Hey, you know what I learned from my cats? They are often curious and playfull, frequently asleep wherever it suits them, eat what they like when they like, set up little routines then suddenly change them to something completely different, don't go out in bad weather and don't come in when its fine out, they turn their disapproval into action and then forget it, they never hold grudges. They greet all my visitors like old and valued friends, and they are always there to join in with meditation, singing or crying - as though it couldn't really happen without their support. My cat is the greatest roshi.
as for Nansen's cat, here's a quote I liked http://www.kevinboone.com/nansen_cat.html "The great zen masters took decades of study to realize that everything they needed to know about zen, they had always known. Zen is about practical matters, not intellectual ones. Trying to becoming enlightened by studying zen is like trying to become warm by studying thermodynamics. The correct approach is to put on a coat." planks, of course, just go on being what they are until someone else changes them into something useful...no agency of their own. Eryu --- In [email protected], "ventouxboy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > ---Michael, the problem with being a wooden plank is a wooden plank > isn't alive. Living beings have feelings, denying that is to deny > reality. And that only leads to suffering. And yes, cat's are great. > Sadly, they do have more compassion and love than many people. > Peace, Guy. > > > In [email protected], --Michael <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I've never known any personally. Doesn't seem fair to form an > opinion > > of anyone only from their books. > > > > The only people that have made any meaningful connection to my life > > have been entirely ordinary folks who've hardly heard of Buddhism, > much > > less roshis. But they were good people, and I've not forgotten > them. > > > > I might add some of the cats I've known have had a hell of a lot > more > > dignity, honor, and love than many people. But that'll probably > land me > > in a pot of boiling oil. So be it. > > > > > > Anyway, what's wrong with being a wooden plank? Wood is good. > > <G> > > > > > > --Michael Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi 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/
