Well then if not idiots, Fools then. I distinctly remember stories whose main protaganists were dubbed fools. One was of someone sweeping a walkway, and lost in discussion or contemplation, his broom struck a tile and as it clattered away be was enlightened.
________________________________ From: Joe <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, April 30, 2013 12:05:15 PM Subject: [Zen] Re: open mind? William, "Zen idiots"? No, I think that was some of the Sufi adepts who were called that. You can find a book by Indries Shah entitled: WISDOM OF THE IDIOTS. The stories are good ones! And wise. It may appear to sophisticates that Wisdom is Idiocy, but they are not related. It's just that the Wise naturally leave well-enough alone, and develop a skill at staying out of trouble and conserving energy for what's important, instead. We may have heard of "Zen no-minds", but they are not idiots by any means. It's just that they have no mind: None other than the Buddha Mind. Only Wisdom and Compassion rise in them, not vexations. They are Awake. This is attained by effective practice and cooperating conditions. --Joe > William Rintala <brintala@...> wrote: > > Empty Mind/Cup does not equal Empty Headed. Correct? Open Mind does not mean >absolute naivety does it. Would someone whose mind had the qualities of Open >and Empty Mindedness fall for the same scams repeatedly? Would such a person >be >incapable of learning, of retaining knowledge, of doing productive work? >Aren't >there stories of Zen Idiots?
