Hi Bill, Under 'my' definition, being a teacher is not our choice, being a student is.
Even if you want to teach something worth learning to someone, if he does not allow that to happen, it does not happen. You can't teach him. But you can be a teacher, without having to intentionally teach anyone. Worth learning or not, is up to the student too ;-) Siska -----Original Message----- From: "Bill!" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Sat, 18 May 2013 09:43:32 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: [Zen] Re: the strawberry koan? Siska, Well under your definition I might always be a teacher, but there's no guarantee that what I'm teaching is worth learning... ;>) ...Bill! --- In [email protected], siska <siska_cen@...> wrote: > > Hi Bill, > > I'd say we all are teachers when others learn from us, and we are students > whenever we are open to learn from others. > > So, like it or not, I think you're always a teacher ;-) > > Siska > > > > > Sent from Samsung tabletBill! <BillSmart@...> wrote:Merle, > > We are teachers if we have a student. We are students if we have a teacher. > > I was a student for many years and even was a teacher for a short time. At > this point in my life I am neither a teacher or a student. > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > >  > >  bill...are we not all teachers?,,,and all students?..who are we if not > > teacher and student rolled into one..?..merle > >  > > Merle, > > > > I'm not a zen teacher, certainly don't feel qualified to make up a koan nor > > to work with anyone on an existing koan. I'll have to pass on this one. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], Merle Lester <merlewiitpom@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > yes so get cracking ...let's have the koan!!!!!!!!!! merle > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >  > > > Merle and Mike, > > > > > > Okay, this story is labeled a 'parable' which as I said is not a koan - > > > although could serve as the basis for a koan. > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > --- In [email protected], uerusuboyo@ wrote: > > > > > > > > Merle,<br/><br/>With pleasure!<br/><br/>18. A Parable<br/><br/>Buddha > > > > told a parable in sutra:<br/><br/>A man traveling across a field > > > > encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a > > > > precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself > > > > down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the > > > > man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat > > > > him. Only the vine sustained him.<br/><br/>Two mice, one white and one > > > > black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man saw a > > > > luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he > > > > plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it > > > > tasted!<br/><br/><br/>Sent from Yahoo! Mail for iPad > > > > > > > > > >
