Steve, Reflecting, my heart tells me to share something else. In my life experience, I have learned that enabling others to stay in their own behaviors, addictions, bigotry, violence and the like, by soothing them or offering a "soft-spot-to-land" rarely works. More often than not, in due time--they are worse off later on, and they created more chaos and suffering for self and others. Holding one's own, and others feet to the fire as they say can be the among the most effective way to "wake them up"-- before they suffer tragic life consequences. We just witnessed something here in AZ. I admit that I don't understand ideas like karma /re-birth. I shut up and learn when discussions about lineages, practices, historical accounts and so on dominate the thread-line. I'm here to learn, and do--as time permits. That said, while I deeply understand your point on evoking hate, greed, delusion, and negativity, I think my perspective is a bit different. I don't believe that avoiding or preventing all suffering is a good thing. We all have to be confronted with our own hate, greed, delusion in order to recognize it in ourselves, and find a means to resolve it peacefully. It is, in my view, confronting the shadows within that serve us--and others. I realized some years ago that being the warmest, sweetest, gentlest person is not authentic with who I am, or why I exist in this incarnation. I am very loving-- but indeed, confronting. While it doesn't always taste good to others, my role is as necessary as any other. Beyond that, I don't always do the right thing. I am mindful of the instruction, "First-- do no harm". I apologize if I did so here. k
--- On Thu, 1/20/11, Kristy McClain <[email protected]> wrote: From: Kristy McClain <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] was the death of / now karma / re-birth To: [email protected] Date: Thursday, January 20, 2011, 12:46 AM Steve, Well-stated-- and thank you. I can learn from your example. Actually, I don't spend much time pondering this myself. In my work and relationships, I have to be accountable for actions and intents. So-- that is part of my persona.-- and shadow. But I do welcome and learn from differ points of view. Be well. k --- On Thu, 1/20/11, Kristy McClain <[email protected]> wrote: From: Kristy McClain <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] was the death of / now karma / re-birth To: [email protected] Date: Thursday, January 20, 2011, 12:38 AM Kristy > Hi Kristy. Thank you for your very interesting comments. I certainly agree with you in regards to doubt. As Seung Sahn said, "Keep that 'I don't know' mind!" I try not to get hung-up on stuff I can't personally verify for myself, such as what happens after death. What I have been able to verify for myself is suffering and the basis for suffering in my own life. In regards to karma, I have seen that when I encourage a hateful thought, hate follows me. When I encourage a greedy thought, greed follows me. When I encourage a deluded thought, delusion follows me. If there is an afterlife, then no doubt the consequences of thought, word and deed will follow me there, as well. Seeing the fact that all phenomena come and go encourages me to cherish people right now. Seeing that phenomena are interdependant and cannot exist separately shows me that my happiness is inextricably interwoven with the happiness of others. At the same time, I see within myself a serene trust that at the very heart of life is a profound Compassion that will never abandon me. I did not cause or choose this trust. These are what I can personally verify, and that is quite enough for me right now. Steve --- Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (66) Recent Activity: New Members 2 Visit Your Group Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today! Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use .
