scienceofabundance wrote: > Where can I sign up? > You don't have to be an intellectual, Mr. Science, in order to understand the causal stance of the Buddha. All you have to do is realize the fact of causation - the law of moral reciprocity - karma works on the mental as well as on the physical level.
> > "One day a bright and intelligent student of > > the Buddha asked if he could fetch his younger > > brother to join the order. Delighted, the Buddha > > agreed. > > > > But the younger brother, although kind and gentle, > > turned out to be slow and dull witted. He could > > understand nothing of his studies and asked to > > go home so that he wouldn't waste the Buddha's > > time or let down his brother. 'There's no need > > for you to give up,' said the Buddha: > > > > 'You should not abandon your search for liberation > > just because you seem to yourself to be thick > > witted. You can drop all the philosophy you've > > been given and repeat a mantra instead - one that > > I will now give you.' > > > > He gave the young monk a mantra and sent him away > > affectionately. But soon the monk was back, this > > time even more humiliated. 'My beloved Buddha, > > I can't remember the mantra you gave me and so I > > can no longer practice.' > > > > The Buddha kindly repeated it for him. But twice > > more he came back, having forgotten it each time. > > > > So the Buddha gave him a simplified form. But > > when this too slipped completely out of his mind, > > he hardly dared visit the Buddha again. > > > > 'There's an even shorter version,' the Buddha > > told him, with a smile, 'It's just one syllable. > > See if you can remember that.' But he could not. > > > > In his hut, he broke down and wept. His brother > > found him and was furious, feeling that his own > > reputation was now sullied. He told the young > > monk to go home, and so the boy left the hut and > > sadly made his way along the path. > > > > As he neared a grove of trees, he met the Buddha > > coming from it. The Buddha smiled and took his > > hand. Together they went to a temple where two > > old monks were sweeping the floor. The Buddha > > said to them: 'This young monk will live here > > with you from now on.' > > > > 'Continue your sweeping, and as your broom moves > > back and forth, listen and be aware of the sound > > of the broom as you sweep. Don't stop until I > > come back.' > > > > The young monk sat down and listened to the > > movement of the brooms, to and fro over the floor. > > He heard the whispered rhythm of the mantra as > > it was repeated over and over again. This went > > on for many weeks, and before the Buddha came > > back, the young monk had found full enlightenment > > and so had the two old monks (47). > > > > Work Cited: > > > > "The Buddha Speaks" > > A new translation by Anne Bancroft > > Author of 'Zen: Direct Pointing to Reality.' > > Shambhala Publications 2000 > > Chapter on Clarity > > >
