Anthony, You are asking me the same question that was asked the old zen master in the koan Hyakujo and the Fox. If I answer 'no, compassion is just a concept, an illusion, and therefore is not applicable to zen practice or Buddha Nature' I might have to live 500 lifetimes in the body of a fox. On the other hand if I answer 'yes, the dualistic concept, the illusion of compassion is an important quality of zen practice' then I will be telling you an untruth.
Come closer and I'll answer you... ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Anthony Wu <wuasg@...> wrote: > > Bill, > Â > The term zen I refer to is not just when you sit shikantaza with clear mind, > or shikantaza day dreaming, it also refers to the time when you leave your > mat, and go about daily activities. In other words things in general. Is > there such a thing called 'compassion'? How is it reflected in your > activities? > Â > Anthony > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, 14 June 2012, 10:41 > Subject: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion > > > Â > Anthony, > > I can't answer you because I'm not sure what you mean by 'zen'. I have a > concept I associate with 'zen' but I'm not sure it's the same concept you > have. > > If you'll notice I did not use the word 'zen' in my post below. Categorizing > things as 'in zen' or not is just not appropriate, although I admit I have > been guilty of using similar terminology myself. > > If you define the term 'zen', or at least thing of is as having the same > meaning, as it is used in 'zazen' - to sit 'zen'; and if you as I do define > 'zazen' as 'shikantaza' which means 'just sit' or 'clear mind sitting' - and > then if I could rephrase your question as: > > In 'clear mind' are there qualities called 'compassion', 'hunger', etc...; > then I would answer 'no' - or better yet would just answer 'Just THIS!'. > > ...Bill! > > --- In mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu <wuasg@> wrote: > > > > Bill, > > ÃÂ > > Is there such a thing in zen called 'compassion', as is there a quality > > called 'hungry', or as from other categories you name it? > > ÃÂ > > Anthony > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Bill! <BillSmart@> > > To: mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Wednesday, 13 June 2012, 10:13 > > Subject: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion > > > > > > ÃÂ > > ED, > > > > 'Compassion' is a label a 3rd party places on someone else's actions. > > 'Compassion' as has been discussed in this thread is not something you > > 'do', its who/what you are. If you're dividing things up into dualistic > > sets such as compassionate/not compassionate then you've already missed the > > mark. > > > > '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! > > > > --- In mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com, "ED" <seacrofter001@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi Bill and All - > > > > > > Three definitions of compassion from the Internet are: > > > > > > "Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of > > > others." > > > > > > "A deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering. > > > > > > "The humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting > > > to do something about it" > > > > > > What would a typical Buddhist or zen definition of compassion be? > > > > > > --ED > > > > > > > > > --- In mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com > > > <mailto:mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com> , > > > Anthony Wu <wuasg@> wrote: > > > > > > > > Sheng Yen was a great monk. His word about compassion brings the > > > question of the results of zen practice. Does it bring about inhuman > > > characteristics of no compassion? He also said, 'sit down and shut up'. > > > But that does not rule out the ensuing compassion. > > > > > > > > Anthony > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
