>> Actually, the premise of the "Big Vehicle" of Zen seems to be that >> "all" people must be saved, so it seems like a valid question >> whether or not the Zen Hierarchy ever puts its hands into the >> fires.
yes, i know the first vow, "sentient beings are numberless; i vow to save them". it is a serious vow. it is also impossible. yet we make the effort. you implied in your earlier post that zen practictioners are "the most aware people" which seems presumptuous to me. >> There certainly are Christian Missionaries all over the planet, I >> was just wondering if the Zen folks ever try to save people who A) >> cannot pay for speaking engagements and B) are armed and dangerous. it is also a matter of "skillful means", is it not? one doesn't necessarily evangelize to those who are not going to listen yet, nor put ones own self in danger to prove a point -- being a buddhist doesn't mean committing to potentially suicidal courses of action, does it? nor does it have to do with "speaking engagements" etc. do you view this as a "competition" between zen practice and christian practice? that's an interesting perspective. >> If you save only ONE soul? Isn't that the Zen Religion's party >> line? There are certainly enough souls who could use some >> Pacificism in the Middle East there are souls everywhere that could use pacifism. sudan, northern ireland, east timor, sri lanka, etc. even here in the united states. some buddhists (i will speak for myself) have enough trouble saving their *own* souls; let alone saving another's. i am often reminded by my teacher that *i* am included in the numberless sentient beings as well. one starts locally, where one is. at least that is all i know how to do. - elk ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> $9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything. http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZenForum/ <*> 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/
