i agree with you bill entirely
"may the force be with you" merle Edgar, It's one of my favorite pastimes. I consider Jesus a full-fledged Bodhisattva and enjoy most of his teachings, especially his parables. I also use a lot of Jesus' saying in my writing because I think it helps bridge the gap between the Asian-based ideas in most Buddhist Sutras and the West. A couple of my favorite books deal with this subject, one I've already mentioned and one other: THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ZEN edited by Robert Sohl and THE MUSTARD SEED by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (aka Osho) which focuses on the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas. I also like a lot of lighter zen-related writings like THE TAO OF POOH by Benjamin Hoff. Again, I enjoy the presentation of zen-related teachings in a more approachable form than you find in the Sutras or the writings of people like Dogen. I recommend them. You should give them a try. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote: > > Bill, > > It's quite a stretch to get Zen out of Jesus. Keep working on it! > > Edgar > > > On May 18, 2013, at 6:42 AM, Bill! wrote: > > > Edgar, > > > > You evidently have not read my subsequent post explaining that THE GOSPEL > > ACCORDING TO ZEN is about Jesus' teachings in the four GOSPELS. It was not > > trying to comment on or validate the contents of the entire Bible. > > > > It focused especially on Jesus' parables of which many carry the same > > messages as you'll find in Zen stories. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen <edgarowen@> wrote: > > > > > > Bill, > > > > > > Sure and then God murdered every human being on earth except Noah and his > > > family just because he objected to their life styles! > > > > > > The Christian God is the worst serial killer sadist of all times.... > > > > > > Is that Zen? > > > > > > Talk about "cherry picking" messages! > > > > > > Edgar > > > > > > > > > > > > On May 17, 2013, at 10:21 PM, Bill! wrote: > > > > > > > This quote is from the book THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ZEN: > > > > > > > > Not Far From Buddhahood > > > > > > > > A university student while visiting Gasan asked him: "Have you even > > > > read the Christian Bible?" > > > > > > > > "No, read it to me," said Gasan. > > > > > > > > The student opened the Bible and read from St. Matthew: "And why take > > > > ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they > > > > grow. They toil not, neither do they spin, and yet I say unto you that > > > > even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these...Take > > > > therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought > > > > for the things of itself." > > > > > > > > Gasan said: "Whoever uttered those words I consider and enlightened > > > > man." > > > > > > > > The student continued reading: "Ask and it shall be given you, seek and > > > > ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that > > > > asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that > > > > knocketh, is shall be opened." > > > > > > > > Gasan remarked: "That is excellent. Whoever said that is not far from > > > > Buddhahood." > > > > > > > > ...Bill! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
