Joe, I think Buddhism itself needs to be discarded completely.
Zen, on the other hand, as it's presented in a lot of zen literature is presented very simply and very effectively. There is some zen literature that is complex also, but most of that is either trying to resolve zen with Buddhism or explain in an almost technical style the experience of Buddha Nature. Anyway, I'm just more supportive of the KISS school - and the simpler the better. ...Bill! --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@...> wrote: > > Bill!, > > Every generation has a responsibility to the present and the future. > > I suspect you personally are doing the updating that you can. Onward! > > It's said that "Buddhism" passes from one warm hand to another. It's not > that this needs updating; it's always changing, anyway. > > Joe Campbell opined that "the 'Star Wars' story" could be a new mythology. I > hoped not. To me, it seemed the same-old same-old. I think to him it did, > too, and was just a re-telling. Nothing was "updated", really. > > Now, do you want to see the teaching stories of Buddhism updated and > re-tooled or re-clothed for yourself, or for others? If for others, do you > sense that others are dissatisfied with the stories and other vehicles as > they receive them, and have you heard them complain that the old outlines > don't suit? And, has that been at Buddhist practice centers, Bill!, or > solely on the internet, where it's not clear if people are engaged in > practice? > > --Joe > > > "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: > > > > Joe, > > > > Most religions are wisdom traditions. Their core beliefs may indeed be > > just as pertinent today as they were 2500 years ago. It's not their core > > beliefs I'm uncomfortable with, it's their method of communicating their > > core beliefs - their myths, parables and symbols. > > > > It's these I'd like to see updated. > > > > ...Bill! > > > > --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@> wrote: > > > > > > Mike, > > > > > > I agree, sir. > > > > > > Religions are Wisdom-Traditions. > > > > > > Wisdom Traditions use the tools they have available. Then, and now. > > > > > > That, too, is what makes them "Wise". > > > > > > They utilize fully what they have available, in service of True > > > Compassion. For their times, and future times. > > > > > > Religions are not "nonsense", as some hasty-pudding kitchen-workers say. > > > Maybe they're just hopped-up on instant (soluble) Coffee. > > > > > > The wisdom-traditions purvey and convey wisdom, and preserve wisdom, and > > > the path to it. > > > > > > As traditions, they also keep on changing, as generations pass, and come. > > > > > > That's another part of what makes them Wise. > > > > > > Hasty people live for the next thing, not for Now. And don't see where > > > Now has *graciously* come from. > > > > > > But, they are to be forgiven! > > > > > > That's why Wisdom and Compassion are preserved, and transmitted. For > > > them, and fo all. > > > > > > Anyway, a new generation is born TODAY. > ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
