Mayka, >I was told that because Buddhism was alive,... Buddhism is reading these words, intuitively agreeing or disagreeing, and responding appropriately. To dither (wobble), philosophise or act on a preconceived idea kills it just as it is unfolds. Aghh, too late. Now we're partners in crime. Mike
________________________________ From: Maria Lopez <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Sat, 2 April, 2011 19:43:24 Subject: Re: [Zen] Why bother with Zazen? Better Orgyhouse Bill: I was told that because Buddhism was alive, a living philosophy and way to live it could never be something static. But something continuously changing and adapting to whatever cultural country reality and necessities. In Eastern Countries Buddhism seem to be more like an ecclesiastic order similar to any other religion in the world. It's quite tricky here in the West because there is such a Tutti-Frutti that still some adepts have adopted it as a religion and some only take from it what is useful. From the westerners ones who have taken Buddhism literally as a religion...buff...what a headache!. Mayka --- On Sat, 2/4/11, Bill! <[email protected]> wrote: >From: Bill! <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: [Zen] Why bother with Zazen? Better Orgyhouse >To: [email protected] >Date: Saturday, 2 April, 2011, 2:35 > > > >Mayka, > >My point is that in the countries that are the birthplace and nursery of >Buddhism, it is considered a religion; and in those countries for the most >part >Zen Buddhism is considered a cult. > >It is in the Western world where Buddhism has only recently been adopted that >you will find a significant number of people regarding it as a philosophy or a >'way of life'. This is because (IMNSHO) Westerners have adapted it to their >way >of thinking, and only took the parts they felt comfortable with. > >...Bill! > >--- In [email protected], Maria Lopez <flordeloto@...> wrote: >> >> Bill; >>  >> Yes in many Eastern Countries Buddhism is regarded as a religion. Still >> there >>are Buddhist traditions with the description given by Steve. >>  >> Mayka >> >> --- On Thu, 31/3/11, Bill! <BillSmart@...> wrote: >> >> >> From: Bill! <BillSmart@...> >> Subject: Re: [Zen] Why bother with Zazen? Better Orgyhouse >> To: [email protected] >> Date: Thursday, 31 March, 2011, 2:42 >> >> >>  >> >> >> >> Steve, >> >> I agree with your reply to my post below. >> >> I will also extend it to say that most (or at least a large number of) >>Buddhists do not consider Zen Buddhism as a ligitimate expression of Buddhism >>and consider it cult. I say this after talking with numerous Buddhists >>(including Buddhist clergy) in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, and >>Vietnam. >> >> ...Bill! >> >> --- In [email protected], "SteveW" <eugnostos2000@> wrote: >> > >> > >> > >> > --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@> wrote: >> > > >> > > Steve, >> > > >> > > I fundamentally disagree. >> > > >> > > Buddhism, as well as Judiasm/Christianity/Islam, and all other religions >> > > I >>know about are based on the essense of zen. They are all, including Buddhism, >>just layers that have been built up around zen and serve to occlude the >>essense >>of zen to varying extents. I will say that Buddhism has the least occluding >>layers of the religions I have read about, but it still has a lot. >> > > >> > > ...Bill! >> > > >> > Hi Bill! In my opinion, there are two aspects to the human phenomenon of >>religion. One aspect is the evolved religios which binds society together in >>a >>shared identity. This is just an evolved trait that is useful from the >>view-point of group selection. The other aspect is the awakened insight into >>Suchness. But some religions as they exist now are more effective vehicles >>for >>encouraging awakened insight into Suchness than others. Within each of the >>Big >>Three Abrahamic traditions, there have arisen minority mystical movements >>that >>are a spontaneous expression of Enlightened Mind, but they have always been >>regarded as heretical. Even the most literal-minded Pureland Buddhist >>realizes >>that the ultimate goal is awakening. They just want to go to Buddhist Heaven >>where they imagine that awakening will be easier. But they still understand >>that >>ultimately it is more than just going to Heaven. And so, as you yourself >>note, >>Buddhism has the least occluding >> layers. The average Christian would not regard Meister Eckhart as being a >> real >>Christian. >> > Steve >> > >> > >
