Tao99

A Day in the Life of a Modern (Soto) Zen Monk at a Temple in Japan - EmptyMind Films --- <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/6pllQ_-ZxEA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param'>http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/6pllQ_-ZxEA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/6pllQ_-ZxEA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

oh no sorry, i never said this represents all of Zen, or even all of the Platform Sutra. It's just a "taste of tranquility" which is interesting but not nearly the whole of Zen. This is just my take on this small part of of the Platform Sutra, and you shouldn't take it for more then that. It's all just my personal ramblings, based on someone asking about Zen in another thread. However, to clear up any confusion, here's a small part of the Platform Sutra from whence its derived, and link. you're mileage may vary: "Learned Audience, it has been the tradition of our school to take 'Idealessness' as our object, 'Non-objectivity' as our basis, and 'Non-attachment' as our fundamental principle. 'Idea-lessness' means not to be carried away by any particular idea in the exercise of the mental faculty. 'Non-objectivity' means not to be absorbed by objects when in contact with objects. 'Nonattachment' is the characteristic of our Essence of Mind. " http://www.angelfire.com/realm/bodhisattva...form-sutra.html

it does look like a cereal box, so sheik!

stitching all in time stitching it all in the mind ommmmmmm ... the stitching stops ... ommmmmmm ... the stitching stops ... the cup is empty inside the light, is turned 'round the light is turned 'round a bird's eye view of within and now I begin

alone on top a hill no one but me to nourish me no gods, no ghosts no gurus, no lights just the natural course of the natural way On sturdy ground, the stove set up the fire burns bright with light The elements cooked the steam does rise and washes over me the elixir made, next thing I know I'm back up in the tree

Buddha, wuddha, Shmuda, pu Buddha a shit ona stick its true old Linji zen saying

A quote from Dwai on another thread relevant to this one: Very Cool! And very interesting. I think that modern Taoism is in complete agreement. You will probably agree that even the easier/harder aspect is relative: Taoism might be easier for me but not you, Hinduism might be easier for you but not me. Raja may be easier for some then Jhana etc. and vice versa. I tried to sum up this same idea as it stands for Taoists, and perhaps Hinduism and Taoism are on the same page: "You go yours and we'll go ours, and on a shared planet all we need in common is good will and compassion." Beneath this there will be different techniques, views, metaphysics, ontologies, self knowledge, self awareness etc., but they are always beneath this, for human beings and their ways on a shared planet, just trying to get along. To Vajrahridaya and xabir2005: OK! we get it, enough beating us over the head with it until we submit. We get your no source/no self/no substance knowledge and your no source/no self/no substance awareness - your 'mystic experience'. You can stop repeating yourself now. And we have our polar opposite 'indestructible diamond body' mystic experience, just as direct and obvious to us, as apparently yours is to you. You can't diminish our personal mystic experience by your words and brow beating, and we can't and don't even try to diminish yours. We know these are just pointer views and knowledge, that neither side in fact can issue pronouncements about with Absolute Certainty like they are the grand poobah and pope of knowledge. All philosophers east and west are aware of this (see solipsism debate). This is how you come off here: as a very threatened, person attacking, obnoxious buddhist. So show some humanity and humble humility, the more you speak so smugly here, the more I lose respect for budism. That's the irony you are not seeing. If all the Buddhas have to tell the Gods and Taoist immortals is your non-stop 'mystic experience' point, I assure you they are laughing hysterically. But you probably don't get it.

Here's a quote from you earlier: "It's just that Buddhism is as perfect a religion as religion can get ..." 'Vajrahridaya What do you learn here? You come on a Taoist Discussion forum to tell the "Taoists" that their way is inferior, and that your way is the most perfect in the world. I can't imagine any Taoist I know going on esangha and telling the Buddhists that their way is inferior given that our way is the most perfect. That would be obnoxious. They just don't have the Ego-Self Attachment or obnoxious sense of superiority to do that. We are more of a "you go yours and we'll go ours, and on a shared planet all we need in common is good will and compassion." End of story. Even in this thread you don't see any of this ego ridden superiority complex where Taoists feel they need to say 'we are it - the most perfect - and you ain't.' Kudos to them for that - they have obviously transcended Ego Attachment way beyond where you are. To say that on the Buddhist esangha is one thing, but to say it on a Taoist discussion forum is just plain obnoxious. To say it here also shows a strong ego attachment. As a Taoist I could give you 'my reasons why ours is most perfect' and yours ain't. But I'M NOT INTERESTED. I will just say "you go yours and I'll go mine, and maybe this century we can all get along without turning it into a you suck contest".

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

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...the sky is square, the grass is round, the beginningless beginning begins....

I don't know.

I don't know.

I don't know.

Sounds to me like you just broke your rule of "not disparaging" and "not tearing down". What if Healing Tao was my beloved practice? Would I not feel criticized by this? Critical thinking - honest opinions and honest debates - is today considered a critical 21st century skill, and what a good forum is all about. The reader's role is to take it for what it's worth and test things for oneself. It's the ad hominem personal attacks of the "Youre an idiot" variety that is considered out of bounds on a good forum.

OK. I see. no problem. I will. <withdraws>