Bill!,
Points well taken.
Don't allow to get lost my reminder that all Buddhadharma is transmitted in the
midst of practice. It is not intellectual.
It is as you say: one reads, studies, pours over the Sutras, maybe.
But, one practices, and one has a teacher, and a sangha.
It's not ALL reading. It's not ALL study. That is a delusion held by people
in the West, who read ABOUT Buddhism, and Buddhist practice in it's various
extant sects.
Maybe in Thailand... well, I don't know what to ask about Buddhism in Thailand.
Their school is probably not my preferred school, either. And, aren't they
within Theravada, not Mahayana?
The sutras are not complex. They are not even really teaching media. They are
touchstones. One's awakening should be in accord with what is in the sutras.
If not, one may have strayed, or entered an "outer path", a path that is not
Buddhist. Reading of the Sutras is a good touchstone for someone who feels
he/she may have awakened, even without a teacher to confirm this. Again, there
should be no space between one's mentality and what is shown in the Sutras. If
so, back to work! And, better, see a teacher ASAP.
Sutras to me are the most suggestive poetry, in the sense of suggesting and
hinting at the Buddha Mind, or our original mind. If there is anything
complex, I know I am outside of it. If it's like one's own voice, then no need
to read much, and better to go about and around, and help others, anyway.
I'll look again at the Sutras and see if they are complex: this is the first
I'm hearing about that, Bill!. Granted, they have a style all their own --
each one, individually, characteristically, like any writing -- but I don't yet
find them complex. Just rather rich.
Interesting! Thanks, replying.
--Joe
> "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote:
>
> Joe,
>
> When I said I thought Buddhism proper was too complex I was mainly thinking
> of the sutras. They are also very intellectual. That's fine because I know
> they are used as the basis for a religion - Buddhism.
>
> I'm just saying I don't need a religion, Buddhism or any other. I'm not
> saying that all religions are trash. They do certainly serve a very good
> purpose for the most part, and as we know sometimes invoke very bad actions
> also.
>
> I just think relying on intellectually-based teachings are not the way to
> awaken, just as reading about how to do the backstroke is not the way to get
> across the pool. Reading first might help, but sooner or later you have to
> jump in the water and swim.
>
> Buddhism is teaching about awakening. Zen is experiencing awakening.
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