joe..how do we know if one is truly awakened?..merle
Merle, In true compassion as it arises in the awakened person, there is no judging. There is, however, spontaneous and instant arising of natural Wisdom, according to the causes and conditions present. With the wisdom, there also arises compassion at the same instant. The nature and effectiveness of the compassion -- the form it takes -- is determined by the wisdom that arises, or arose. As a result, just the right type of compassionate action is carried out. One does not think of an action in advance and one does not determine the action according to a "formula", or an "ethics", and one does not necessarily act (just exactly) as one has acted in the past. Others might not think that your action is very compassionate, if, for example, what you deliver is a slap, instead of a handful of money. But you will know that it is true compassion, and that nothing else would have suited. And you will see the natural results. One must not fake it, however. One must truly awaken before one can act in this way. The reason is that only in the awakened state do wisdom and compassion arise spontaneously in accord with causes and conditions. This is the truth, as those who have awakened experience it. It also accords with Buddhist teaching. --Joe > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > compassion and zen > > > >i do not believe to have compassion we must also judge. > > > >it is freely given unconditionally and in universal love. > > > > any other way it is not truly compassion.... > > > >hence we must care and share for others who are less fortunate than ourselves > > > >any thoughts on this folks?
