Yes, that was the point (pointless though it may be).
What you share here is as good a discourse as can be offered - such
practice as you describe as good a practice as can be practiced - though
seeking anything (good/bad or otherwise appearing other than this) via
such actions just hands us that same priceless/worthless coin...
Some leave it lie, some pick it up, some tuck it away for 'someday',
some polish it regularly, some toss it into the fountain of awareness
and watch the ripples...
Whatever happens, It's just change.
K
On 6/13/2012 2:33 PM, mike brown wrote:
K,
The prescription/description of compassion you mentioned are just 2
sides of the same coin. The coin itself is essentially being not blind
to suffering. I don't know what enlightenment means for you, but for
me it is awakening to the seemless unfolding of moment into moment
without anything being added to it (Especially discursive). In an
instant we can be 'blind' to this just as easily as we can be to
compassion. That's why I practice and practice and practice.
Mike
--- On *Thu, 14/6/12, Kristopher Grey /<[email protected]>/* wrote:
From: Kristopher Grey <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion
To: [email protected]
Date: Thursday, 14 June, 2012, 4:06
In defending your points, you miss the point. My comments were not
a critique, but a simple pointing that may offer a means of
resolution of any apparent differences regarding 'cultivation'.
But since you bring it up, can you not see that this claim that
you are unenlightened proves only that your seeking for proof
either way fills both eyes to the point you can't see?
K
On 6/13/2012 1:49 PM, mike brown wrote:
k,
I'm not arrogant enough to claim that my world view is entirely
my own, all dreamt up on my ownsome, and so I acknowledge that
there are teachers and teachings that have nudged this world view
along. I can, however, differentiate for myself what compasssion
in action is and what is merely navel gazing as to the nature of
compassion. I'm not enlightened, and from what I can tell, no one
on this forum is. Please feel free to tell me otherwise. So, to
describe compassion as the action of a Buddha is all very well,
but how do you know? Read it somewhere? Personally, until I'm
fully enlightened, I'll admit to having to work on cultivating
compassion in the same way as bringing my concentration back to
the moment cultivates my mindfullness.
Mike
--- On *Thu, 14/6/12, Kristopher Grey /<[email protected]>
</mc/[email protected]>/* wrote:
From: Kristopher Grey <[email protected]>
</mc/[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion
To: [email protected]
</mc/[email protected]>
Date: Thursday, 14 June, 2012, 2:44
This argument you make, is it your own or one someone else
once made to you you have adopted? Is this teaching simply a
prescription for action from some respected dharma doctor, or
a description of the nature of such action - an expression of
dharma?
In other words:
Do you cultivate compassion through your actions, or is the
cultivation itself compassion in action? Compassionately
waiting for you to effortlessly realize this was never not so....
K
On 6/13/2012 11:52 AM, mike brown wrote:
ED,
Maybe everyone on this forum intuitively understands what
compassion is, but I would argue that it is still something
that can be cultivated. When we begin practicing metta
meditation, we usually start with those closest to us and
then work towards people we don't know and then even include
our enemies. Doesn't this indicate the difficulty of having
compassion for all sentient beings? It's easy to say that we
do, but much more difficult in practice. Feeling compassion
for orphans in a war is a lot easier than feeling compassion
for a serial rapist. I agree with Bill that tabeling it as
such isn't necessary, but I'd argue further that compassion
is cultivated thru practice.
Mike
--- On *Thu, 14/6/12, ED /<[email protected]>/* wrote:
From: ED <[email protected]>
Subject: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion
To: [email protected]
Date: Thursday, 14 June, 2012, 1:34
Mike -
I do - as does everyone else in this forum, IMO. I think
that Bill in his message below has answered the question
as to what a zenist should 'do' about compassion.
--ED
--- In [email protected], mike brown
<uerusuboyo@...> wrote:
>
> ED,
>
Again, if you don't intuitively understand what
compassion is then asking isn't going to get you closer
to it. .
>
> Mike
--- In [email protected]
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/post?postID=sfslbhEk49qPa2Kczups9HUnAa-3VYdpOEcB_7hHVObxzM1nLFXVFKz5Nc4dKencAmiFeiiohPJm7wGMZcS1cT8>,
"Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote:
>
> ED,
>
> 'Compassion' is not something you need to think about,
much less
strive to cultivate - any more than you have to strive
to be hungry.
>
> ...Bill!
