Mike,
OK, now I see we're on the same set of rails (Danger!). ;-)
Funny, though, in a way, about answers or comments or observations "from the
absolute side": I think in general that they are not from the absolute side.
They are from the relative side! This is, I think, partially akin to Bill!'s
"beef" about many of the statements made about what "Zen" is, and about what
authentic Zen practice is. I'd say that most such statements, made even by
teachers sometimes, are heavily processed by the intellects, and are
digestions, not reports of observations. I think they're of little value!
They are fodder for the shredder blades of the compost chipper, which lives on
the relative side.
Statements about the relative by the relative side are highly valuable! We
cannot and must not "dismiss" them, as you say. They enable us to live, as we
do, in the relative. As long as they pertain to the relative, such statements
are helpful.
I think nothing helpful is conveyed by the relative side about the absolute.
It's all talk, and does not make a difference. To be helpful, something must
make a difference. Statements of inferences about the absolute made from the
relative are usually harmful, and can act as palliatives, in that they can
disable certain facets of practice. Only practice can be helpful, when it
comes to the absolute.
My small point about big stuff! ;-)
--Joe
> "mike" <uerusuboyo@...> wrote:
>
> Not in your post - mine! I gave an answer from the absolute side ("No one to
> save.."), but 'balanced' it with the "and yet the strawberry still tastes
> sweet". My point being that it's easy to answer from the absolute, but we
> dismiss the relative all too easily.
>
> Mike
>
> --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@> wrote:
> >
> > Mike,
> >
> > Not a syllable, when it comes to practice. Irony? Nichts! Missed it.
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