Mike and Kris, I don't think it's important to emphasize 'what the Buddha taught'. That's just second-hand knowledge. I think it is preferable to experience what Buddha experienced. That's first-hand.
...Bill! --- In [email protected], Kristopher Grey <kris@...> wrote: > > On 7/31/2012 7:00 AM, mike brown wrote: > > I just wish I could convince my more orthodox Zen friends of what the > > Buddha taught. > > An understandable, perhaps even noble sentiment. Yet surely you can see > how approaching them in this way, from an assumption of lack, reduces > the teachings to to 'The Four Noble Thoughts' and the 'Eight Forked > Path' of the downfallen. Stories of this and that. What is such wishing > and convincing if not the pull and push of Mara? *L* > > Who are you really seeking to convince? Have you been convinced by > someone, or directly realized the teachings pointing? Assuming the > latter, why this thought to convince 'others'? > > If your see your friends or enemies are not Buddha, what else can you > show them? If you see your friends and enemies are Buddha, what else can > you show them? Who makes friends and enemies of suchness? > > To see without doubt, is clearly a joy. Attempts to convince others, can > only cloud their vision. In this, share openly, without intention or > expectation toward the nature of their experiences. Let their sight > clear as it will. The sky has no desire to be clear of clouds or filled > with lightning. There is room for all. > > Upon awakening, Buddha wished for nothing, and had not been convinced of > anything. He did not want to teach, knowing this cannot be taught, and > in compassion spent his remaining years sharing this. Others, taking > from this - form various limited understandings - teachings. > > All, unique expressions. None capturing, none lacking. It can only > appear so, to be clouded by thought. When mind attends to cloud > building, it rains thoughts of self and others. Tears of Buddha. Some > mistake these drops for teachings. > > > KG > ------------------------------------ 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/
