Bill, This is so adolescent or even childish it's pathetic... It's touchy feely fuzzy emotionalized doggie lovie zen. Not true Zen.
Both dogs and humans impose their own mental model over the actual forms of reality. Neither correspond to the actual forms of reality which consists of pure self-evolving information forms IN the single substance of Buddha Nature. BOTH dog and human mental models are illusion in that sense. The dog's is no more accurate than a man's. They each have their different realms of accuracy. Zen is understanding AND realizing this, and then further seeing one's own internal mental model of reality for what it actually is and how it both conceals and reveals that reality. It's realizing the mental model of reality is part of reality and thus the true nature of the whole complex. Illusion seen as reality is illusion (you'd agree with that), but illusion realized as illusion is reality (that you fail to understand). The proper cartoon would have the dog's mental cloud populated by other dog's asses, fleeing squirrels, dog dishes full of food, etc. etc. The proper cartoon would be unable to properly represent the actual reality they both are walking in because it consists of pure evolving information forms. Edgar On May 19, 2013, at 8:29 AM, Bill! wrote: > Edgar, > > > Here is one of my favorites that's not from THE TAO OF POOH. It is a better > description of Buddha Nature than any description I've ever read in a Sutra > or book by DogenL > > > > > > > ...Bill! > > --- In [email protected], Edgar Owen wrote: > > > > Bill, > > > > I'm still trying to stop laughing. The Tao of Pooh? Thanks for confirming > > your comic book zen... > > > > Edgar > > > > > > > > On May 19, 2013, at 4:18 AM, Bill! wrote: > > > > > 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 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! > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
