Bill,
The Flower Sermon first appeared about seven centuries ago. --ED "Tradition and legends The Flower Sermon The origins of Zen Buddhism are ascribed to the Flower Sermon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flower_Sermon> , the earliest source for which comes from the 14th century. It is said that Gautama Buddha gathered his disciples one day for a Dharma talk. When they gathered together, the Buddha was completely silent and some speculated that perhaps the Buddha was tired or ill. The Buddha silently held up and twirled a flower and twinkled his eyes; several of his disciples tried to interpret what this meant, though none of them were correct. One of the Buddha's disciples, Mahâkâúyapa, silently gazed at the flower and broke into a broad smile. The Buddha then acknowledged Mahâkâúyapa's insight by saying the following: I possess the true Dharma eye, the marvelous mind of Nirvâá¹a, the true form of the formless, the subtle Dharma gate that does not rest on words or letters but is a special transmission outside of the scriptures. This I entrust to Mahâkâúyapa. Thus, through Zen there developed a way which concentrated on direct experience rather than on rational creeds or revealed scriptures. Wisdom was passed, not through words or concepts, but through a lineage of one-to-one direct transmission of experience from teacher to student. It is commonly taught that such lineage continued all the way from the Buddha's time to the present." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#The_Flower_Sermon <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen#The_Flower_Sermon> --- In [email protected], "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote: > > ED, > > I consider the 'root of Buddhism' to be the sutras, and especially those that are presented as a first-hand account of the teachings of Siddartha Buddha. > > I consider the 'root of Zen Buddhism' to be the account of Siddartha Buddha's 'Flower Sermon' on Vulture Peak when he is reported to have wordlessly trasmited the Dharma to Mahakasyapa. > > I consider the 'root of zen' to be our senses: Just THIS! > > ...Bill!
