Alex wrote: > --- carlos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> It is my view that we are forgetting that the "right >> view" of life >> can not be obtained by any amount of meditation >> unless one's mind go >> over the edge (stop duality) and lives for some time >> on the other >> shore, it doesn't have to be complete awakening. > > Correct. > >> As I understand, meditation is very good because it >> gives us >> understanding of how our mind works, what is the >> importance of a >> thought, and because "doing meditation is to the >> mind as going to >> the toilet is to the body" (Suzuki Roshi). > > Excellent point. Meditation is the 'potty training' > for the mind. > >> As I understand , to practice with the expectation >> of obtaining >> something prevents one of obtaining it, because it >> means that one >> has not given up control.
> This is one of those gross New Age misconceptions that > I was referring to earlier. First one say that what the other said is wrong, then one start talking about something else,this is not fair play. > We live in the Age of > Catering, where every activity has to have a business > model behind it, and the business model is to find the > potential marketplace and to cater to it. > > That's why we're flooded right now with all kinds of > quacks and self-appointed gurus who are delivering > exactly what their existing and potential clients want > to hear. And one of the things peope really honestly > want to hear is how everything is all right, I'm okay, > you're okay, we're all okay, because we're all already > a Buddha, so don't worry. Just relax, just sit, no > need to strive for anything. Actually, striving is > bad, real bad. > > The Buddhist practice today is seriously endangered by > these charlatans. This is exactly the reason I'm > taking the trouble to keep explaining things to > people, taking all the flak and all the bullshit from > the harsh minds on this list (and beyond). But people > need to know, because we're all potential victims of > those predatorial 'business model' spiritual gurus. > > To cut the long story short, here's the deal: people > tend to fall into the trap and confuse *merit* with > *felicity*. Doing something with the intention of > accumulating felicity for oneself results in clinging > and aversion. This is to be avoided, by all means and > at all times. > > However, doing something with the intention of > accumulating merit does not result in clinging and > aversion, and is highly recmmended by all Buddhas. It > is therefore highly beneficial to form and nurture a > strong desire towards accumulating merit. This desire > will not lead us astray, unlike the desire to > accumulate one's own good fortune, which inevitably > will result in ruinous profit. > > Please try to realize that there is a huge, > immeasurable difference between the nature of felicity > (that is, good fortune), and merit. Merit is something > we accumulate for the benefit of all beings, and AT > OUR OWN EXPENSE! > > This is the path of Boddhisattva. > > Anyone who tells you that the desire to accumulate > merit is deletorious, is a false teacher, and is to be > avoided at all cost. > > Alex As I understand what it has been written above it seems to be there is the mistaken belief that exertion when meditating has any thing to do with what one thinks of what is doing and that having no expectations when meditating is taking the easy way. Exertion when in meditation is applied to have the mind under control and over time it will lead to emptying the mind, how can it be empty if there is still expectation of any kind. Zen mind is beginners mind means that when one is just starting out has not idea of what is doing and hence is low on judgments and expectations and so it has the best chance to succeed ,All the practice is in the direction of emptying the mind. The desire of accumulate merit is for when one is not doing Buddhist practice, one accumulates merit when keeping the mind under control, one has to understand there is no god judging the merits one have. Metta Carlos ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> What would our lives be like without music, dance, and theater? Donate or volunteer in the arts today at Network for Good! http://us.click.yahoo.com/WwRTUD/SOnJAA/i1hLAA/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/
