tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post4015187204706956323..comments2023-12-08T01:00:57.240-08:00Comments on My Buddha is pink: Accepting the disease to bring the cure?Richard Harroldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-70429498883863101182010-02-06T15:58:35.652-08:002010-02-06T15:58:35.652-08:00@Kyle - Thank you for the clarification on this. Y...@Kyle - Thank you for the clarification on this. You have contributed to my understanding! I am grateful. Deep bows. Your understanding is clear and precise. What I was operating on was hearsay, which isn't generally the most reliable information. Well, not quite hearsay; I've met too many people who say they are Zen practitioners but who really don't know much about Buddhism. I appreciate your guidance in this!Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-41511335509741679612010-02-06T13:33:58.991-08:002010-02-06T13:33:58.991-08:00@Richard - Good points and you may be right, I wis...@Richard - Good points and you may be right, I wish I knew, but I'm not enlightened. For the vows I took, I took them for this life, as for rebirth I do not believe nor dis-believe in it. If at some point I realize enlightenement and there is no coming back, than so be it. But all I can do is look at how I can help people in this life.<br /><br />In Zen, taking the vows of the Bodhisattva does not mean one is close to enlightenment nor has postponed it, it is more of a moral guide for living. I feel to say the vows are deluision or not is to speculate on the enlightened mind or in reincarnation. Unless you know something I don't, then it really is just a matter of opinion?Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925360776637168540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-78189099028016676602010-02-06T12:49:35.796-08:002010-02-06T12:49:35.796-08:00@Kyle, Oh, I totally agree that one must share the...@Kyle, Oh, I totally agree that one must share the Dhamma and help others. That's not my question. Surely in this life I will do what I can to help others and do so in a manner that shares the Dhamma. And if I am fortunate enough in a next life to experience the Dhamma then as well, I hope it is my kamma to continue to help others.<br /><br />What confuses me, however, is once, or if, I attain total liberation, I don't believe one has the ability to "choose" to return and continue to benefit sentient beings. I believe once you attain total liberation, when you die, you're gone: there's no coming back because the cycle is broken.<br /><br />So when people say that despite their enlightenment, they will continue to return until all sentient beings are liberated. That, to me, is delusion.Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-42062281868996103462010-02-06T10:42:27.266-08:002010-02-06T10:42:27.266-08:00@Richard-
Perhaps they don't see sentient bei...@Richard-<br /><br />Perhaps they don't see sentient beings as being 'other people.' We are all deluded in one way or another, I'll take being deluded sharing the way than take deluision in seeking pleasure in the senses any day.<br /><br />Could one live with themselves knowing they found an oasis in the desert and not help others find it too?<br /><br />Antithetical? Well, tell me how you would understand this passage?<br /><br />"But whoever follows the dharma<br />Is joyful here and joyful there.<br />In both worlds he rejoices<br />And how greatly <br />When he sees the good he has done.<br />For great is the harvest in this world,<br />And greater still in the next.<br />However many holy words you read,<br />However many you speak,<br />What good will they do you <br />If you do not act upon them?<br />Are you a shepherd<br />Who counts another man's sheep,<br />Never sharing the way?<br />Read as few words as you like,<br />And speak fewer.<br />But act upon the dharma.<br />Give up the old ways - <br />Passion, enmity, folly.<br />Know the truth and find peace.<br />Share the way."Kylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925360776637168540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-18214818993868269012010-02-06T09:58:44.497-08:002010-02-06T09:58:44.497-08:00@Kyle, you know, that is my hangup with the bodhis...@Kyle, you know, that is my hangup with the bodhisattva vow. If one has purified him or herself to the point that Buddhahood is immanent, why would anyone forgo that, even if it is to save all sentient beings? Is that choice even truly possible? And then, if the number of beings are innumerable, it's an impossible task, which makes it a delusion, does it not?<br /><br />The idea of the bodhisattva certainly has merit because of the effort involved to help others. But to willingly stay within the cycle of rebirth to save others? It seems antithetical to the Buddha's teachings.Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-88385557642341174712010-02-06T09:53:38.303-08:002010-02-06T09:53:38.303-08:00@Adam..."I find plenty of value in the Lotus ...@Adam..."I find plenty of value in the Lotus Sutra, but there is this underlying theme of 'this form of Buddhism is vastly superior to any other forms of Buddhism', or 'this is the only true teaching'."<br /><br />I hear you on that! I have similar feelings. Particularly in the descriptions of the Buddha realms; they are all described with terms I associate with clinging and greed - beautiful places filled with jewels, etc.<br /><br />Still, there's plenty in the Sutra that is valuable, if read with a discerning eye. My grounding is in the Pali texts, and it was that grounding that led me to have a negative view of the Diamond Sutra, as I found conflicting passages that contradicted the Pali canon.Richard Harroldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02943119066949899198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-81775146403394926392010-02-06T09:39:53.666-08:002010-02-06T09:39:53.666-08:00'Or is the Lotus Sutra itself a form of expedi...'Or is the Lotus Sutra itself a form of expediency, solely written by authors who wanted some loopholes in the Dhamma to accommodate their own personal delusions, and not at all related to anything the Buddha taught?"<br /><br />yes and no. I find plenty of value in the Lotus Sutra, but there is this underlying theme of "this form of Buddhism is vastly superior to any other forms of Buddhism", or "this is the only true teaching". I feel like part of what was attributed to the Buddha was simply a means to stake legitimacy to the Mahayana movement. <br /><br />Also, the older Pali texts just speak to me more for some reason. But I'm in a process, so who knows? Maybe I'll come to enjoy the Lotus Sutra more as time goes on. <br /><br />As for expedient means, I say that if it opens the door for someone to experience the dharma that normally wouldn't, go for it (within reason).Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09688546442746669587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2998998547000813414.post-24647765344560920802010-02-06T08:08:24.024-08:002010-02-06T08:08:24.024-08:00Richard, I think this passage is a most important ...Richard, I think this passage is a most important one in the Lotus Sutra. I have no comment other than 'sentient beings are innumerable and I vow to save them all'.....If that makes any sense.<br /><br />KyleKylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14925360776637168540noreply@blogger.com