Merle, If you have read or watched the Journey to the West, I am trying to imitate the monkey king(though far from so powerful) to find a way of going to the West to obtain the holy scripture. So far I have not been successful, because so many demons are obstructing on the way. Those demons include mahayana monks who try to educate me how to be compassionate, and widow ghosts in Thailand who try to abduct me when I am asleep. Anthony
________________________________ From: Merle Lester <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, 15 June 2012, 8:24 Subject: Re: [Zen] Speaking of Compassion the chinese monk and mother theresa made choices. .. it is their way of coming to terms with who they are and their journey...what is your journey anthony..where are you heading ?..merle Consider the example of Mother Theresa. She lived with lepers without regard to her own cells in her body that might contract the desease. How do we define that kind of compassion? Years ago, a Chinese monk went to the Golden Temple in Burma sleeping at night half naked in order to feed mosquitos. Is that compassion to mosquitos but cruelty to his body? Anthony From: Edgar Owen <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, 14 June 2012, 19:12 Subject: Re: [Zen] Speaking of Compassion JM, Yes, good point. I'd express it a little more generally though. Not just meditation but realization itself is an act of compassion both for the self and for all beings that come in touch with it... One can certainly show compassion by individual acts that help sentient beings out but far more useful is to help them gain realization so they can see the way for themselves. And first that includes one's own self.... Best, Edgar On Jun 13, 2012, at 9:40 PM, 覺妙精明 （JMJM） wrote: >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 <mailto:kris%40kgrey.com> >>>> *To:* 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 mailto: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? >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> > >
