Bill, We true Boddhisattvas DON'T NEED oxygen masks!
EDgar On Nov 28, 2012, at 7:57 PM, Bill! wrote: > RAF, > > I am reminded of this by a recurring teaching (which I've posted many times > before on this site) by the kindly Bodhisattvas that attend us when they fly. > They never fail to tell us to "...put on your own oxygen mask first before > attempting to help others." > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > > > RAF, > > > > My take on the Boddhisattva vow is that the best way, in fact the ONLY > > effective way, to enlighten other beings is to manifest one's own > > realization in the world as an example... > > > > Edgar > > > > > > > > On Nov 27, 2012, at 10:55 PM, R A Fonda wrote: > > > > > On 11/27/2012 4:40 PM, Joe wrote: > > > > > >> Originally, it's: "Life is Dukha". A wagon wheel that is mounted > > >> eccentrically on an axle is also "dukha", so "Life is Dukha" may mean > > >> that life is "off-center" as lived by beings who are not quite awake. > > >> Such a life will always seem unsatisfactory (some translators call that > > >> "Suffering"; oh, well) to the being. > > > That is an interesting point: in the original, it might not even mean > > > what we would think of as suffering. Still, the examples given in context > > > suggest, at least to me, that 'suffering' is close to the intended > > > meaning. Edgar's distinction between physical and mental suffering also > > > seems apposite, though, given that distinction, physical suffering > > > remains an inherent aspect of physical existence. > > > > > >> "Work out your OWN salvation with diligence". > > > Ironic you should mention that, as it is the very reference I recently > > > cited to Edgar, as supporting my view that the Bodhisattva Vow is > > > presumptuous and a dubious doctrine. At any rate, my choice to eschew > > > that vow is why I don't call myself a Buddhist, in spite of my sincere > > > gratitude for his elucidation of the Way. > > > > > >> "resolution" is that there is no resolution TO BE MADE -- and no > > >> resolution is Reasonable -- because the two points are observations made > > >> from different perspectives: the one is from Samsara (the realm of > > >> not-awake-ness); and the other is from the point of view of someone who > > >> is awake. > > > Thank you for an excellent response. > > > > > > RAF > > > > > > > > > > > > >
