7/6 - Authority p.15

[paige]

It is so sad not to be wanted. I guess I'm out of a job. :-( J

Well, we can keep you on as our 3rd base coach.

http://treeleafzen.blogspot.com/2007/05/sit-long-with-jundo-fukanzazengi-xv.html

[Jundo]

Ok, Guys. Thanks. But if, once in awhile, you could remember to refer to me as "Dear Super-Enlightened Being", I would feel better. I mean, it took me AGES to train my wife and son to start calling me that. ;-)

Gassho, Jundo the Magnificent

[wills]

One of our friends (Zen Master Lin Chi) told us that "If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet a Patriarch, kill the Patriarch." Isn't this the same thing Joko is telling us only couched in Western lingo so we'll understand it?

[Justin]

One of our friends (Zen Master Lin Chi) told us that "If you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha. If you meet a Patriarch, kill the Patriarch." Isn't this the same thing Joko is telling us only couched in Western lingo so we'll understand it?

That's precisely how I read it.

[Justin]

For what it's worth, I was really turned off by this book at first glance. I was looking to get into Buddhism, and this was just reading like self-help stuff you'd find in the New Age aisle of the bookstore. The lack of Buddhist lingo/parables/name-dropping left me dissatisfied.

In short, I was unprepared for the book. I went back to my Zen Center and asked if there were any other books they'd recommend. They happily pointed me towards a few more traditional-sounding books (Warm Smiles from Cold Mountains primarily).

Now, though, I come back to Joko's book and can see the truth of what she's saying clearly. Perhaps I needed to hear it said more exotically first?

I don't intend to suggest that's the dynamic with anyone else taking issue with the book, just wanted to share my experience in hopes I could help someone.

Gassho.

[cdshrack]

i actually enjoy the book (even if i'm more than happy to play devil's advocate every chance i get - gets me in some trouble in my relationships sometimes, too. doesn't it fit somewhere into buddhism to try to look at things from other peoples' potential perspectives?)

i don't necessarily LOVE the book, but i think Joko has some strong points and that it is probably quite well-worded for a number of people.

as for intriguing titles, what about _Seven Bamboo Tablets of the Cloudy Satchel_, the Taoist book? that's an eye-catcher.

anyhow, i just wanted to note that i do enjoy the book and it is much easier to understand what Joko is saying (i agree with you many of you - she does say accept guides, not absolutes, and find it yourself through the "ultimate teacher" of life itself) after having read the rest of the book.

gassho,
cd

[Gregor]

Great chapter, bloody brilliant stuff here.

I love the idea of using life as the ultimate teacher. When it all comes down to it there is nothing like reality itself to be our guide --- Although this is nothing ground breaking for any one who as looked at Buddhist teachings, what is really great is how she illustrates the point making these profound truths seem so simple and easy to see.

[egbrooks]

The way I see it, Jundo is our coach and we're the players. The coach runs us through drills, exercises, conditioning, strength training, but ultimately, we're the ones who take the field to play the game. We're the final authority at our position when the whistle blows. It's up to us to take what the coach has showed us and make it our own.

Is anyone else ready for football season?

Take care,
Eric

p.s. I'm really enjoying this book...

[egbrooks]

And just to add one more thing to the analogy above: Playing the game is the best teacher...

Eric

[Gregor]

egbrooks,

I'm really looking forward to football season. Go Buckeyes!!!

Great point about how we learn the most by "playing the game". I always found that I learned the most and performed at my best agianst a difficult opponent - - - maybe I can stretch this analogy to say that we grow the most when faced with challenges and unpleasant situations in life.

My father likes to refer to this as the furnace - - its hot and chaotic, but makes the most opportunity to shape ourselves in a positive way.

-Greg

[Ryumon]

If Jundo's the coach, then how come so many of us are on the bench? :-)

Kirk

[Jundo]

Hey,

EVERYBODY gets to play around here. But in this game, there are not two opposing sides, no points, no foul balls and no time clock.

G, J

[Al]

I have read and absorbed everyone else's responses to this section, and I don't have very much to add, besides that I prefer the word "guide" to the idea of "authority," probably due to my own issues, beliefs and notions having to do with that concept.