Al, Al: "I would rather have a positive attitude that is a pure illusion than be a mean-spirited jerk filled with reality."
Careful what you wish for :) I don't know that I like meaness, mine, yours, Fudos, or others. Its here though. I'll try to use it judiciously. I'm not saying we embrace meanness, or that we don't try to avoid it -- but I don't know that it should be bartered against disillusionment. How 'bout just getting disillusionment, and let the chips fall where they may? If this feels like a carte blanch (sp?) ticket to be allowed to be mean while 'seeking disillusionment' this ticket is also illusion. Rod Rod Scholl -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of spider Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2005 10:35 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Zen] What is a Teacher? From: "Rev Genryu" > Otto, the best advice I can give is to give up your idea of what a teacher is and actually go and train with one for a few years. > With all due respect to you and any other Zen Monk, I have no interest in being abused by some arrogant jerk. Based on what you and Fudo have shared, a Zen Master is just an abusive bully who squeezes all the Ego out of a person by verbally abusing him until there is nothing left of pride, dignity, self, ego, etc. I guess that system works, and if your soul needs that and benefits from that, more power to you. However, Zen is not just about monks. It is about people who are interested in zazen and the benefits it can bring, and the learning that they get from Zen books, and whatever they can learn from a Zen group or Zen Center. Teachers are everywhere, not just in monasteries or Temples. I let Fudo dominate the list with his mean-spirited diatribes because I hoped that I would learn something from them, and that there was a method to his madness. But all I learned is that I don't like abusive assholes, and I never did. Trying to imitate Fudo and being an abusive jerk did not make me any more enlightened, and being abused by him or reading his abusive remarks to others did not enlighten me either. But I certainly remember the wonder that I feel when I read a good Zen book. If that is an illusion, it is better than the stink of the reality that Fudo is selling by the river. I would rather have a positive attitude that is a pure illusion than be a mean-spirited jerk filled with reality. ------------------------ 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 ------------------------ 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/
