Joe, Yes, the Buddhism in Thailand is Theravada which is indeed a world away from the idea of Buddhism in the West.
...Bill! --- In [email protected], "Joe" <desert_woodworker@...> wrote: > > 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. > ------------------------------------ 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/
