Mike,
Now, now. Don't take it too seriously. Or too comically. ;-)
"Ours is a middle-way".
And, ...no guilt!
I find in general that your heart is gilt-edged.
Like so many here.
You're right that in this age of publishing and dissemination by so many means,
and co-option and commercialization, much cross-talk and chatter can lower the
signal-to-noise ratio of the orthodox line, before a practitioner has a "good
connection", say with a teacher and sangha. I think it even happens at Zen
centers sometimes.
In Zen history, though, there's always been an injunction against "Speaking too
plainly" (you can look this up): No one wants to reduce the surprise and impact
of the sudden awakening that awaits a natural dawning in any dedicated and
persistent practitioner. Lots or even a little of philosophical mechanics and
machinations in the head, BY one's head, can even _prevent_ a natural opening
from happening, sometimes.
I mean, jeez, even movie reviews have "spoiler-alert" taggings.
The Zen tradition in its "teaching" does not "give much away". The reason is
NOT that it's just not *un-useful*; but, it is harmful.
Harmful within the natural program of Zen training; in THOSE environs. Of the
Sudden School.
After awakening, the student can clarify a lot of stuff with the teacher, if
desired, and a lot of this has to do with expression of what has dawned.
That's why and how practice usually changes for folks after awakening. But, I
won't "speak too plainly".
NOT that there are "SECRETS!", you understand!
It's just out of respect and compassion that *We do not want to be Spoilers*.
(sorry to have said too much about this).
But now, in a forum, we're expected to talk about things. And to read.
--Joe
> "mike" <uerusuboyo@...> wrote:
>
> Joe,
>
> Well, I guess ignorance of the law is no defence, so guilty as charged. I
> will in partial defence tho say that in this day and age it is unlikely that
> a beginning practioner can be shielded from the plethora of books on Zen and
> other schools of Buddhism. I don't believe that what I said was even that
> heretical and would lead Shepardspie down the wrong path (the right path if
> it leads him to Vipassana) ; ) I am, however, grossly negligent in not
> suggesting he (or she - it's my belief that shepards pies are gender neutral)
> seek out a Zen centre and teacher. I throw myself at your mercy, m'lud.
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