Bill & Ed, I think you're both right.. ~k
--- On Fri, 2/18/11, Bill! <[email protected]> wrote: From: Bill! <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] An Article of Interest To: [email protected] Date: Friday, February 18, 2011, 5:38 PM ED and Kristy, A cult is any religion that has been recruiting your religion's members. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Kristy McClain <healthyplay1@...> wrote: > > Ed, >  > I guess I don't rely on definitions in the same way, when discussing a topic > here. I don't worry about being perfectly precise. I understand a cult as a > group headed by a charasmatic leader , who has devoted followers and usually > is vested in power or authority as the "mission" is transmitted to > others. I just thought Steve or others might have a comment on the paragraph > I cited.  It sounds cult-ish to me.  The scariest words in the universe > for me?  "Blind obedience". >  > Hope all is well with you.. >  > Kristy > > > --- On Fri, 2/18/11, ED <seacrofter001@...> wrote: > > > From: ED <seacrofter001@...> > Subject: Re: [Zen] An Article of Interest > To: [email protected] > Date: Friday, February 18, 2011, 12:28 PM > > >  > > > > > > Based on any of the definitions below, Zen appears not to be a cult. > --ED >  > Definitions of cult on the Web: > > followers of an exclusive system of religious beliefs and practices > fad: an interest followed with exaggerated zeal; "he always follows the > latest fads"; "it was all the rage that season" > followers of an unorthodox, extremist, or false religion or sect who often > live outside of conventional society under the direction of a charismatic > leader > a religion or sect that is generally considered to be unorthodox, extremist, > or false; "it was a satanic cult" > wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn > > Cult pejoratively refers to a group whose beliefs or practices could be, > reasonably or unreasonably, considered strange. The term was originally used > to denote a system of ritual practices. ... > en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult >  > --- In [email protected], Kristy McClain <healthyplay1@> wrote: > > > > Hi Steve, >  > There are many ideas in the article you post. In light of your discussion > with Mike on a different thread about zen sects and religion, and the > clipped paragraph below, how is all this different from a cult? >  > That parallel was one of the things that kept me at a distance-- to > co-exist with my skeptical trust level. >  > Kristy >  > "Students, for their part, develop a desire for the master's aura, > recognition, and approval. They also learn to kow-tow to his authority and > legitimacy. Further, they learn quickly that their advancement up the > institutional ladder is completely dependent upon the master's good graces. > Because the Dharma transmitted Zen master acts not in his own name and > authority, but rather as the only full delegate of the institution, with all > the authority and power that entails, he also monopolizes the means to > salvation. So, we can understand that there might be multiple motives for > 'not seeing' the master as he really is, whether there be an absence of > compassion or wisdom or the presence of sexual improprieties or alcoholism. > This is what psychiatrists call 'negative hallucination,' i.e., keeping > unconscious something that we perceive." > > >  > > > > Hello. Here is the link to a very interesting article on the topic of > Zen scandals in America by Stuart Lachs entitled The Zen Master in America: > Dressing the Donkey with Bells and Scarves > http://www.thezensite.com/ZenEssays/CriticalZen/Zen_Master_in_America.html > Steve >
