HYS, Yep, got my fingers burned on that one. Your story (which I've heard before, so should have known better..) is a timely reminder of how to act in such circumstances.
Gassho Mike --- In [email protected], yonyonson@... wrote: > > Joe, > > I used "Is that so?" in regards to the accusations that Subhana charges > $120. Nothing tarnished to her name; it isn't true! those that would make > such quick judgements just miss the mark from their own preconceptions. > still there's someone for everyone, isn't there?? ;-) > > yea, these are family stories! i've always loved them. > > HYS > > On Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 10:39 AM, Joe <desert_woodworker@...> wrote: > > > ** > > > > > > Yonyonson, > > > > It's a great story and I've admired the wisdom of it and Hakuin's behavior > > in the tale for over 35 years. I use his line sometimes, too, and it helps > > cool me and others down on some occasions: > > > > "Is that so?" > > > > And, when you use it with someone who practices or who otherwise also > > knows the story, you usually get a smile or a laugh, which is even better. > > It's like a story from your own family, at those times. > > > > The three repetitions of the phrase are probably what reminds you of the > > story in this case, after Chris' mention of the policy of not answering a > > Zen-related question until the questioner had posed the question three > > times. > > > > I don't know if there really *is* this policy anywhere, and I'd like to > > know more about it. Chris writes that it keeps him from injecting his own > > preferences: I'm dubious and even mildly suspicious of that faith, however, > > immediately (and I tell you this on the first go-'round, even though you > > did not ask even once). I fear that it may give you, the responder, too > > much time to concoct a "considered" reply, making the answer too > > "prepared". And when you reel it out, it may not suit the circumstances at > > all. > > > > I think if you really know something, you ought to be able to spit it out. > > And then your words will also be "living-" words: you know, the kind that > > are valued in Zen. > > > > (unless it's something you have to look up: like, what were the inclusive > > dates of Hakuin's life? Or, Confucious? By the second questioning, you > > ought to have the data). > > > > By the way, the dust-up about payments was all an ignorant > > mis-understanding. The fee pertains to a Medical Doctor's rate for > > psychiatric treatment. Somehow, a wildfire broke out here and some people > > actually began to cast aspersions on and slander the Dharma teacher, > > believing that the fee was for Dharma teaching. A little cold water of > > reality doused the flames licking about, dampened the smouldering, and shut > > a few mouths. > > > > Yonyonson, I agree that the Dharma is priceless! And I claim that Dana is > > a *practice* which really does help to bring us to awakening, and to keep > > us awake. Hail! > > > > Non-practitioners can't know this for themselves, though, which is the > > only way to know it. > > > > --Joe > > > > > > --- In [email protected], yonyonson@ wrote: > > > > > > Mr. Joe, > > > > > > reminds me of this story: > > > > > > *A beautiful girl in the village was pregnant. Her angry parents demanded > > > > > > to know who was the father. At first resistant to confess, the anxious > > and > > > > embarrassed girl finally pointed to Hakuin, the Zen master whom > > everyone > > > > previously revered for living such a pure life. When the outraged > > parents > > > > confronted Hakuin with their daughter's accusation, he simply replied > > "Is > > > > that so?" > > [snip] > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
