Thank you, Edgar,
If I may add, using some Buddhist terms, meditation is an act of
compassion and it in turn cultivates abundant merit. Why?
Because Chan meditation enhances our chi and rejuvenates every cell in
our body. Every cell is a sentient being ferried to Buddhaland.
When we notice that every cell in our body shines, like stars at night,
then we have purified our body. Thus we have cross the Realm of Form.
jm
On 6/13/2012 6:14 PM, Edgar Owen wrote:
All,
Everyone should remember that compassion applies also to the poor old
bag of bones that has carried you around so loyally for so long with
often very little appreciation. Treat your poor old body and mind with
the compassion and appreciation they so richly deserve and let them be
happy and do pretty much what they really want to do. That is true
compassion...
I think of my body as a good old horse that has served me loyally for
many years with little complaint. I try to do the absolute best by it
that I possibly can and allow it to be as happy and healthy as
possible..... I feed it well and give it all the love it deserves
which is plenty... After a good day's work lugging me around I let it
have a nice rest and be filled to bursting with good chi energy till
it glows and recuperates... I let my animal be an animal and roll
around in the grass and romp and play with the other animals. That is
the source of compassion. If one cannot be compassionate to one's own
animal how can one be compassionate to other beings?
Edgar
On Jun 13, 2012, at 8:24 PM, Kristopher Grey wrote:
>
> What other people? You and I may perceive and speak of other people,
but compassion does not discriminate this way.
>
> Compassion is not concerned with how things may appear. Compassion
operates with/as what is - effortlessly - instantaneously - not even
needing to arise as there is no lack. Unseen, as thoughts of it can
only arise in response - as afterthought. What appears as cultivation
of future compassion, is the imagination compassionately creating this
appearance as an aspect of present awareness.
>
> Compassion, is the cause and result of compassion. So long as
thoughts are tied to apparent cause/effect - there will continue to be
attempts at cultivating this, seeking attainment, without realizing this.
>
> All such appearnces/efforts are aspects of this, arising as pointers
to this, not paths leading to something separate. The self strings
these imaginary points into imaginary lines it call its path. There
are no points, only pointing. No path, only pathing. No-self, only
selfing....
>
> No compassion being realized, only compassionate realization.
>
> Without beginning, without end.
>
> K
>
>
>
> On 6/13/2012 6:20 PM, Anthony Wu wrote:
>> Joe/K,
>> 'In lay terms' means in general, from a general perspective,
including the point of view of a senior zenist, and that from an idiot
like me. What are the results of the compassion, whether it is
cultivated, or developed spontaneously? Of suddenly compassion arrives
'just this'? None of us live isolatedly. How do other people see your
compassion?
>> Anthony
>>
>> *From:* Kristopher Grey <[email protected] <mailto:kris%40kgrey.com>>
>> *To:* [email protected] <mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com>
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, 13 June 2012, 23:00
>> *Subject:* Re: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion
>>
>> Where does this 'practice' begin and end?
>>
>> If an answer appears, if there are reasons and results, such
practice is too full of itself.
>>
>> K
>>
>>
>>
>> On 6/13/2012 10:00 AM, Joe wrote:
>>> Now, when you say "lay" terms, do you mean terms that have nothing
to do with zen practice and its results? If so, this may not be the
best forum to post such a question.
>>>
>>> I am a lay practitioner, by the way, and not a monastic.
>>>
>>> In a person who is not awakened, say, a killer-for-hire, true
compassion and wisdom are simply covered up.
>>>
>>> In EVERY person who does not practice, true compassion is also
covered. This true compassion is the "zen-"compassion we've mentioned.
Such a non-practicing person may still seem to extend compassion at
times, but as we've noted, even an idiot will sometimes do this.
>>>
>>> Now, it's not guaranteed that a practitioner will have true
compassion and wisdom just because they practice: a practitioner must
also AWAKEN (even as the Buddha did).
>>>
>>> In summary, and to reiterate, my claim is that compassion is
covered up, in the killer, ...just as in any other ordinary person.
>>>
>>> That's why we practice.
>>>
>>> (If you like, tell us your answer to where you think compassion
is, in such a person, ordinary, or killer).
>>>
>>> --Joe
>>>
>>> > Anthony Wu <wuasg@...> <mailto:wuasg@...> wrote:
>>>
>>> > I am talking about compassion in lay terms. I don't think it is
automatic. For example, when a mafia member kills, loots and rapes,
where is the compassion?
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
