Edgar, Bill!, Group,
Counting and recitation were part of the oral tradition, leading toward
transmission of the material and its memorization, as in Bradbury's, FAHRENHEIT
451 (Celcius 233).
It has real historical roots, not obsessional. You may look into it.
"Moderns" think they're not standing on the shoulders of Founders and pioneers.
Ignorance of the Law, or of the Dharma, was not then an excuse to oneself for
one's benightedness (as now); so, people (then) used their mental facility, in
teaching (so compassionately), and in learning.
Granted, our teaching in Zen Buddhism is not set up on words and letters. We
have Humans to transmit to us the essentials of Practice, and practice is our
responsibility, or, ours to abandon. The only authority is subsequent
awakening, and Wisdom, not words or thought.
If Awakening comes, it is in no way ever modeled by words, anywhere.
Writings in Zen are instead carried from ancient times on the Bamboo Telegraph,
and are inspiration for us, encouragements, and ... *challenge*. Too, they
are Touchstones, when our time is right.
And, can be like Letters from Home.
People with the presumed "math-anxiety" would reject numbers, though.
I make no judgement! Nor do I sympathize. It's illusory, but is a real
physiological manifestation nonetheless in people, so-suffering.
I count my lucky stars. And bid you, et al., Peace!,
--Joe
> Edgar Owen <edgarowen@...> wrote:
>
> Bill,
>
> I think it's a matter of definition. In general I think excessive concern
> with 'stages' of realization is a distraction from realization... And that
> goes for standard Buddhism's obsessive with counting all sorts of things as
> well. The 7 this, the 5 that, the 8 this etc. etc.
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