Merle, I don't refute you. But the monk I mention used to imply that you help others first without regarding the possibility of gasping for breath yourself. The point is he did not walk the talk. I do not rule out the existence of a real bodhisatva, the examples of Mother Theresa and the Chinese monk feeding mosquitos are close. Anthony
________________________________ From: Merle Lester <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, 16 June 2012, 16:49 Subject: Re: [Zen] Speaking of Compassion how can you help others if you are gasping for breath..you need to have breath to give help..merle Bill, Exactly, compassion is measured by your actions towards others. As regards the monk, I left him in disgust, though we were talking about a third party's problems then. Don't worry, your Theravada way works better here. If you want to help others, put your own house in order first. In a plane trouble, put on your exygen mask first, before helping others. However, that is not a bodhisatva way. Anthony From: Bill! <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, 16 June 2012, 11:38 Subject: Re: [Zen] Speaking of Compassion Anthony, I'll ask you the same question, where is the compassion? What were YOUR actions towards this monk? Could they be considered to have been compassionate? One thing I think that's important to point out is that IF YOU DO think compassion is important to include in your life and your practice, it would be measured on how YOU treat OTHERS (or yourself too), and NOT how OTHERS treat you. Where is the compassion? It in the same place everyplace else is - HERE! NOW! ...Bill! --- In mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu <wuasg@...> wrote: > > K, > Â > Whatever you say, and whatever I say, we need compassion in deed, not in > talks. Years ago, I ran into a famous mahayana monk in Hong Kong. He talked a > lot about compassion. But when confronted with how to solve a big problem by > a lay man, he said everybody is having problems due to his karma. In other > words, it is none of my business! Where is the compassion? > Â > Anthony > > > ________________________________ > From: Kristopher Grey <kris@...> > To: mailto:Zen_Forum%40yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, 15 June 2012, 8:39 > Subject: Re: [Zen] Speaking of Compassion > > > Â > On 6/14/2012 6:21 PM, Anthony Wu wrote: > Â > >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? > Mother Theresa, like all aid workers dealing with Leprosy, are aware 95% of > people are immune, and that has been curable for decades. > > What I found interesting about her, was she holds the self documented record > for being in "the dark night of the soul' - filled with great doubt in her > faith (this is putting it mildly) - for over 50 years - while serving so > humbly. She was not being compassionate to anyone for any reason, she was > simply a compassionate being. > > > Â > >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? > I suspect whoever he studied under sent him there as a way for him to > directly realize the nature of being a pest, always buzzing about seeking > after something! Upaya, for all! *L* > > Compassion works in mysterious ways, if you enjoy a good mystery. > > K >
