Alex: Like I've already mentioned, there is a litmus test. Ask that person to elucidate some passage form one one of the Buddhist sutras. If you're dealing with a true Buddhist Master, the elucidation will be so incredibly eloquent that it will hit you right in the face. If the Master is actually a Master-wannabe, you'll get a load of mumbo-jumbo.
So have you met a true buddhist master (outside of books) and been "hit in the face"? Rod ________________________________ From: Alex Bunard [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Fri 2/11/2005 9:19 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Zen] Suggestions for reading? --- carlos <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > What is the point of discouraging people to go for > it? No one is discouraging anyone to go for it. Whatever it is anyone wants to go for, let them go for it. However, if one is convinced that one is going towards the ocean, engaged in the upcoming fishing expedition, but in actuality he ends up heading toward the desert, what's wrong in warning that person? > how anyone > knows how far is on the road? Like I've already mentioned, there is a litmus test. Ask that person to elucidate some passage form one one of the Buddhist sutras. If you're dealing with a true Buddhist Master, the elucidation will be so incredibly eloquent that it will hit you right in the face. If the Master is actually a Master-wannabe, you'll get a load of mumbo-jumbo. Remember, only fully accomplished Buddhist practitioners are capable of elucidating the Buddha's words in a non-confusing manner. > I thought that the job of the Bodhisattva was to > help all beings to > cross to the other shore. That's correct. When was it said that it's otherwise? > What one become once the mastery of the Buddhadharma > is complete? One becomes a Buddha, fully omniscient one. > if such a thing exist. It is beyond existing and non-existing. > What is Buddhist enlightenment? Buddhist enlightenment is seeing into the Buddhadharma without any interference coming from the conceptual faculty. No rationalizations, no intellectualizations exist in the domain of Buddhist enlightenment. > Are there any other kind of enlightenment? Of course there are. Buddhists do not hold patent on enlightenment. Throughout ages, many people have been going through enlightenment experiences all over the world. People who have never heard of the Buddha, or of Buddhadharma. Thus we have Taoist enlightenment, Islamic enlightenment, and so on. > Is Buddha nature in all beings or just in Buddhist > ones? Buddha nature is just a concept, an expedient, a provisionary means to help get deluded beings to the far shore. It's a raft, that one can use to sail the troubled waters. Once the goal is reached, the raft should be retired. Alex ===== No karma was produced during the composition of this letter __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail - You care about security. So do we. http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail Noble Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration, Right Livelihood Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ 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/
