It shouldn't, Merle.
Hope you're in better health, now.
Of course, the person involved might be addressed either "he" or "she": it's
more than a social nicety, I think; but, we don't know.
I think anyway that a teacher treats people equally, in the sense of using the
function of compassion honestly, truly, and authentically (not caging it up,
nor raging it up), but he/she tunes treatment to the time, place, situation,
and accords with other causes and conditions, too. Have you experienced this
in (zen) practice? Perhaps you have no teacher, as I think you said. Well,
maybe some time in the past? Hard to remember bygone lifetimes, maybe. In the
Dharma, there is no male or female, I think. Just in the social and family
customs of everyday life. ;-)
What would you say?
I say it, only to show the equality of meting-out needed blows. Some women on
sesshin ask for more application of the stick than many men. The stick is used
skilfully, but only, ONLY, on request, in some sanghas. In others, only the
teacher wields it, and you just never know as well as the teacher if you need
it or not; but you may still ask for it, and receive it (always with benefit).
Others in the Buddha Hall benefit, too, even when it's just you who receives it.
Obvious and minute points; but some may not know? Have some not "Been there,
Done that"? But I state the obvious anyway.
Long answer to a short well-asked question. If I answered anything, among the
above musings.
Your question may have been rhetorical.
But, as a philosopher (in my first career), I developed a policy of answering
all rhetorical questions. Except when it would be too maddening. ;-)
--Joe
> Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote:
>
> does this matter joe..female or male?..merle
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