangerously close to agreement, or something 
very similar.

I do think Buddha's words supported my interpretation of my previous 
post, but even if they didn't I don't need to lean on Buddha or the 
Sutras to explain to my own experience of Just THIS!

First there is a mountain,
Then there is no mountain,
Then there is.

In the context of our discussions I'll use an analogy to try to 
communicate what this means to me:


First there is a mountian.
It's like you're in a play, but at first don't know you're in a 
play.  You've been assigned, or created, your role as a 'nice guy who 
loves horses' or something like that.  You BELIEVE you are a nice guy 
who loves horses, and there is an evil guy who likes to hurt horses 
when he trains them, and a nice young woman who rides horses, and a 
dumb stable guy who cleans up after the horses, etc... and you 
interact with everyone else in the play accordingly.

Then there is no mountain.
Then you realize it's all just a play, and all of these characters 
are you.  You're creating them all and all the interplay of these 
characters.  In fact if you want you can exit stage left and go out 
into the front of the stage and just watch all these characters 
interact, including 'your' character.  And even futher than that when 
you want to you can just close the curtin and the play ceases.

Then there is.
You decide that instead of stopping the play entirely, or just being 
a spectator, you want to return to the stage and actively play 
different parts when that part is called for.  Buddhists would say do 
what's called for to save all sentient beings.  Sometimes you're the 
nice guy, sometmes you're the trainer, sometimes you're the stable 
guy, but you ALWAYS KNOW it's just a play - an illusion.

How close is that to your understanding/experience?

...Bill! 




--- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Edgar Owen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Hi Bill,
> 
> Several comments. I'm sympathetic and in general agreement with 
your  
> statement but disappointed Buddha doesn't agree with it! :-)
> 
> Buddha specifically speaks to Subhuti by name thus acknowledging 
his  
> individual selfness. Not only that he speaks of the conditioned 
(that  
> is the caused) as well as the unconditioned as things that both  
> exist. At the end Buddha goes on to speak of the natures of all 
sorts  
> of different individual human selves as selves.
> 
> Of course you (and I) also make the same 'mistake' by referring to 
me  
> by my name, which denotes my self.
> 
> I don't however agree that when you recognize and are free from 
the  
> illusion of self there is no longer any cause and effect. Cause 
and  
> effect is the nature of illusion, and illusion seen as illusion is  
> reality. So cause and effect are illusory, but that's what is 
real.  
> In a fundamental sense we are never 'free' from illusion, we  
> recognize illusion as illusion, but it still exists, and we 
continue  
> to live in the world of illusion - we just now know it is illusory.
> 
> Originally there are mountains - illusion is taken as reality.
> Then mountains are not mountains - all forms are realized as 
illusory.
> Finally mountains are mountains again - illusion seen as illusion 
is  
> recognized as what is real, the true nature of things.
> 
> By denying cause and effect you affirm stage 2, not stage 3.
> 
> Edgar
> 
> 
> 
> 
> However
> On Nov 24, 2008, at 9:50 AM, Bill Smart wrote:
> 
> > Okay, lurking or not I couldn't resist this one. I especially want
> > to respond since I think it also addresses the APPARENT ongoing
> > diagreement bewtween Edgar and me about cause-and-effect, which is
> > the basis of karma.
> >
> > Although not active on the site I've done a little reading and 
found
> > this quote from the Prajnaparamita Sutra:
> >
> > Subhuti said: "If I understand correctly, one who wishes to reach
> > perfect wisdom should study the way things are in the world and
> > should practice the perfections fully and in depth but should not
> > believe them to be ultimately real, nor should he make concepts 
and
> > doctrines out of them."
> >
> > The Buddha replied: "Just so, Subhuti. The one who contemplates
> > existence in this way knows the nature of the conditioned and of 
the
> > unconditioned and makes himself an expert in pointing out the 
truth
> > to others, both with words and without words."
> >
> > This quote, I beleive, addresss your challenge about karma and 
Edgar
> > and my recent postings about cause-and-effect. I would
> > explain it that as long as you are under the illusion of having
> > a 'self' there is a 'you' acting or being acted upon. And as long
> > there is a 'you' 'acting', you will have illusions of 'past'
> > and 'future', and 'you' will be subject to cause-and-effect, or 
karma.
> >
> > But, when are no longer under the illusion of 'self', there is
> > no 'you' acting or being acted upon, in fact no 'actions'. That
> > means there is only the present. There is no past or future. If
> > there are no actions or past or future, then there can be no 
cause-
> > and-effect or karma. So when you are free fom the illusion 
of 'self'
> > you are no longer subject to cause-and-effect or karma. Not being
> > subject to does not mean you are not aware of these illusions and 
can
> > choose to act in accordance with them if you wish.
> >
> > The quote goes on to say:
> >
> > Subhuti asked: "But is this just for the wise and the 
intelligent?"
> >
> > "No, indeed," replied the Buddha. "This is open to all, even to 
the
> > dull witted and to those who can't pay attention. The door is 
open to
> > anyone who wants to tread this path--but not to the person who is
> > lazy and indifferent."
> >
> > This part of the quote to me, especially at this time in my life,
> > addresses my experiences with my Mom and the other Alhzheimer
> > patients with which I have daily contact and from whom I learned 
so
> > much.
> >
> > ...Bill! (Going back to Lurking-Mode now...)
> >
> > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu <wuasg@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > > Â
> > > Since everybody is lurking waiting to be excited. Here is a
> > multiple choice to think about. The samurai code quoted by Edgar 
is
> > a perfect example of the 'present' moment. How about the past and 
the
> > future? What is the position of karma in zen?
> > > Â
> > > A.  Karma is a universal law nobody can escape from. It is the
> > essence of Buddhism and also of some schools of zen.
> > > Â
> > > B.  Karma relates to the past and the future, so it is nothing 
to
> > do with zen. Whether or not it represents the truth we don't care.
> > > Â
> > > C.  Karma is a fairy tale. You need something to scare kids, so
> > they behave themselves.
> > > Â
> > > Regards,
> > > Anthony
> > >
> > > --- On Sun, 23/11/08, Edgar Owen <edgarowen@> wrote:
> > >
> > > From: Edgar Owen <edgarowen@>
> > > Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: TEST
> > > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com
> > > Date: Sunday, 23 November, 2008, 11:48 PM
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Bill,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > The samurai code especially emphasizes that Zen is living our 
lives
> > in the moment in the constant presence of death. Thus do we gain 
an
> > immense appreciation for every transient moment of life and live 
it
> > to the fullest.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Best,
> > > Edgar
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Nov 23, 2008, at 10:28 AM, Bill Smart wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED] ps.com, Edgar Owen <edgarowen@ ..>
> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > ANYONE STILL HERE?
> > > >Â
> > > > Edgar
> > > >
> > > Edgar et al,
> > >
> > > I'm stll here lurking only. My father was very ill and I had to
> > flyÂ
> > > to the US to be with him. Unfortnutaely he died when I was
> > somewhereÂ
> > > over the Pacific Ocean flying out of Tokyo. I was informed of 
hisÂ
> > > death when I turned on my mobile phone upon arriving in Detroit.
> > >
> > > I was a good death for him. He had been fighting lymphoma 
(cancer
> > ofÂ
> > > the lymph nodes) for 4 or 5 years and has been in severe
> > discomfortÂ
> > > for at least the last serveral months. He died on 05 Nov, just 
3Â
> > > days short of what would have been his 91st birthday.
> > >
> > > I am now residing in my father's apartment in a retirement home
> > whichÂ
> > > is connected to the nursing home which houses my mother who is 
89
> > andÂ
> > > has Alhzheimer's. I have the opportunity to bring my mom up to 
theÂ
> > > apartment every day,and to interact not only with her but with 
allÂ
> > > the other Alhzheimer patients. It you want to see Buddha NatureÂ
> > > unfettered and unadulterated you should spend time with some
> > elderlyÂ
> > > people such as these. They are such an inspiration! No clever
> > gamesÂ
> > > or silly posturing. It is true WYSIWYG (what you see is what 
youÂ
> > > get), and that is what I call Buddha Nature - Just THIS!
> > >
> > > I have been and will continue to be very busy trying to sort out
> > allÂ
> > > the financial arrangements with will allow my mother to receive
> > allÂ
> > > the benefits to which she is entitled and allow her to live the
> > restÂ
> > > of her life in comfort and with secutity. Much of that is 
dealingÂ
> > > with truts and lawyers and brokers and bankers. Also there was 
theÂ
> > > mountain of mail which accumulated over the past several months
> > fullÂ
> > > of bills and medical insurance jargon that I still haven't been
> > ableÂ
> > > to fully penetrate. ALso there is of course the arrangements 
withÂ
> > > Social Secutiy, my dad's pension and health insurance and 
hopfullyÂ
> > > some VA surviving spouse benefits. The last part of this is
> > planningÂ
> > > and accompanying her on a to northern California to a facility
> > nearÂ
> > > two of my daughters - Castro Valley or Santa Rosa areas.
> > >
> > > I will continue to lurk, but don't expect much in the way of
> > postingsÂ
> > > for probably through the first of the year.
> > >
> > > With deep appreciation. ...Bill!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Get your preferred Email name!
> > > Now you can @ymail.com and @rocketmail.com
> > > http://mail.promotions.yahoo.com/newdomains/sg/
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>



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