tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post2784183691366682277..comments2024-02-06T22:19:13.028-08:00Comments on Mining Aśvaghoṣa's Gold: SAUNDARANANDA 2.9: Listening, Letting Go & GratitudeMike Crosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12712396374023835678noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-37997626169123169342010-06-21T03:25:01.341-07:002010-06-21T03:25:01.341-07:00Well said, Gisela.
A bow to him, Gautama, belong...Well said, Gisela. <br /><br />A bow to him, Gautama, belongs to what Gudo Nishijima called "the fourth phase of Buddhist theory." <br /><br />At the end of an exchange like this, there should inevitably be something along the lines of a bow to him, Gautama.Mike Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712396374023835678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-35179374220064170442010-06-21T02:30:59.448-07:002010-06-21T02:30:59.448-07:00Mike -
Thankfully there are great translations of...Mike -<br /><br />Thankfully there are great translations of the words of Buddhist ancestors for us all to go by:<br /><br />"For the dropping of all views<br />He taught the true Dharma, <br />Utilizing compassion. <br />I bow to him, Gautama."<br /><br />I think that Muho-san is surviving the experience. You seem to have too.<br /><br />Namaste,<br /><br />Gisela真行 https://www.blogger.com/profile/09275768134243230516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-59079140383065269242010-06-21T01:58:36.211-07:002010-06-21T01:58:36.211-07:00Just sitting is the simplest thing in the world.
...Just sitting is the simplest thing in the world. <br /><br />On that basis, if I did something wrong, I should apologize for it. <br /><br />But I am not sorry for not meeting expectations like the ones you seem to bring. Poor old Muho-San if you bring such expectations to him. <br /><br />Our ideas, views, and expectations make things needlessly complicated.Mike Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712396374023835678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-82654369462646329042010-06-20T21:05:36.417-07:002010-06-20T21:05:36.417-07:00Mike -
That was said respectfully and in a quiete...Mike -<br /><br />That was said respectfully and in a quieter voice than it probably seems in print. But then, you did ask me to not pussyfoot around...<br /><br />Peace,<br /><br />Gisela真行 https://www.blogger.com/profile/09275768134243230516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-19514728978162808912010-06-20T14:01:26.062-07:002010-06-20T14:01:26.062-07:00You certainly don't behave like a dignified-ac...You certainly don't behave like a dignified-acting Buddhist Ancestor or even the king of Kapilavastu. So why should I expect you to recognize my worth? <br /><br />If I did something wrong with respect to you it was to place myself in a position that allowed and subjected me to your verbal abuse. My apology was an attempt to recognize my own culpability in our past exchange and was an attempt to “let go”, as well as an attempt to acknowledge the worth inherent in our individual paths. Phrases like “arse over tit” are an inappropriate response to that apology …in MY view. Will I be compelled to walk away? Then how will either of us ever learn to behave differently? Or realize our goal of reaching the top of the mountain? We’ll just end up going in circles. Seems a bit of a waste to me.真行 https://www.blogger.com/profile/09275768134243230516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-60834747553291725032010-06-20T04:49:01.694-07:002010-06-20T04:49:01.694-07:00Hi Gisela,
If you see yourself as a person of no ...Hi Gisela,<br /><br />If you see yourself as a person of no consequence, that is just a view to drop off -- and I refer you back to 2.8. <br /><br />A glib view, in general, belongs to what Gudo Nishijima calls "the first phase of Buddhist theory." <br /><br />Its negation by a phrase like "your ideas are arse over tit" belongs to the second phase. <br /><br />A sincere apology is a kind of action: it belongs to the third phase.<br /><br />But the essence of such an apology is something more simple than you have manifested. It is recognition that I did something wrong, and to say sorry that I did something wrong. <br /><br />Weasly phrases that people learn in the business world to fob off difficult customers without taking responsibility -- phrases like "I'm sorry you feel like that..." -- are not it. <br /><br />If you want to step into action and apologize for something, you had better step up and say what it is you noticed you did wrong. <br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />MikeMike Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712396374023835678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-13815065120761395712010-06-20T04:09:13.872-07:002010-06-20T04:09:13.872-07:00You're right in that I'm a person of no co...You're right in that I'm a person of no consequence. Just the same, I was trying to apologize. I'm sorry if the effort got lost in translation and sorry you've chosen to hold onto that view.真行 https://www.blogger.com/profile/09275768134243230516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-9654745518646340232010-06-20T02:47:06.532-07:002010-06-20T02:47:06.532-07:00Hi Gisela,
The path is the path.
The goal is the...Hi Gisela,<br /><br />The path is the path.<br /><br />The goal is the goal.<br /><br />We follow the path in order to go in the direction of the goal. <br /><br />A person who innocently subscribes to the notion that "the path is the goal" is liable to linger on the path instead of walking along the path with a true and real sense of direction. <br /><br />I don't think you are in a position to not and wink at me. Your ideas are all arse over tit.<br /><br />All the best,<br /><br />MikeMike Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12712396374023835678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296606518210633585.post-6112068428689718212010-06-20T00:31:05.386-07:002010-06-20T00:31:05.386-07:00Hey Mike -
Just catching up with my blog roll aft...Hey Mike -<br /><br />Just catching up with my blog roll after a busy few days. Good to see you recognizing some of Nishijima's accomplishments. Walking away and letting go aren't the same thing given the chip that can linger when you walk away. I think all of us find ourselves in that position from time to time. <br /><br />The way, path, or means whereby is unique to each one of us and depends on the context of our lives. Its good to have friends who help us up when needed or remind us to take a look back at how far we’ve come. Especially in those moments I recognize the beauty of the path and then, well then, the path becomes my goal.<br /><br />“The path is the goal.” (Chogyam Trungpa) …The means whereby is the endgaining? …Just kidding.<br /><br />Every day another step,<br /><br />Gisela真行 https://www.blogger.com/profile/09275768134243230516noreply@blogger.com