It is the Implied not eating for non-workers that is contrary to my 
conventional idea of compassion. And which is not a problem unless you divide 
people into workers and workers. 

Thanks,
Chris Austin-Lane
Sent from a cell phone

On Mar 29, 2011, at 8:43, "ED" <[email protected]> wrote:

> 
> 
> 
> Nothing elfish about earning one's daily bread.
> 
>  
> 
> --- In [email protected], Chris Austin-Lane <chris@...> wrote:
> > 
> > There is a famous old Zen saying: a day without work, is a day without food.
> > 
> > The self-sufficiency of the zen monasteries is one reason Zen survived
> > the anti-Buddhist times in China.
> > 
> > One might take this attitude to be the opposite of conventional
> > compassion, a hard core selfish ness, but only if you add in
> > distinctions between different people onto the saying.
> > 
> > I thout it would be funny, given the dialog about work going on.
> 
> 
>  
> 
> > > Chris,
> > > Can you explain?  (Zenspeak fails to enlighten me in this matter.)
> > > --ED
> 
> > > --- In [email protected], Chris Austin-Lane chris@ wrote:
> > >>
> > >> A day without work is a day without food. whose work? whose food?
> 
> > >> > Mike,
> > >> > Pro bono work is laudable. But first, one has to earn one's keep. Zen 
> > >> > stories emphasize this aspect of real (illusory) existence.
> > >> > In one religion, one of the primary duties of the father is to ensure 
> > >> > that his son focuses on a profession to support himself and his future 
> > >> > family. This is very laudable too.
> > >> > Zen, like this religion, has it's feet on the ground, while it seeks 
> > >> > to realize Buddha Nature (without seeking to realize Buddha Nature.)
> > >> > --ED
> 
> > >> >> ED,
> > >> >>
> > >> >> >Or as you have pointed out before, there is no self to turn around.
> > >> >> Zen Masters selling water by the river! Ho Ho Ho. But everyone has got
> > >> >> to make a living somehow.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Don't worry, I work pro bono for those without means.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Mike
> 
> > >> >> Mike,
> > >> >>
> > >> >> Or as you have pointed out before, there is no self to turn around.
> > >> >> Zen Masters selling water by the river! Ho Ho Ho. But everyone has got
> > >> >> to make a living somehow.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> --ED
> 
> > >> >> > ED,
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > I like my self and I enjoy being in the world, but maybe the trick 
> > >> >> > is
> > >> >> > to not let the world turn the self around.
> > >> >> >
> > >> >> > Mike
> 
> > >> >> > Selves make the world go round.
> > >> >> > --ED
> 
> > >> >> > > Chris,
> > >> >> > > The 'Never Ending Story', apparently never ending.
> > >> >> > > Mike
> 
> > >> >> > > > Have you ever encountered an individual devoid of self or ego?
> > >> >> > > >--ED
> 
> 
> 
> 

Reply via email to