you have to have a "brain" to be able to be..otherwise you are a vegetable Bill ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ what is the function of the brain...the mind? ..merle
Merle, Edgar and my entire disagreement on zen is centered around understanding versus experience. My 'Daily Repeating Question' for him while he was absent and pretending to have network connectivity difficulties was asking him just that: 'What role does intelligence play in realizing Buddha Nature?' In the end he wisely refused to answer. Just recently he referred to 'intellectual koans' - which is a complete oxymoron. He and I exchanged two short retorts about this, but with the exception of just a couple people on the forum I'm sure it went by unnoticed. What's your opinion on this? Do you think intelligence (the ability to understand, rationality, the ability to draw logical inferences,etc...) plays an indispensable role in realizing Buddha Nature? ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > > >  bill...sorry to disappoint you... however edgar also says it like it > IS..merle > > >  > Merle, > > I believed you did not know this because of your MANY posts recently > supporting Edgar's continual assertions that UNDERSTANDING is necessary for > realizing Buddha Nature. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > >  but of course BILL.... what makes you believe i did not know > > this?...merle > > > > > >  > > Merle, > > > > Because Buddha Nature is not something you understand, it's something you > > experience...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > >  why not ?..merle > > > > > > > > >  > > > Merle, > > > > > > Yes. That's why I wrote it. > > > > > > Huxley's 'Attention! Attention! Here and Now Boys! Here and Now Boys!' > > > is the same thing as Joshu's 'The Oak Tree in the Garden' and 'Mu'', > > > Unmon's 'Dried Shit-Stick' Tozan's 'Three Pounds of Flax' and my 'Just > > > THIS!'. > > > > > > Understand? (...and you better not answer 'YES!!!!') > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ÃÆ'‚ and is that not what the repeat as the mantra in > > > > the island novel?...merle > > > > > > > > > > > > ÃÆ'‚ > > > > Merle, > > > > > > > > Or, if you prefer, "Attention! Attention! Here and Now Boy! Here and > > > > Now!" > > > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Merle, > > > > > > > > > > The latter, I think. I imagine it was fashioned in the form of a > > > > > flat blade, like a palette-knife, or putty knife, probably from a > > > > > broad thin piece of architectural bamboo. > > > > > > > > > > It must have been a common enough accessory in use at the Ch'an > > > > > monasteries, some of which housed hundreds of monks or nuns, and the > > > > > latrines must have been extensive. And so the Master made use of the > > > > > stick as an example, in his teaching. > > > > > > > > > > Others might have answered, "The Oak Tree in the court yard" (but at > > > > > some of the monasteries on high mountains, Oaks did not grow, but > > > > > mostly Pines did/do). Bamboo could be brought up from below, for > > > > > building, and for implements. > > > > > > > > > > Still others might have answered, "Just THIS!". > > > > > > > > > > The Master was very compassionate, bringing the student back into the > > > > > "here and now" with what he said and how he said it. > > > > > > > > > > --Joe > > > > > > > > > > > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > huh??????? wiping what.... the toilet or the arse?.. > > > > > > so it's an arse wiping stick? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
