Dear Members, I am new to this group and the reason I joined is that I am having a dharma problem I'd like to discuss. I am aware of the fact that this may not really be a Zen problem because Zen masters do not like theory. I would therefore accept my question to be rejected.
I told my wife about the Buddha's teachings and about his basic doctrine that all existence is suffering. She did not agree with this: "Why is all existence suffering? This is a negative assumption. You may as well say that the circle of samsara is a circle of joy and happiness in which the individual can become better and better. From this point of view, the samsara is a chance and any wish to end it is absurd." Well, actually, I do not know about any text that discusses this approach. Does anybody know? On the other hand, this objection must have come up in the history of Buddhism because at least in Mahayana, as far as I know, several schools say "This very world, this is Nirvana". Of course, the historic Buddha has developed his dharma because he started out with this negative view of the world, otherwise he would not have become the Buddha but would have stayed a prince. According to the legend, the reason for the negative judgement on the world were his three excursions and the experience of the orgy at the palace. Moreover, I have learned that the perception of a negative circle of rebirthings had been part of Indian culture for centuries, and Buddha was not the first to seek a way out of it. Gasshoo, Kai ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/S27xlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 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/
