Steve, AA appears to have got the message.
--ED
Alcoholics Anonymous
"The terms 'Higher Power' and 'power greater than ourselves' appear in
the "Big Book", on three occasions:
* Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore
us to sanity.
* The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense
against the first drink. Except in a few cases, neither he nor any other
human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a
Higher Power.
* Follow the dictates of a Higher Power and you will presently live
in a new and wonderful world, no matter what your present
circumstances!"
--- In [email protected], "SteveW" <eugnostos2000@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Mike. I notice that you are widely educated in mystical
spirituality. You doubtless are aware that it all comes down
to two approaches: Self-Inquiry and Surrender. You find this
also in Mahayana Buddhism. Zen is jiriki, self-power, while
Pureland is tariki, other-power. So you can either single-mindedly
pursue "Who am I?", or you can let go of all self-will and let
Truth express itself in it's own good time, in it's own way.
These approaches seem contradictory until you realize that in
either case it is a matter of transcending the personal ego.
If we practice zazen with the feeling that we, as independant
agents, are working to become enlightened, then that is using the
ego to try and transcend the ego. But when the Light shines
through, then you realize that the supposedly individual ego
doing anything on it's own was a dream. But the moment we try to
think and speak about it, as I am doing now, then again we are
trying to step outside of THIS in order to think and speak about
THIS. What is THIS? I bow to the Infinite Light!
Steve
--- In [email protected]
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/post?postID=RF3WfgG8JVyKz7JM1Bv\
BWZvrPvMNjAxRq3EyFd2IFR-P42apl17bXnAh_kqRezpCag3agVMMxCDM2O-JpQ4pibpX> ,
mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote:
>
> Steve,
>
> When I was about 17 I read a poem which has struck with me upon
reading it:
>
> The centre that I cannot find
> Is known to my unconscious mind.
> I have no reason to despair
> Because I am already there.
>
> Now, why did that particular poem, not only resonate, but also never
get
> forgotten? For me, it's an expression of Truth and Truth will
always find a
way
> to express itself. 'I' was defenceless in face of this and gradually
over
many,
> many years (I'm 46 now!) the wall has been weakened until there
was
just enough
> of a crack to let the Light shine thru. Who can take credit for
this?
>
> Mike
