Seems to me that the problem isn't acting in a wholesome fashion, but the trying to be wholesome.
You are already wholesome, you don't need to "try" or "strive" or "purify" or whatever to be wholesome. As far as actions, the key there is in the moment, how are you acting. Far from being a help, trying to be wholesome is more likely to make you miss seeing the unwholesome parts of your own reality and thereby become more likely to be blind to the harm you are causing. --Chris On Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 5:18 PM, Kristy McClain <[email protected]>wrote: > > > Hi Bill, > > I agree. Lets get drunk and party. ~ k > > > --- On *Wed, 2/2/11, Bill! <[email protected]>* wrote: > > > From: Bill! <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [Zen] Is Chan Buddhist? > To: [email protected] > Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2011, 5:05 PM > > > > ED, > > I disagree - not becuase I want to discourage 'wholesome' behaviour, but > because I don't want anyone to beleive that acting in any certain way (even > in what the person believes is a 'wholesome' way) will contribute to the > realization of Buddha Nature. > > ...Bill! > > --- In > [email protected]<http://us.mc1619.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>, > "ED" <seacrofter001@...> wrote: > > > > > > > > Bill, > > > > Whether the number of steps in the Eightfold noble path is 8 or 800 is > > not relevant. Whether Zen is a subset of Buddhism or not is a non-issue. > > And, you may use the qualifier 'right' or 'wholesome' or something else. > > > > The point is that in addition to concentration meditation and > > shikantaza, wholesome motivation, and wholesome thought, speech and > > conduct are either necessary for or will greatly facilitate the > > realization of Buddha Nature. > > > > How wholesome motivation and wholesome behavior are cultivated in a > > zenist is the zenist's choice. Buddhism offers a variety of practices to > > achieve these two ends. > > > > --ED > > > > > > > > --- In > > [email protected]<http://us.mc1619.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>, > "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > > > ED, > > > > > > The Noble Eightfold Path is a very good example of why I don't > > > consider > > > Zen a subset of Buddhism. First of all to assert there are 8 items > > > of conduct such as this borders on hubris. Also to proceed all of them > > > with > > > a qualifier 'Right' is also an example of the impertinence that > > > characterizes most religions. > > > > > > Bill > > > > > > >
