Sorry for this but have you folks seen any of Faith's videos? Absolutely amazing. Truly inspirational
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPucBQXByFY and many others. Bill Find what makes your heart sing…and do it! ________________________________ From: Bill! <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, September 11, 2012 3:33:11 AM Subject: [Zen] Re: suffering Merle, I am also 66! I'm about to give you some of my definitions of terms and they're pretty 'tough-love' definitions so be warned... Pain is NOT suffering. Pain is pain. Suffering is feeling sorry for yourself (your self) because perhaps you're in pain and that does not meet up with your expectations and disappoints you. You do not have to suffer. The best example I know of this is a 3-legged dog. I'm sure you've seen many of them. They aren't suffering because (I presume) they don't have a strong 'mental model' of 'self'. They don't feel sorry for themselves. They don't compare themselves to other dogs. They just make do with what they've got. I've seen dogs with only 2 legs and they don't act any differently than those with 4. You could be a little condescending and say 'they don't know any better' - when actually you should be just saying 'they don't know' - and good for them. Contrast that with a human who has lost a leg. Many such humans will suffer. They'll wonder 'why me'? 'What did I do to deserve this?' And be envious of full-bodied humans who can do more and have more than they. Why? Because they DO have a strong 'mental model' of 'self' and have expectations of what life SHOULD be like, and do compare themselves with others. Their life is not like others (the majority) and this disappoints them so they suffer. Zazen can help... ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > > >  rubbish bill..i am suffering as i type..bladder/ urinary tract >infection..chronic now..anti/bi's not working..ultrasound 2 morrow..great >discomfort and some pain... get real bill...give me a break..my spirit is >young >and free but the body at 66 tells another story..and like it or lump it >bill..i >am attached to this frame..called body..and it's in PAIN...merle >  > Merle, > > IMO... > > Life without attachments is very simplistic. It's the ultimate in simplicity. >It's Just THIS! It's all the attachments you accumulate that make life complex >and generate suffering. > > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > >  bill..life is not that simplistic... merle > > > > > >  > > Merle, > > > > I mean your post talked about how you suffer here and suffer there. To me >that indicates you're very good at suffering. > > > > If you think you're not good at it, or if you want to stop suffering then >just stop by drop all attachments. That's Buddhism 101. > > > > One way to do that is zazen. There are lots of other ways. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > >  what do you mean quit?....merle > > >  > > > Merle, > > > > > > It sounds like you're very good at it to me. If you're not good at it, > > > why >don't you quit? > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  i dunno about you folk out there but i am no good at >suffering... firstly my own and secondly witnessing others...human, animal or >vegetable... > > > > suffering is no way to live > > > >  > > > > Merle > > > > www.wix.com/merlewiitpom/1 > > > > > > > > > >
