This reminds me of the story (Not the first time I`ve told it here) about the Japanese roshi who was giving a talk about being a bodhisattva to some very senior American Zen practitioners. He used the analogy that bodhisattvas are like the farmer who takes a great risk to rescue a cow stuck in a mud-pit. After the talk, one of the practitioners asked what they (the practitioners) could do specifically to help people stuck in unfortunate circumstances. "Oh, you`ve misunderstood me" said the roshi, "You are the cows in this story"... Mike
--- On Thu, 29/11/12, Edgar Owen <[email protected]> wrote: From: Edgar Owen <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Zen] truth is beauty To: [email protected] Date: Thursday, 29 November, 2012, 12:28 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 > > > > > > >
