bill... i don't see why i need to examine myself..which i do anyway by the way... i just think you were off course..telling me off or what ever you call it... you seem to think always i am in the wrong and you are have supreme mastery of the way... i must clean up my act..are you that squeak clean that the mirror is reflecting to you that you never ever need to change?... edgar is a rationalist..so? i never said it was a good thing..it just is so.. in fact it's a sad thing..he does not believe in goblins or fairies..no fantasy makes for a dull human being..merle
Merle, First of all I was not scolding you (or pretending to scold you) for no reason. The reason was you called Edgar a 'rationalist' believing that was a good thing. I wanted you to know that I believe a dependence upon rationalism is contraindicated in zen, especially in the beginning. Secondly if you feel you are 'sensitive' and are hurt easily you should examine yourself to try to discover why you are 'sensitive' (insecure?), and if anything try to resolve that yourself. You should not expect others to change their ways to accommodate you. This is the same rationale as zen takes concerning all suffering. You end suffering by changing yourself or at least changing your world view - realizing that your self is illusory and dropping all attachments associated with it (like thinking you should be treated in a certain way). Zen does not teach you to go out and lobby or cajole or threaten or denigrate others to make them change so you are more comfortable. Lastly I have never called myself 'enlightened'. In fact I almost never use that term, and when I do it's in reference to someone else terminology who had used it first. It holds no real meaning for me. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > > >  bill..so you were scolding me for no reason?...me the sensitive soul...you > hurt me...tut tut...how can you call yourself enlightened?...merle >  > Merle, > > My recent 'scolding' posts have been, as Joe easily recognized, > tongue-in-cheek. A ruse. A joke. > > I'm certain Edgar claims to be and would be proud to be called a > 'rationalist'. And I agree that's exactly what I think he is also. > > It's just that I dont' think that's something to be proud of. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > >  bill..ask edgar yourself... if i have not read him correctly that is > > precisely what he claims to be...how you find that an insult is beyond > > me... merle > > > > > >  > > Merle, > > > > You called Edgar "a rationalist". Please note these are YOUR words not > > MINE. > > > > I can't think of a worse insult for anyone on a Zen Forum. > > > > Clean up your act or suffer the rationally-based cause-and-effect > > consequences! > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > >  what do you mean bill?...why are you saying this?... where is > > > the insult?..merle > > > > > > > > >  > > > Merle, > > > > > > As co-moderator I must warn you that calling people insulting names on > > > this Zen Forum will not be tolerated. > > > > > > Clean up your act! > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ÃÆ'‚ > > > > ÃÆ'‚ mike,,edgar is a rationalist.. > > > > > > > > what he cannot see he does not acknowledge to be true..so no unicorns, > > > > devils, goblins or fairies for him...ÃÆ'‚ > > > > would not like tolkein..now would he?..what a sad childhood..no fantasy > > > > ..merle > > > > > > > > > > > > ÃÆ'‚ > > > > Let's alsoÃÆ'‚ not forget about the unicorns.. > > > > > > > > From: Edgar Owen <edgarowen@> > > > > To: [email protected] > > > > Sent: Monday, 18 March 2013, 3:38 > > > > Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: nature > > > > > > > > Merle, > > > > > > > > Yes, that's the ONLY rational definition of God.... > > > > > > > > Edgar > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Mar 17, 2013, at 3:12 AM, Merle Lester wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >ÃÆ'‚ mike..are not "god" and nature but one? merle > > > > >ÃÆ'‚ > > > > > Merle, > > > > > > > > > > Ineed we are, and as such it's best we grow up and flow wih the laws > > > > > of nature than hope a god will look after us. > > > > > > > > > > Mike > > > > > > > > > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >> ÃÆ'Æ'‚ mike..we are part and parcel of nature..what > > > > >> is the point you are making...? merle > > > > >> ÃÆ'Æ'‚ÃÆ'‚ > > > > >> Merle, > > > > >> > > > > >> Buddhism would say - what will you do if the road doesn't rise up to > > > > >> meet you? Or the wind is head-on and the sun isn't warm on your > > > > >> face? Better > > > > to rely on ourselves than a god. > > > > >> > > > > >> Mike (who is celebrating with my Celtic cousins) > > > > >> > > > > >> --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > >>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> Why not!ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ÃÆ'‚ > > > > >>>> Happy Every Day,ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> A HAPPY ST. PATRICKÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'‚¢ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'‚¬ÃÆ'Æ'¢ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¾ÃÆ'‚¢S > > > > >>>> DAY. > > > > >>>> SUN 17TH MARCH 2013 > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> I arise today through the Strength of Heaven, > > > > >>>> Light of Sun, Radiance of Moon, > > > > >>>> Splendour of Fire, Speed of Lightning, > > > > >>>> Swiftness of Wind, Depth of Sea, > > > > >>>> Stability of Earth, Firmness of Rock. > > > > >>>> TRADITIONAL GAELIC BLESSING > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> May the road rise up to meet you. > > > > >>>> May the wind be always at your back. > > > > >>>> May the sun shine warm upon your face; > > > > >>>> the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, > > > > >>>> may God hold you in the palm of His hand. > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> Please Remember: > > > > >>>> As part of continued email etiquette, please delete my name and > > > > >>>> email address before forwarding. ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> PLEASE use .bcc when sending to multiple addresses and always > > > > >>>> delete any and all emailÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> addresses in the email I forward. This helps eliminate addresses > > > > >>>> to spam > > > > lists. > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> > > > > >>>> ÃÆ'Æ'Æ> > > > >>>> 'ÃÆ'¢â‚¬Å¡ÃÆ'Æ'‚ > > > > >>> > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > > > > > Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or > > > > are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > > > > > ÃÆ'‚ ÃÆ'‚ > > > > [email protected] > > > > > > > > > >
