Joe, Simple statements are good enough. Don't go beyond that. Bill just answered me that when you sit shikantaza with clear mind there is no compassion. I am waiting to hear him say what happens when you sit shikantaza daydreaming? Anthony
________________________________ From: Joe <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, 14 June 2012, 8:20 Subject: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion Anthony, I think, yes. It is the zen understanding, but we have little choice in this: When it happens with us, we are impartial. We only "call" it as we see it, to use a Baseball Umpire's (Referee's) expression. If we call it at all: but, here, in this Forum, we call it, because we are talking. Talking, and using words. It has little to do with theravada, although it does not conflict with it. I do not think that this understanding is just a "party- line", or a conventional understanding, nor, even less, just a teaching tool, or a statement or phraseology to bring practitioners into the fold. I would not use the term if it was not my own understanding and realization. I am only a zen practitioner, and work in no other Buddhist school. My teachers have all been scrupulous and exacting. I hope I do not slight them Compassion is the behavior of a Buddha, an enlightened sentient being. When Shakyamuni came down the hill, after getting up from underneath the Bodhi tree (beautiful leaves, by the way, I grow them at home in Arizona), all his behavior was compassionate. Does anyone doubt this? If not, Anthony, please tell us the zen way to regard compassion. Or, the way to suggest that compassion be expressed by zen practitioners. Does it not arise spontaneously? Is it not just Wisdom by another name, excaept more active? Do they "both" not arise simultaneously? I've made my simple statements; I will give full attention to yours. Regards, --Joe > It is easy to agree with you, especially from the perspective of theravada > and mahayana. But is it the zen way?
