On Monday, December 12, 2005 2:24 AM "Al" posted: >From: "Bill Smart" >>Zen is more about what YOU have to say (or do, or not >do) - right NOW - as a response to THIS SITUATION; and not what someone else >said at some other time in some other, even seemingly similar, situation.<<
>I disagree. Unlike Heidegger or Wittgenstein who were a couple of smelly old >eccentric fart-sniffers, Zen has had hundreds of Zen Masters who have left >ample records, advice, and procedures for Zen practice. Zen is not about >YOU. And nobody really wants to know what YOU think, except for YOU. YOU are >not an authority about anything. >I am reminded of people that call radio stations so that they can talk on >the radio and listen to themselves on their own radio. At the end of each >sentence they stop talking so that they can hear themselves at home. That is >why they are always told to turn off their radio before going on. In this >case, perhaps you should turn off your e-mail every time you post a remark. This is a forum. A forum is a meeting place for the open discussion of ideas - in this forum, ideas about zen. As long as you have an open mind you don't have to be an authority on anything to engage in or benefit from a forum. I can't believe you are suggesting otherwise. But, in fact, I am an authority in one thing - me. I am the highest authority in the world on what I have experienced, what I think, what I feel and what I believe. I participate in this forum to EXCHANGE experiences, thoughts, feelings and beliefs with the other participants who are likewise authorities in their own right. In re-reading my post above I just don't understand why it set you off so much. If you disagree, just say so - and you did, but you said so very meanly. All you need to do is to tell me what you think based on your experiences - including your reading if you wish to cite that. Maybe it was the perceived tone of my statement. I guess I could precede everything with 'in my opinion', or 'my understanding is', etc...; but I would think anyone participating in a forum like this would already know everything posted is just someone's opinion. My postings are part of this public record. They reveal who I am, just as your postings reveal who you are. Keep them coming - I will... ...Gassho, Bill! ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Join modern day disciples reach the disfigured and poor with hope and healing http://us.click.yahoo.com/lMct6A/Vp3LAA/i1hLAA/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/
