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! >> > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are > reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/