Merle, Well, I thought I was clarifying. I'll try again...
I just wanted to make sure you didn't think that when Buddhism talks about 'suffering' it means 'pain' - physical pain, like if you are pricked by a thorn in your garden. Buddhism does not say you can escape that kind of pain. What Buddhism means by 'suffering' is like feeling sorry for yourself. Or suffering because your neighbor just bought a new Mercedes and all you have is a 2-year old Acura. That kind of 'suffering'. Buddhism (and zen) do promise you can escape from that kind of suffering. That's all...Bill! --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@...> wrote: > > bill!..clarify please..merle > >  > Merle, > > Joe is correct here, but just to clarify a little... > > 'Suffering' is not physical pain. 'Suffering' caused by physical pain would > be feeling sorry for yourself because you can't do something you want to do > because your knees hurt. 'Suffering' as used in Buddhism is very much akin > to 'disappointment' and carries with it an aura of attachment. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@> wrote: > > > > Merle, > > > > Yet, this is what the Buddha discovered, and what the Buddha taught. > > > > I think it's true that pain is guaranteed in life. It starts at birth. > > But Agony is optional. The difference is stark, and very, very real. > > > > I don't blame you, questioning what the Buddha taught. The only way to > > convince yourself of the truth of it is to practice. I bet you never > > thought you'd ever be able to stay on a bicycle the first time you tried to > > ride one! And I bet you got the hang of it, and can make it go down the > > road pretty straight. > > > > --Joe > > > > > Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > my understanding is suffering cannot be eliminated..how the hell can that > > > come about..the very nature of life is suffering... > > > point to me who does not what does not..be it animal mineral or > > > vegetable.. > > > the notion of happy happy is absurd.. > > > we can come to terms with suffering > > > we can embrace and realise that compassion and eternal universal love can > > > lift us from suffering and soar us high above the treetops to the heavens > > > above just as the eagle flies we too can fly.. > > > ------------------------------------ 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/
