Bill!, Hard to imagine that Jesus would be queuing up outside Chick-fil-a or shooting doctors outside of legal, medical abortion clinics...
>that is why I separate Jesus' teachings from Christianity and Christians Mike ________________________________ From: Bill! <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, 4 August 2012, 2:29 Subject: [Zen] Re: Samadhi Mike, I share many of your feelings and that is why I separate Jesus' teachings from Christianity and Christians - just as I separate Buddha Nature from Zen Buddhism and Buddhists. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@...> wrote: > > Merle, > > I'm sure this is a lot in Christianity for many, but I don't see it. I was > raised in an atheist household, I went to a secular school, none of my social > circle are Christian. Maybe my lack of feeling like I was created by anything > outside the natural world is proof I'm a far way from being "perfecto". I'm > truly sorry if my lack of faith, or inquiry, has touched a raw spot for you, > but my worldview doesn't see the need to "accept" that Christianity has > something to offer me any more than I would any other supernatural claim. > When you wrote "lighten up", I hope you were referring to me going to Hell? ; > ) > > Mike > > > > ________________________________ > From: Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, 4 August 2012, 1:12 > Subject: Re: [Zen] Samadhi > > >  > > >  mike..meaning what?...do not be so quick to judge..there are christians > and christians...just as there are buddhists and buddhists.. > . not all folk who meditate and sit cross legged for hours waiting for the > "light" they too are not the "perfecto"..you are so desiring to be >  lighten up. > .accept that christianity to may have something to offer if you take the time > to examine >  merle >  > Merle, > > Guess I met too many Christians. > > > Mike > > > ________________________________ > From: Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> > To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, 4 August 2012, 0:58 > Subject: Re: [Zen] Samadhi > > >  > > > godfathers, mike..you live in a world where there are millions of christians > and your not the least interested or curious to find out the nitty gritty of > it all....... why?..merle >  > Kris, > > I know absolutely sweet f.a about Christianity, never mind Christian forms of > meditation, so I'll accept what you say about grace, being open and 'just > this'. I would still, however, argue that being overwhelmed emotionally at > feeling like you are being filled with the Holy Ghost, or whatever else, is > not observing with equanimity and is therefore not shikantaza. If I sit down > to practice shikantaza and I have a feeling that my dead grandmother is with > me, is it still shikantaza if I feel overwhelmed and start bawling my eyes > out? Or does Jesus get a free pass? > > Mike > > > ________________________________ > From: Kristopher Grey <kris@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: Friday, 3 August 2012, 19:33 > Subject: Re: [Zen] Samadhi > > >  > 'Grace' - symbolized by the intersection of the cross. The non-point > appearing to rest on the horizon between heaven and earth, where from both > spring from... Just this... > > There are Christian meditative practices... though not > taught/practiced by the consumer Christians. Prayer, real prayer > not asking for magic favors, it is a form of meditation. Like > other meditation, some prayers have a focus, some do not. A > completely open prayer - openess to what is/will be - simply being > - is this not also 'shikantaza'? > > Look past the differences, and there is only this. > > KG > > > On 8/3/2012 6:24 AM, Bill! wrote: > >  > >Mike, > > > >I would describe it as something similar to being filled > with the Holy Spirit and giving yourself over COMPLETELY > to God's will. > > > >Bill! (not Joe or Bill) > > > >--- In [email protected], mike brown <uerusuboyo@> wrote: > >> > >> Joe, > >> > >> How would you describe shikantaza to someone from a > religion such as Christianity? > >> > >> Mike > >> > >> > >> > >> ________________________________ > >> From: Joe <desert_woodworker@> > >> To: [email protected] > >> Sent: Friday, 3 August 2012, 3:24 > >> Subject: Re: [Zen] Samadhi > >> > >> > >>  > >> Shikantaza is "just keeping empty". In the Zen sect. > >> > >> I'll say no more! > >> > >> --Joe > >> > >> > > >> >"ED" <seacrofter001@> wrote: > >> > > >> > Mike, > >> > > >> > Is shikantaza insight meditation, absorption > meditation or both? > >> > > > > >
