>On Jan 12, 2011 1:16 PM, "ED" <seacrofter...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>"Dear Bodhidharma, I thank you that I am not a sinner >like these non-practicing Zen folk appear to be." >--- In Zen_Forum@yahoogroups.com, ChrisAustinLane <chris@...> wrote: >> >> I do not come to the forum expecting it to be a place just for practicing >> zen folk, ... To me these read rather differently, but it appears that you are making an equation between them, in which case I must apologize for conveying a self-righteous message. Reminds me of a joke for some reason: Q. What is the difference between a regular guy and a zen master? A. None, but the regular guy thinks there is. Practice doesn't change the nature of what living is. On days when I've sat in zazen, I say things I wish I hadn't, get crabby, stub my toe, make typos, drop dishes, etc., etc., just like on days when I have avoided sitting in zazen. I don't think people who do not sit zazen are sinners. I do not even think that zazen is the only way to see that all is one undifferentiated whole. I have found it to be a rather straightforward way to develop that way of seeing the world, which I find both to be a truthful and useful perspective. Incidentally, I was always taught in my Chrstian church that the word translated as sin does not mean have a connotation of bad or wickedness but of missing the mark, of error. I think the way that any discussion of how to live devolves into some people feeling that other people are being moralistic partly is a reflection of our internal criticism rather than judgment coming from the others. I know when I am unsure if I am really putting forth a sincere effort that I am much more likely to perceive what other people say as critical than when I see clearly that I am doing the best I can. That last bit is not inspired by you Ed, but the list traffic in general. Thanks, --Chris ------------------------------------ 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/