Anthony, I’ll repeat again that it is my understanding that the Mahayana’s vow is to not enter Nirvana before all other sentient beings are saved – not to postpone enlightenment until all other beings are saved.
You are basically equating Nirvana with enlightenment. Is that what you mean? Do you think these two terms describe the same experience? …Bill! From: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:zen_fo...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Anthony Wu Sent: Friday, November 26, 2010 7:47 PM To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book Bill, 'First enlightenment, then help others' is Theravada philosophy. It is to some extent in conflict with mahayana's 'first save all beings, then enlightenment (nirvana)'. As you agree, the latter is unfeasible in this world. I can only explain it in terms of intention. Anthony --- On Fri, 26/11/10, billsm...@hhs1963.org <billsm...@hhs1963.org> wrote: From: billsm...@hhs1963.org <billsm...@hhs1963.org> Subject: RE: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Date: Friday, 26 November, 2010, 6:22 PM ED, I believe Mahayana Buddhism teaches that you should not enter Nirvana nor break yourself off of the Wheel-of-Life (the continuous cycle of birth and rebirth) until all sentient beings are released from suffering. This is not the same as saying your should help others before helping yourself. Just like the oxygen mask example, you do have to get yourself in a position to help others before trying to help. I can’t give you a source but one quote I remember from somewhere is: ‘First attain enlightenment. Then instruct all beings.’ …Bill! From: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:zen_fo...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Anthony Wu Sent: Friday, November 26, 2010 4:16 AM To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book ED, You say: Of what use is a dead bodhisattva to anyone? My suggestion: fly to Dharamsala and ask Dalai Lama. (It is an essential mahayana teaching that you should help others before helping yourself.) Anthony --- On Thu, 25/11/10, ED <seacrofter...@yahoo.com> wrote: From: ED <seacrofter...@yahoo.com> Subject: [Zen] Re: FW: Amazon book To: Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, 25 November, 2010, 9:46 PM Of what use is a dead bodhisattva to anyone? A mother who really cares for her child will put on her own oxygen mask first. On the other hand, "The life of an enlightened being is like the shadow of a bird on water." --ED --- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, Anthony Wu <wu...@...> wrote: > > Bill, > > You got it wrong. Bodhisatvas advise you put the oxygen mask on other people > before you have it on yourself. > > You have not answer whether you don't think preventing turmoil is necessary. > > Anthony __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5649 (20101125) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5650 (20101126) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5650 (20101126) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 5651 (20101126) __________ The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. http://www.eset.com ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: zen_forum-dig...@yahoogroups.com zen_forum-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: zen_forum-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
