Edgar and Guy,
I think that the story, like a Sufi tale, can mean different things to different people, depending on their state of evolution. The question as to whose experience of the story is the 'most Zen-like' is moot. --ED --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > The problem with stories like this is they give the false impression that there is some 'correct' response to such Zen questions and that that response had to have been exactly what Hotei did. Nothing could be further from Zen... Stories like this tend to reduce Zen to the level of adolescent oneupmanship - like it's some contest of wills as to whose Zen is 'best' or that there is some test for Zen. There is absolutely no way to determine Hotei's Zen from such a story since any idiot could have performed exactly the same actions. Thus the story becomes entirely a matter of faith rather than Zen... The author tells us Hotei had Zen and we are supposed to accept it on faith. Meaningless. The only way would to have actually been there and had the realization oneself... > > There is 100% Zen in every occurrence, no matter what it is or what one does. There is nothing that is not Zen. The only question is whether that Zen is realized by those present.... > > Edgar > On Mar 20, 2011, at 9:07 AM, Guy wrote: > > > Hotei was walking along the road with his sack over his shoulder when he was approached by a buddhist master. "What is your understanding of buddhism?" asked the master; to which Hotei plopped his bag on the ground. "Fine", replied the master. "What is the actualization of buddhism?" Hotei picks up his bag and happily walks down the road. > > > > Had he spoken a single word he would have failed the questions, his action in the moment spoke louder. > > > > Be Well, Guy ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
