we are as grains of sand and our individual lives are split seconds of a hair.. mostly invisible in the scheme of the universe...and not even that in the history of life..here to day gone tomorrow..wink and it's over..merle
Anthony, As I'm sure you know it doesn't matter whether it is 500 lifetimes or 500 years, or days or minutes or kalpas. Most translations I have read say 'lifetimes', but years is okay with me too. I assume you're telling me this because the original Chinese says 'years'? Right? Oh yes, and out of compassion also... ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Anthony Wu <wuasg@...> wrote: > > Bill, >  > I remind you again that you don't have to live 500 lifetimes as a fox. It is > only 500 years. >  > Anthony > > > ________________________________ > From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Friday, 15 June 2012, 18:44 > Subject: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion > > >  > 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 mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu <wuasg@> wrote: > > > > Bill, > >  > > 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? > >  > > Anthony > > > > > > ________________________________ > > From: Bill! <BillSmart@> > > To: mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Thursday, 14 June 2012, 10:41 > > Subject: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion > > > > > >  > > 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, > > >  > > > Is there such a thing in zen called 'compassion', as is there a quality > > > called 'hungry', or as from other categories you name it? > > >  > > > Anthony > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > From: Bill! <BillSmart@> > > > To: mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com > > > Sent: Wednesday, 13 June 2012, 10:13 > > > Subject: [Zen] Re: The Self Illusion > > > > > > > > >  > > > 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 > > > > > > > > > >
