---Alex, this is a great essay! You seem to have a broad range of knowledge in Zen, any suggestions on books you might recommend? I'm familiar with most of the basics, but a lot you draw on comes from things I havn't been exposed to. Thanks, Guy.
In [email protected], Alex Bunard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > In the famous "Song of Enlightenment", Chan Master > Hsuan Chuen of Yung Chia (the Dharma successor of the > Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng) wrote the following stanzas: > > > "Let yourself be criticized and abused, > Those who lift torches to burn Heaven just tire > themselves! > When I hear their wrathful words, it's just as though > it were ambrosial truth; > Thus smelted and refined, suddenly one enters the > Inconceivable. > > Contemplate vicious and offensive words as merit and > virtue, > The scandal-monger then becomes one's wise friend and > a good advisor. > If we do not become angry at gossip, > We will right there manifest the Compassion of the > Unborn." > > > There you have it -- the instructions are clear as > day. Just understanding the above two stanzas and > taking them to your heart will give you the miraculous > mani-pearl that will dispell all your doubts. > > However, in my experience, many people, even after > learning the truth about anger, still have trouble > adhering to the teaching. Further explanation may be > necessary (I will just briefly touch on some knotty > issues here): > > The first thing that the Buddha taught was the > all-pervading significance of giving. Giving is a > virtue that sets us on the proper path. And, it is the > practice that needs no learning -- everyone knows > spontaneously how to give. What's more, the only way > to ever experience happiness and bliss as a human > being is to be in the position to give. Jails are full > of miserable people who, at one point or another, were > disabled from the ability to give, and that untenable > position drove them to commit unspeakable crimes. > > So, give, give yourselves away boldly, because the > more you give, the more will there be to give, and > this will make you exceedingly happy. > > However, there is a danger inherent in the practice of > giving in that it can result in wantonness and > arrogance. To circumvent that, the Buddha spoke next > about discipline. Giving without discipline is a risky > venture. Consider a farmer who has been cultivating > his field, and who was rewarded for his generosity by > an exceedingly rich harvest. He now has two choices: > > 1. Wallow in the dough (he might just sell all his > yield and take off for Vegas, where he will burn all > his wealth in one night) > > 2. Exercise more disciplined approach, where he will > organize his yield in such a way that he may sell a > portion and buy more land, then allocate another > portion for cultivating all this land for the next > year, and so on. > > From this we see that the practice of discipline must > go hand in hand with the practice of generosity. > > However, once we get onto such a path, one thing is > guaranteed to happen -- we will inevitable collide > with other people. We will cross paths, step on other > people's toes, and vice versa. When this happens, > anger arises. > > It has been said that one moment of anger has the > power to destroy the results of numerous cycles of > good effort. Because of that, anger and wrath are > considered as the most insidious emotions in the > Buddhist practice. > > Knowing that, we see that it is vitally important to > practice the antidote of anger. And the Buddha himself > spoke of that, immediatelly after he had explained the > importance of having the virtue of discipline. The > third virtue that the Buddha spoke of is patience. > > The above two stanzas speak about the virtue of > patience. The most important thing is to abstain from > allowing the feelings of anger to take hold. Practice > patience, therein you will discover the ambrosia of > true bliss. > > Alex > > > --- nypd25838 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Im wondering how one finds the balance between > > assertiveness and > > speaking the truth of how you feel( where the other > > person will > > become defensive and feel judged ) ... vs. remaining > > unaffected when > > someone offends you and trying to let it pass > > through you .( And > > then the offending keeps representing itself in > > different ways over > > and over again. So, if you are trying to practice > > right speech and > > the other person you are communicating with has no > > regard for being > > truthful ...how are you supposed to remain composed > > and what is the > > mindset as far as why this person would act so > > insulting . I mean do > > you give compassion to this person. How do you > > neutralize situations > > like this in all forms of relationships whether it > > be a boss with a > > huge ego or a stranger who tells you off because he > > thinks you cut > > him off in line ...to the more personal with family > > members like the > > intrusive mother in law .This is a obstacle for me > > and I welcome all > > thoughts or answers to this . I think if I can > > figure this out it > > will solve a lot for me. > > > > > > > > > > > ===== > No karma was produced during the composition of this letter > > > > __________________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > The all-new My Yahoo! - Get yours free! > http://my.yahoo.com ------------------------ 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! 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