Bill/ED, It is relatively easy to deal with your own 'real' or emotional pain. Relax. If it does not work, take a pain killer, sedative, or further, get a shot of morpine. It is more of a challenge to treat other people's pain and suffering. Should zen masters adopt an attitude of 'none of my business', when seeing others' suffering? Or else, what should they do? Anthony
________________________________ From: ED <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, 9 February 2012, 23:36 Subject: Re: [Zen] What of God? Bill, As far as you can tell, do your opinions on this matter differ in any way from those of your Zen/zen teachers? Thanks. --ED --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote: > ED, I think it's about time for my periodic caveat... I am not a zen teacher nor do I claim to represent any particular zen school. All my posts are my own opinions and reflect my own private practice. The items you mentioned "acute physical pain or chronic physical pain or emotional pain or feelings such as anxiety or fear" are not all the same. There are at least 2 categories: real 'pain' and emotional 'pain'. Real 'pain' is indeed real. It is a response of your body to trauma. Actually the feeling itself is the response and the labeling it as 'pain' is post-processing activity of your discriminating mind. In any case there is nothing you can really do to make this 'go away' and can only relax and accept it. Emotional 'pain' is illusory. It is a response of your SELF to a perceived slight or dangerous situation and totally a product of your discriminating mind. You can make this 'go away' and can do this by doing the same thing as with real pain - relax and accept it. That's the best I can come up with right now. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "ED" <seacrofter001@...> wrote: > > Bill and All, > > As per zen, how does one 'deal with' or relate to or be with acute > physical pain or chronic physical pain or emotional pain or feelings > such as anxiety or fear? > > Thank you. > > --ED > --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > ED, > > Abandoning effort has always been man's savior. > > Meditate (zazen) to halt your mind's functions and discard your desire > for control. > Discover you have no self to discipline. > Just be. > > No need to jump, you are already there. > > ...Bill!
