I heard the story of one of the Boddhisattvas (it may even have been the Buddha himself, in a past life, I forgot). He meditated regularly, lead a good life, etc. One day, the King gets it into his head that this wise man slept with his wife. Of course he didn't, but that was besides the point. The King wanted revenge!
So they tracked him down, caught him, beat him, cut off parts of his body. First a finger, then a hand, then part of his arm, so on and so forth. Then the Boddhisattva said "It's a good thing I have been relentless in my sitting practice. Otherwise, I might have succumb to anger just now." :) Anger is a poison. Does nobody no good. Even if there's something worth being angry about. SPROCKET --- 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 --------------------~--> In low income neighborhoods, 84% do not own computers. At Network for Good, help bridge the Digital Divide! http://us.click.yahoo.com/hjtSRD/3MnJAA/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/
