woh...are you enjoying yourself?.
.i have never been to japan..i had a japanese penfriend when i was 15... his father was a dentist...the penfriend use to send postcards of the maple trees in autumn. ..i have taught japanese exchange students art at my high school.. i have a friend now kyoko met her in 2009...late 40's she is japanese..been out her 20 years...goes every year to japan to see relatives..lovely lass...merle I am in indeed! Kyoto. --- On Tue, 11/12/12, Merle Lester <[email protected]> wrote: >From: Merle Lester <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Compassion and zen >To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >Date: Tuesday, 11 December, 2012, 14:23 > > > > > > at last sense..thank you mike! are you in japan as i type?..merle > > > >I think everyone is getting a bit confused here. A prospective student of a >Zen temple would have to prove their determination to the monastic life by >waiting outside the temple gate for a certain period of time. The less >dedicated would leave (and be spared the hell that would await the less >resolute) and even those that proved their mettle and were let in still had no >guarantees of residency. A `mere` beggar, or a person in an emergency would no >doubt have been shown compassion and given food or the relevant aid needed. >They are 2 different things entirely. > > >Mike > >--- On Tue, 11/12/12, Merle Lester <[email protected]> wrote: > > >>From: Merle Lester <[email protected]> >>Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: Compassion and zen >>To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >>Date: Tuesday, 11 December, 2012, 13:50 >> >> >> >> >> >> joe..disagree..goes against the grain of what i believe..everyone is >>welcomed says my doormat... >>although saying that i have a locked gate here..with beware of the savage dog >>sign... >>christ would not approve of turning folk away either.. merle >> >> >> >>Merle, >> >>Historically, those old places lived on the handouts and donations of others, >>already!, themselves!, and they had to be very, very careful about who they >>let in. In old China, there was even some sanction by the government, and >>the monasteries had to be extra scrupulous and truly frugal, and squeeze >>every resource to dedicate them for their established students, and for the >>best-of-the-best incoming neophyte candidates. They were like sports teams!: >>they didn't just recruit every neighborhood waif drifting in, to shoot some >>hoops. They knew how to recognize talent. And there was an established way >>of proving one's fervor and stamina. If you failed those tests, they sent >>you home to your parents. >> >>This is called true compassion! It resulted in a vibrant teaching system, >>and the preservation of the living Dharma, to this day. >> >>Else, we would not even be typing here! ;-) >> >>The monasteries were Places of the Way, not way-places (not Inns). >> >>I prostrate to those old teachers, head-monks, head-nuns, and those >>Gate-Keepers. And to the folks who applied and tried, but who were not >>suited to that life, and were turned away. >> >>--Joe >> >>-> Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: >>> >>> compassion doeth not judge. >>> >>> .if a man needth shelter and food for a thousand nights that is what must >>> be done in the name of universal love and compassion. >>> >>> ..none of us know another man's journey... >> >> >> >> > >
