Is that what people mean by karma? I was taught that "karma" means "action," and that the Buddha just meant that to be mean is an unpleasant state to be in; the effect and the cause are indivisible, the very blindness that pushes the brain towards being mean makes the heat of anger burn the brain a bit. When one is free enough from ego/blindness, the heat of anger has space in which to dissapate harmlessly, and the more pleasant baseline state of our brain is re-established.
On Thu, Nov 18, 2010 at 3:02 PM, Kristy McClain <healthypl...@yahoo.com>wrote: > > > Anthony, > > One problem I have with karma is that it assumes some pre-determination > to our life experience. In my view, most of the problems in society around > the globe stem from theology differences. Let me ask you: What is so > fearful about a belief that once our mortal body dies, we are just gone? > This fear of death has created so many myths and fantasies to explain away > death, by soothing our ego, so we can believe our "soul" energy is > transformed to some other type of existence. This fear of God /Satan / or > karmic retribution only encourages a state of fear within, and a judgement > of others by comparison. > > What is your worst-possible fear once you die? Once you are aware of the > answer, deal with that realization. It is my feeling that these belief > structures only reinforce the negativity that keeps us separate from > self-awareness and compassion, then extended to those around us, and then > social orders beyond. > > I don't know for certain whether karma exists or not, but I am comfident > that there is not a person living today who can explain it accurately. I > see it as a means to help one stay in fear, rather than compassion. This > idea of some heavenly or spirit retribution for all your mistakes. Why > wake up in the morning and get out of bed? Its all just a means to somehow > "earn" the next trip back? So what if I end up a pidgeon or an ant? So > what if I simply return to the dust of the earth? According to Mormons, > every one has an afterlife, as a human being, in one of three levels of > heaven. Your assigned level is dependent on one's behavior and faith in > this mortal existence. If you are really good, (and you are male), you will > eventually become a God of your own world. > > So many different belief systems. > > So much of this is rooted in fear and ego-- our deep need to feel that we > matter, somehow. I'm not judging or balking at those who believe in > karma. If it works for you, thats fine. But I know it doesn't work quite > the way you think it does.. You asked how else to explain some events? Why > does everything always need to be rationalized and explained? (And > remember I am saying this as a science and social scientist). > > I remember learning a fundamental Law in a 1A physiology class as a > freshman. > > Energy can neither be created nor destroyed: It is merely transformed. > Okay, that can be debited to the karma ledger in a mild sense. But it does > not suggest a theology framework. > > I was raised a Christian, and still go to church at times--like Christmas > and Easter. I embrace many buddhist philosophies. I have some very close > Jewish friends, and last Thanksgiving, we shared their traditions. I > practice zen daily. For me, these practices simply help refine my character > and compassion, so that I can focus on doing the right things in this life, > rather than the next. > > Kristy > > > > --- On *Wed, 11/17/10, Anthony Wu <wu...@yahoo.com.sg>* wrote: > > > From: Anthony Wu <wu...@yahoo.com.sg> > Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 3:19 PM > > > > Kristy, > > I don't mean to start a new thread, but you can deny karma, as much as you > do Newton's Law. However, you keep seeing things that cannot be explained > away other than by karma. Just like you cannot ignore gravity and fly in the > sky. > > Anthony > > --- On *Thu, 18/11/10, Kristy McClain <healthypl...@yahoo.com>* wrote: > > > From: Kristy McClain <healthypl...@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Thursday, 18 November, 2010, 5:25 AM > > > Anthony, > > That simply proves that God has a good sense of humor. > > Kristy > > > --- On *Wed, 11/17/10, Anthony Wu <wu...@yahoo.com.sg>* wrote: > > > From: Anthony Wu <wu...@yahoo.com.sg> > Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 2:20 PM > > > Kristy, > > If karma did not exist, why were you born a smart woman, why I, stupid man? > What is a better theory than karma? > > Anthony > > --- On *Wed, 17/11/10, Kristy McClain <healthypl...@yahoo.com>* wrote: > > > From: Kristy McClain <healthypl...@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Wednesday, 17 November, 2010, 6:18 AM > > > Anthony, > > You are starting with a premise that karma exists. How do you know it > does? k > > --- On *Tue, 11/16/10, Anthony Wu <wu...@yahoo.com.sg>* wrote: > > > From: Anthony Wu <wu...@yahoo.com.sg> > Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Tuesday, November 16, 2010, 1:13 PM > > > Mayka/ED, > > Most of us are deeply bound by karma so that we are bored by 'just this'. I > believe we can find satisfaction by just sitting down and eventual > enlightenment, but we are way from that 'goal'. So perhaps Bill can improve > his way of teaching like guiding children away from their toys. > > Anthony > > --- On *Tue, 16/11/10, Maria Lopez <flordel...@btinternet.com>* wrote: > > > From: Maria Lopez <flordel...@btinternet.com> > Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Tuesday, 16 November, 2010, 7:17 PM > > > *ED:* > * * > *Thank you for both links. It's been particularly interesting reading > controversial Brad W reply in connection with Big Mind and Genpo Roshi...and > my conclusion about the whole thing is, that hearts feel profoundly > grateful for having found Thich Nhat Hanh dharma in those years in which his > home was not too crowded, not too polluted by westerners speculation, > aggression and most of it self, ego. There are teachings that shouldn't be > passed onto westerners in such a light way. Big Mind might be one of those > (I wouln't know because first hearing was in American websites) . And yet > there is the possibility that in the original eastern environment (perhaps > under a differente name) have the effect of a most powerful way of breaking > through the self by exposing it. Building up a bond in the process with > other practitioners sailing in the same boat.* > * * > *People don't want the simplicity of Buddhism and not certainly zen. I > wouldn't put the blame to anyone but just in oneself incapacity of seeing > what is there presented in simplicity. For instance Anthony himself has > pointed out more than once the boredom of "just this" or sitting down. We > look for excitement all the time. No one external to blame afterwards if we > get hurt but just oneselves** * > ** > *Mayka > > *--- On *Tue, 16/11/10, ED <seacrofter...@yahoo.com>* wrote: > > > From: ED <seacrofter...@yahoo.com> > Subject: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book > To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com > Date: Tuesday, 16 November, 2010, 5:44 > > > > "Big Mind" > "Merzel began developing the "Big Mind" process in 1999, after having > taught more traditional Zen meditation and koan study for more than twenty > years. The process is intended to allow anyone — including non-Buddhists — > to experience "the enlightenment of the Buddha". > The process is designed as a combination of Eastern meditation and Western > psychological techniques to transmit the essence of Zen teachings in a way > that is readily accessible and relevant to Westerners, a realization they > can further deepen through meditation. > The Big Mind process is claimed to enable participants to get in touch with > various aspects of themselves by inviting them to identify as and speak from > these aspects or states of mind. > The teacher walks participants through interactions with different aspects > of their mind, including ordinary, finite ones such as the Protector, the > Skeptic and Desiring Mind; and possibly less familiar, "transcendent" ones > such as the "Non-Seeking/Non-Grasping Mind", "the Way", and "Big Mind and > Big Heart". > Since 1999, he has offered workshops to more than 20,000 individuals all > around the world. In addition to presentations in cities in North America > and Europe, Genpo Roshi has made "Big Mind" available on DVDs and online. > Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Genpo_Merzel#cite_note-4 > Also see: > http://hardcorezen.blogspot.com/2010/04/big-mind-sucks-part-million.html > > --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Kristy McClain <healthypl...@...> wrote: > > > Chris, > > To the contrary. I do not recommend Big Mind , necessarily. In fact, I > have said here that it is not a process that works for me. It seems a bit > like group therapy, but not about zen. > > I know it well, as I have a home in UT, (though I live in CA). Gempo > Roshi's zen center is just two miles from my home there. I did attend > many meditation groups , classes and even a few retreats there.. I am > friends with Diane Musho Hamilton, and she received her transmission from > Gempo Roshi. > > Actually, I have been critical of this teaching model in the past, but > now-- Well, I truly feel that there are different methods that work for > different personalities and cultures. So, if one finds Big Mind meaningful, > thats okay by me. I don't believe in one recipe. I do think it may attract > people who would not normally include zen, or any spiritual practice in > their lives. If so, then, I think there is a benefit to society at large. > ... > Kristy > > > > > > > > > > >
