Anthony, Yes, I understood that. I was just pointing to the idea that if we "could" do an exchange, most would not do so. Its more on the lines of bittersweet humor. As your post was to Steve, i didn't mean to interrupt. But if you asked my view, I don't think you can. This may be the one area of karma I accept. Trying to fix another's problem is enabling them. But there is a fine line distinction, I think. I can help a cardiac patient learn new behaviors to modify his/ her life, so that he can help him /herself. I can counsel an addict parent, and place the child out of harm's way. But I cannot do the work for either. So, I do believe in helping others solve problems for individual and collective good-- but I do not think its possible or wise to try to solve their problems for them. Kristy
--- On Wed, 2/2/11, Anthony Wu <[email protected]> wrote: From: Anthony Wu <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Eightfold Path To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 6:25 PM Kristy, You say, "...most would take their own problems back." My question is whether it is possible to take 'others' problem. Anthony --- On Thu, 3/2/11, Kristy McClain <[email protected]> wrote: From: Kristy McClain <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Eightfold Path To: [email protected] Date: Thursday, 3 February, 2011, 9:16 AM Hi Anthony, I've heard about this... I've also heard that if everyone in the world sat in a circle, and placed their problems in the center-- most would take their own problems back. Hope all is well with you. ~ k --- On Wed, 2/2/11, Anthony Wu <[email protected]> wrote: From: Anthony Wu <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Eightfold Path To: [email protected] Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 5:11 PM Steve, Thank you for releasing me from a constant fear of being attacked by enlightened beings. As regards 'tonglen', it is supposed to give away one's good luck, in exchange for taking others' bad luck. This is a great bodhisatva's practice. However, the Buddhist principle is that you can only work on your own karma by yourself, and it is impossible to have others influence your karma. Of course, they can guide you toward creating good karma. Is tonglen in conformity with Buddhism? Anthony --- On Wed, 2/2/11, SteveW <[email protected]> wrote: > From: SteveW <[email protected]> > Subject: [Zen] Re: Eightfold Path > To: [email protected] > Date: Wednesday, 2 February, 2011, 6:02 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], > Jue Miao Jing Ming - 覺妙精明 <chan.jmjm@...> > wrote: > > > > > > Thank you, Steve. This is also my observation. > > > > > > The word "practice", is translated from two > Chinese words and they are > > > "trim/cultivate" and > "execute/apply" combined. Chan needs to be > walked > > > on both "legs", because they interact with > each other. > > > > > > In Buddhist sutra, the word "action" is > often associated with > > > Bodhisattva, so to mean "Actions of > Bodhisattva" or in Chinese 『菩薩 > > > 行』. Seldom the word, "cultivate" is > associated with Bodhisattva to be > > > 『菩薩修』。 > > > > > > In other words, to comprehend, to be awaken is still > in the domain of > > > consciousness, or Human Realm of the Ten Buddhist > Realms. To act on, so > > > to refine our awakening continuously is the only way > to reach the > > > Bodhisattva Realm. > > > > > > In our school, it further recommends us to undertake > the karma of > > > others. Not as a concept, but in forms of both wisdom > and life's > > > energy. This is not a concept. It is a real > practice. Similar to > > > merit, it is not a concept, or a way of teaching. It > can be experienced. > > > > > > Everything written in the sutra can be experienced, > once we get to that > > > level. It is quite fascinating. > > > > > > :-) > > > JM > > > > > Thank you, JM. Yes, I agree. A friend of mine who > practices > > Tibetan Vajrayana taught me the method of Tonglen, or > "Exchanging > > Self For Other". It is quite challenging to my > delusiory ego! > > Steve > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
