Correction: Oops, I clicked the wrong word over the spellcheker in previous post. I meant: "No one can steal the heart as we all have it in us. We can only be awakened in the heart". Mayka
--- On Thu, 21/4/11, Maria Lopez <[email protected]> wrote: From: Maria Lopez <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] compassion, universe, etc To: [email protected] Date: Thursday, 21 April, 2011, 15:04 "..'When people see things as beautiful, ugliness is created When people see things as good, evil is created'...". Tao Te Ching. Thank you Mel for the Tao Te Ching above reference. Although the above said is a wise one, there is a danger in reading and take things literally as they are written. Nonetheless the above said makes even stronger the point with not much success was trying to convey in posting addressed to Steve. This is a very complex subject to be talked about in a public medium as it can easily lead to harmful misunderstandings. Whatever different ideas we may all have, I like to think that we all have in common the one of well-being of all forms of life. It's not about nihilism or absolute truths. It's more about be one with the heart of the ocean of life, visible and invisible. JMJM has repeatedly pointed out to all of us the heart. He has not been doing this superficially. As soon as we are separated by the universal heart all sort of confusion arises in us including the one of creating the mental metaphor believe that one of our neighbours steals the purse of an elderly lady. No one can still the heart as we all have it in us!. We can only be awakening in the heart. Mayka --- On Thu, 21/4/11, Mel <[email protected]> wrote: From: Mel <[email protected]> Subject: [Zen] compassion, universe, etc To: "zen forum" <[email protected]> Date: Thursday, 21 April, 2011, 11:07 My thoughts on the latest issues.... COMPASSION AND ZEN Compassion for what or who exactly? Compassion has no hard and fast rules, or descriptions. Do you show compassion for a habitual thief? How about a serial rapist or murderer? How does this compassion look like in solid form? THE UNIVERSE My interpretation: The universe is neither badly made, or perfect. It just is. I may be somewhat influenced by the Taoist teachings, but.. ..'When people see things as beautiful, ugliness is created When people see things as good, evil is created'... -TaoTeChing, translator JH McDonald source address: http://www.reformtaoism.org/Laozi_translations/JohnMcdonald_wc.php ..that makes a lot of sense to me. Since the book I mainly use for Zen readings is ZEN MIND BEGINNERS MIND, I then doubt that many from within the Zen communiy would be too shocked why I tend to think so ARROGANT INDIVIDUALISTIC PRICKS It's not very hard to come across so-called spiritual teachers or guides like this...even in a Buddhist faction like Zen. I personally judge people as they are, and I don't wait for an accumulation of years of contact before I say,"Gee willikers, they weren't so bad after all" I've also heard it said,"Your enemy is your best teacher". Holy cow, that means it can come up to a point where we do finally learn a lesson in life after they burn our sorry miserable carcasses, ready to be put in urns Back to individual oddities. In my youth, entering a new place or situation meant I knew practically zero about such new environment. Arrogant pricks as such (and they come in 2 sorts...male and female) behave likewise but backed off when I stood up to them. They feign humility in silence when what they actually did was ignore me completely even when I was putting myself at risk, be it with machinery or worse. Embrace them to heal their wounds? Hmmm...I say clear the head, and breath. Dualistically-speaking, good or evil may arise, but stop neither. Buddha gives what Buddha gives ABUSIVE TEACHERS Irrespective of whether it's in martial arts, spirituality, work, and so on...an abusive teacher (sexually, or some other) is just as so. Lack of knowledge or practise within the specified or chosen discipline TOO MUCH THINKING AND WORDS Unfortunately, an academic's disease which will never go away from the patient. Even those lacking education but who seem to be natural scholars when given the opportunity to be so are also affected by such. The more words and thinking Buddha be praised Mel
