Independence, Buddha's Compassion Compassion together with dualism, have become stock words used by many within the various Zen communities out there, be they followers of the beliefs, or are happy being just plain arm-chair explorers. For those who are far too stuck within their old habits, the only way to understand such terms is through book learning. Some will not even read, and prefer to watch TV documentaries or listen to CDs that are haphazard at best in any sort of teaching...whatever teaching it may be Compassion. Compassion is when 2 or more planets collide with each other, and the resultant aftermath. A mother picking up her child is also compassion, and so is the anger of a wild predator when there is something that stands between her and its young. These are Buddha's compassion. The autumn leaf that drops to the ground, the rains of monsoon, the movement of earth whether for ill or good, the fish that swim in the waters and birds that fly in the air...these are all Buddha's compassion, because Buddha is everywhere. Buddha is all, and in every existence be it living or non-living. It can't be any simpler than that There is no way to understand this compassion by the faculty alone. It is either accepted as fact, or not. However, for most people outside of Zen, this is just too simple...in fact, something some will even consider as almost peasant-like. They expect some wonderful thing about Buddha nature, and they seek it as if some 'holy grail' of sorts. Bound by their old habits, they are therefore not independent. Not able to accept Buddha nature as it is, they expect that things are harder than they really are. They have been led to believe all their lives that everything has to be a challenge. Difficulties must always be present for anything worth their time. This is a delusion. While they seek the 'holy grail' of some 'buddhism' of sorts, the flowers bloom after a rain and the crickets sing at night. This delusional seeking of some special kind of state of mind is missing the forest and mountains for one tree, or blade of grass The seekers of sorts above are therefore not independent. They cannot accept the reality of Buddha's grace. To see Buddha in each and every existence is just too difficult. They find it much easier to believe in one and only actual RULER of unknown origins up in the sky somewhere who can make the decisions for all through a set of instructions spelt to the very last letter as if for young and senseless children who can't think and live for themselves...and then the most perfect of all of such ruler's creation still get it wrong and quarrel amongst themselves We can all blame the Semitic influence for this delusional seeking of enlightenment of sorts, but I have personally come across similar herd/flock instincts from other faiths from fearful and unsure creatures who couldn't rise above the level of cattle and sheep, or a flock of poultry. We of the Zen community cannot say...ACCEPT BUDDHA'S GRACE, HERE AND NOW!....because we do not force our beliefs on anyone. We teach and show through action and non-action...doing, or non-doing...in noise, or silence. Outsiders ask for actual instructions, but we have none to give in sentences with all the grammatical correctness. A failure to open their eyes and ears, they see what is not there whilst blind to what is actually there...followed by more demands for instructions...*laughter*... Buddha be praised Mel
