If only we students could enlist someone to deliver a stinging slap at will. IMHO this has been the real challenge of life: how to get stung on schedule, if only to take the attention off the dull ache. In the absence of teachers, we slap fight passersby, secretly hoping to get knocked on our ass. Or more true would be, seek to find someone to deliver a more penetrating blow after we learn to avoid the first style of probing. Buncha out-of-work pugilists lookin' for a trainer... Rod
________________________________ From: kyukyo [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sun 3/6/2005 8:00 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: RE: [Zen] Squibble Squabble, Yin and Yang ? Wouldnt It Be Nice If The Martial Arts Teacher Taught The Eight Something That Would Be A Real Help In Thier Life? The Problem With Pulled Punches Is That They Are Not Real And Cannot Make A Change In A Real Life. Imagine A Dojo Where The First Thing The Teacher Did Was Slap Your Face And Then Sent You Away, Refusing To Speak With You Till You Could Block The Blow. It Would Be A Different Place Entirely. Everyone In The Dojo Would Be Learning To Block A Real Blow Under Real Conditions. Ever One Who Approached The Teacher Would Learn In An Instant If This Was Really Something Really Important Enough To Them For Them To Persue. The Teacher Wastes Little Time With Perpetual Students And Each One He Speaks To Is Already A Teacher Who Has The Potential To Become The Teacher Of Teachers. Welcome To The Sodo Of A Zen Monastery. Welcome To The Real Place Real Zen Training Begins. It Does Not Mean This Is The Only Way, But It Is The Traditional Way Zen Has Been Transmitted. --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have been a glutton for representive ideas. This forum hurts me in that I tend to form conceptions of the people on the other end of these posts. I suppose it is always a necessary evil to communicate with strangers. > > I realized that my desire to engage Alex, was because somewhere along the line I digested his idea of him having these 8 students coming to him for teaching. It had been compassion for these poor imagined eight sitting eager and cross-legged on the floor in front of Alex for which I have whipped myself on enduring his sarcasm, insults, and ill-humor. When I dispel the 8 as likely an illusion, then I realize I have better use of my time... > > However, it occured to me while reading a recent post, (as the idea of the 8 re-arises) that this must be a martial arts Dojo! That would explain it well. And for some reason, Alex has been given time to teach these young combat-oriented minds. This is so harmless, it is even easier to ignore! > > If they are like any of the people in the Dojo I attended they like to think of themselves as grasshoppers (at times anyway) 'cause it helps them feel more like a Cane learning to snatch a pebble from the master's hand. These same guys in my Dojo who would wide-eyed ask the Sensei questions on Buddhism, would enjoy going up to someone in eyes-closed meditation and punching/kicking in the air a inch from their face... the power to end stillness and beauty too irresistable a fruit. I liken it to the urge to squeeze the life out of a small furry animal in one's hands, or to scratch a key across a masterpiece painting :) These eight probably don't employ any of the ideas in real-life, any more than they have use for the "iron-beak" finger poke of the Crane Kata! > > As a side note, recently at a museum I looked at this foot high black crystal growth, the largest in the world of its kind. It was protected only by a bell jar. I had to walk away for fear of smashing the thing to the ground and proclaiming, 'It WAS the largest crystal -- HA HA!' When I walk by these masterpiece paintings/sculptures on my latest travels, and inevitably consider smashing them to bits, I have to marvel at the idea that it would probably be the largest impact I could have on human history... to destroy something historical/beautiful. When I go by Native American historical sites, from who-knows-when I laugh at all the grafiti carved into it. Some fuck writes Joannie Loves Chachi, or what-have-you. Hilarious to me. (Of course i'm not a historian.) I laugh at the audacity of human nature. When coupled with an enflamed idea of self, I'm suprised the Mona Lisa isn't marred with piss stains. I guess that's why its' behind glass. The whole of humans can't even be trusted with the most viewed/famous piece of artwork in the world. lol. > > Remember when Luke asks Yoda if the Dark Side is more powerful... Yoda pauses, and answers, "No... Only more decadent." > > Its Sunday afternoon, it seems... > > My best, > > Rod > > ________________________________ > > From: kyukyo [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Sat 3/5/2005 4:30 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [Zen] Squibble Squabble, Yin and Yang ? > > > > > *chuckle* Learned? .....rofl > > > --- Alex Bunard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > --- "Rev. Fudo Michael Koppang" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > wrote: > > > > > >> *chuckle* Too Subtle For Some Educators As Well > It > > >> Seems. I Think It Is Safe To Say I Am Less > Concered > > >> About Poor Choices By Begginers Than I Am With > Poor > > >> Choices By Those Who Purport To Teach. > > > > > > Such condescending demeanor is akin to an arrogant > > > heart surgeon who holds that all other branches of > > > medicine are absolutely unnecessary because if the > > > heart is malfunctioning, then what's the point of > > > anything else. > > > > > > Alex > > > > > > __________________________________ > Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday! > Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments === Message Truncated === __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 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 --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? Network for Good is THE place to support health awareness efforts! http://us.click.yahoo.com/UwRTUD/UOnJAA/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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