I've heard that Dogen had some statement about compassion to the
effect that compassion is the hand fluffing the pillow for the head.
--Chris
On Fri, Jul 30, 2010 at 7:36 PM, maitreya003 <joult...@gmail.com> wrote:
> "I think that Jesus and Buddha advocated the development of compassion toward
> all, which starts as a mental conception, but with practice can become second
> nature, we are told."
> This is so, but when you say "Do what comes naturally, but do not harm any
> sentient being," this is not enough. What comes naturally is not necessarily
> compassion, and not hurting other beings is a mere facet of compassion.
> Liberation and compassion are not the same. Liberation is not the cause of
> compassion, but the cause of personal liberation from suffering. Compassion
> necessary to liberate other living beings must take a form. Much like a
> doctor who tries to heal others with limited tools has limited healing
> abilities, so too a liberated mind may believe what arises naturally through
> them is compassion, but it too is limited. Compassion does not come
> naturally and is not a byproduct of personal liberation, but the product of
> cultivation. If a person wants to grow a field of tomatoes, even a
> liberated person, they must plant tomatoes seeds and nurture them through all
> phases of growth until harvest, so to is compassion a seed, growth and a
> harvest. The only way f
> or the world to enjoy the harvest of great compassion is for a liberated
> person to plant and nurture compassion. It is because compassion is not the
> natural byproduct of liberation that Buddha taught methods of personal
> liberation and methods of increasing compassion. Not all liberated beings
> are compassionate, and not all compassionate beings are liberated.
>
>
> --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, "ED" <seacrofter...@...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> Excellent point!
>>
>> Do what comes naturally, but do not harm any sentient being.
>>
>> Most humans feel a natural compassion for their own families, friends,
>> kinsfolk and persons of the same race, tribal, ethnic, religious,
>> national or cultural group.
>>
>> Some humans feel a natural bonding toward dogs or cats or other small
>> mammals.
>>
>> I think that Jesus and Buddha advocated the development of compassion
>> toward all, which starts as a mental conception, but with practice can
>> become second nature, we are told.
>>
>> --ED
>>
>>
>>
>> --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote:
>> >
>> > Thinking of your own 'self' is okay as long as you are not attached to
>> your self. Thinking of others in that same way is okay because they are
>> the same as your self. It's okay to think of your right hand and okay to
>> think of your left hand.
>> >
>> > The point for this thread is that this thinking of, and perhaps acting
>> for yourself or others is spontenous and not a result of any hope for
>> reward or fear of punishment - like satisfying an internal goal or
>> external rule to be compassionate. A third party might call it
>> compassion, but for you it is just putting one foot in front of the
>> other.
>> >
>> > ...Bill!
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
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>
>
>
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