There is a growing cancer over in the HCZ comments section that I enjoy for my regular dose of voyeuristic zentertainment. Human beings never have this problem. It is a special hell for demons and ghosts. It is symptomatic of what happens when a worthless skin bag latches on to teachings but not what is being taught.
People are passing off sayings as Buddhist teachings that are just flat out wrong.
A friend of mine labeled it Nihilism. I think that is as accurate as you can get for the condition. The symptoms include someone saying stupid things like “I do not exist” or “you do not exist.” These are the same skin bags that say that the goal of Zen practice is to “Slay the ego” and garbage like that. I think this is why teaching Buddhism on the internet is a challenge I would prefer to leave to others.
The compassionate thing to do in a face to face setting with some rice bag that says “You do not exist” might be to punch this person square in the nose. Then I could ask, dose your nose exist?
If I try to look at the expression says “You do not exist” in my most accepting frame of mind I might say that it is an incomplete teaching. If someone said, “your concept of self dose not exist”, I might say, that is a little more complete. But it’s still missing the mark. The concept of nihilism is still dualistic.
I am hoping a scripture master will address this soon. In the mean time I have to get back to work.
Be!
Jordan
10 comments:
Hello Jordan,
I really like the tone of this post. I can't help but laugh. Especially the way it ends. I am the farthest thing from a scriptural master, but I once heard these sage words, "Do Good." The only thing I could maybe add is "Avoid Evil."
I hope your oranges have come down in price. Take care,
"Y"
PS - As for the punch in the nose. I can testify how wonderfully quick it knocks you out of your quixotic state. I was slam with a beautiful muay thai leg kick. Although the kick no longer exists, it effects are lingering.
Yamakoa,
Yes, do good, avoid doing harm.
Oranges are $1.99 a pound. Apples, which grow here in abundance, are the same. Gas went down to $4.09 though.
ouch!
Dodge, dip, dive, duck, block!
Jordan
Hello Jordan,
First, let me say that I find many of your observations harmonious with my own...
At the same time, I sense a certain shift in your approach to discussing these issues. I am quite sure that there is a quality of 'desire to help' others by indicating some of the distortions being posited as "Buddhism." To be honest, it is very refreshing!
You wrote: "People are passing off sayings as Buddhist teachings that are just flat out wrong."
Thank you for bringing this to light. On my own personal list of hates/loves, this is in the top five hates.
You wrote: "A friend of mine labeled it Nihilism. I think that is as accurate as you can get for the condition."
While that is truly an accurate label, I think you earlier comment is better: "...just flat out wrong."
You wrote: "I think this is why teaching Buddhism on the internet is a challenge I would prefer to leave to others."
Yes, we all have our preferences. Nevertheless, we don't always seem to have a real choice do we? For instance, althought you "would prefer" to leave it to others, this post is a great online Buddhist teaching--thank you for not following what you would prefer. We (all beings) need as much clarity as we can get...
You wrote: "The compassionate thing to do in a face to face setting with some rice bag that says “You do not exist” might be to punch this person square in the nose."
Ha! You are starting to sound a bit "Rinzai" here... While I agree, I have to say that it would only rate as "compassionate" if, a. it was truly helpful to the one punched, and b. if we did not get personal pleasure from the administration of our 'teaching.'
You wrote: "Then I could ask, dose your nose exist?"
Yunmen said, "This staff flies up the the forty first heaven and strikes Indra on the nose!" I don't think it would be wise to ask Yunmen if 'his' nose existed---at least not within his reach. He was always quick to indicate that "Dogen's nose" and "Your nose" are not too far apart...
You wrote: "If someone said, “your concept of self dose not exist”, I might say, that is a little more complete. But it’s still missing the mark."
How about saying, "Wrong views of existing or not existing are both bits and pieces of the matter which is 'it'?
You wrote: "The concept of nihilism is still dualistic."
Have you discovered a concept that is not dualistic?
You wrote: "I am hoping a scripture master will address this soon."
I think it was Deshan that said, "For scritpures, there are scritpure specialists. For treatises there are treatise specialists. Why do you wonder at this old monk?"
You wrote: "In the mean time I have to get back to work."
I know it was Deshan that got back to work saying, "I am too busy with temple affairs to attend to trivial matters."
Yes, back to work. Thank you for your awareness.
Gassho,
Ted Biringer
Ted, you asked "Have you discovered a concept that is not dualistic?"
Have you learned to amplify the sound of the universe using only space?
Gassho,
Jordan
Hello Jordan,
You asked, "Have you learned to amplify the sound of the universe using only space?"
What else could one possibly use?
Gassho,
Ted
How is your "Ro"?
Gassho,
Jordan
Hi Jordan,
My Ro?
It is "Absolutely" perfect.
"Relatively" though, not so good.
Yours is certainly cruising along nicely. I take comfort in the fact that in the nondual nature of things, "your" Ro, is "my" Ro.
Ro, Ro, Ro your boat, gently DOWN the STREAM,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, LIFE is but a DREAM...
Gassho Brother,
Ted
Gassho!
So I'm wondering if I'd be that worthless skinbag... not worried about it! Just wondering, at the thought.
Oh, you said HCZ. Mr W's dig.
The dalai lama looks like a pretty straightforward dude, IMO.
I feel sorry for his more passionate followers, though, insofar as recognizing that I do. From there, I'm in no place to suggest strategy for Tibetan monks, I notice.
Their passionate protests, even insofar as non-violently locking arms ... they're locked onto something, I think, and I'm afraid if it ain't working for 'em.
Grasping the water to find the moon , and such and such,
-- A Visitor
Gimmal,
Thank you for dropping a stone!
Take good care,
Jordan
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