Hi Jill, After reading what you wrote below, I can tell you that you are 'this close' to realizing the true Buddhist practice. What you need, in my strictly personal opinion, is just a little bit of orientation, and then you'll be on your way.
If you don't mind, I'll just comment on some of the interesting stuff you've brought up. --- Jill Harrison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > but, when reading this i had a sense that for me to > take > responsibility for my own feelings in a complete a > way, seems to imply > that i'm seperate from all those causes that go into > creating the > feelings & > i don't believe we are seperate entities. You are absolutely right that we are not separate entities, which is why I'm even more puzzled as to why would you think that taking complete responsibility for your feelings would somehow separate you? If anything, it should re-unite you with all those causes that go into creating those feelings. > for example, i feel that if we want to reduce > violence in our society, > then we have to make some effort at creating a > humane environment for > people to live in. at the same time i recognize > that no matter how > unfairly i feel i've been treated, it is my > responsibility (at least > to try) not to echo that cruelty back into the > world. The simplest thing to approach that goal is to practice the first three paramitas (perfections or virtues) -- generosity, discipline, and patience. If you engage in practicing generosity, you'll no doubt create a more humane environment for people to live in. If you then practice discipline, you'll ensure that this humane enviroment will not be used for wanton indulgence. Finally, if you practice patience, you'll make sure not to echo the cruelty back into the world. Simple as that, and, as the Buddha said, 'it works'. Please give it a try and 'see for yourself'. > i guess this comes back to the notion that "our only > real possessions > are our actions". so, i would agree that we are > responsible for how > we respond to our feelings (including shaping new > feelings). but > that feelings may arise from an environment which is > beyond my control. Here is where the teaching of karma comes into place. I won't bore you here with repeating that, because I've just posted a long explanation on the teaching of karma yesterday. Alex No karma was produced during the composition of this letter __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------ 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! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
