BOOK OF EQUANIMITY - Case 10

[AlanLa]

"Straight ahead = keep going"

That's what pops into my head every time this koan pops into my head. Just keep going. Where is the spiritual path/mountain? You're on it. Just keep going. And just now I thought maybe the old lady's attitude is this: What a stupid question for a monk; he should know that already. And Joshu seeing through her is just an approval; She's alright. I am keeping it simple, huh.

[Amelia]

The question answers itself for me, or I am deluded.

[galen]

When I first arrived at this site, I hovered and watch for a while (6 months), feeling my comfort zone, and if being here felt sincere enough. Somewhere in that period I had read here someone putting down Deepak Chopra, and making a laugh at how insincere he was supposedly was. Well enough, fine, I too had some feelings of doubt about his persona, of which seemed at times to be about him and his ego. In the past I have read a lot of his books, listened to his tapes and could never really get It from his writings. But have always respected him for who he is and what he is at least trying to do, and when he is on CNN I take notice. After all, he is doing the best he can and he really looks out for those with less and who are bigoted against. So when I read this ho ho ho about him here, it did not seem quite right from a Buddhist perspective, even though I could not put a finger on it at the time. But there is some irony here, ho ho ho, this morning I was reading koan #30, low and behold, Wick writes two paragraphs dedicated to Chopra quotes, and I might ad, in a very good light.

In this same respect, a few months ago I was seeing the some attempts at putting down so-called Zen-speakers, and am witnessing it again, as some charlatan that can be seen through and through....

“A Zen poser (like those folks all over the internet who engage in "Zen Speak" and cheesy imitation "Dharma Combat")?” My first ‘feelings’ from this, could Zen ‘internet priests’ be taken seriously, but I choose not to judge and do enjoy being here, its all a process and this is all about the larger picture, not small pettiness.

Sitting at the high seat judging and projecting (ego), and does not come from one, but two.... it seems! Its about separation and dualism by not realizing we are all in this together, we are one. What is Zen speak, who is the judge and jury on this term, what good is it and whats the point (even though I get it)? When projecting, sometimes we need a mirror handy, in what could also be looked at from the perspective of a Zen-speaker putting down the so-called Zen-speaker. When we put anybody down that is doing their best, its our ego getting in the way and looking down on other, and not always the most healthy way to see other people who are doing their best with what they have to work with at time.

With all do respect, I do enjoy the teachings of Jundo and Taigu, and love their passion for this Zen-sport.

[Myoku]

Thank you Galen,
I believe I remember the Chopra quote and of course the quote about the Zen Posers. Two things came into my mind,
a) Who am I to judge you, to judge anyone here, to judge someone who's just judging someone else, if he is doing that at all. So better I stay quiet, we're not having an emergency here that requires action.
b) We all have an ego, we all have opinions, everyone here. Thats ok and normal. Sometimes we express them, thats ok. Hopefully we seem then as what they are.
Gassho
Myoku

[galen]

Thank you Galen,
I believe I remember the Chopra quote and of course the quote about the Zen Posers. Two things came into my mind,
a) Who am I to judge you, to judge anyone here, to judge someone who's just judging someone else, if he is doing that at all. So better I stay quiet, we're not having an emergency here that requires action.
b) We all have an ego, we all have opinions, everyone here. Thats ok and normal. Sometimes we express them, thats ok. Hopefully we seem then as what they are.
Gassho
Myoku

Myoku,

Thank you for your on-the-spot response , well said, in your staying quiet in response, non-response. I just wanted to make a response, obviously, some in defense of my ego, like you say here. We are all in THIS together, I was just feeling some of that was getting lost here. And hey man, thanks for the love!




galen

[galen]

Thank you Galen,
I believe I remember the Chopra quote and of course the quote about the Zen Posers. Two things came into my mind,
a) Who am I to judge you, to judge anyone here, to judge someone who's just judging someone else, if he is doing that at all. So better I stay quiet, we're not having an emergency here that requires action.
b) We all have an ego, we all have opinions, everyone here. Thats ok and normal. Sometimes we express them, thats ok. Hopefully we seem then as what they are.
Gassho
Myoku

Myoku........ in realizing, no harm no foul, its all good, i did correct my miss spell of your name .


_/\_

galen

[BrianW]

QUESTION - On your spiritual searches, where are you looking? Are you looking in the right places? Where do you think the mountain and Manjusri are to be found?

I don’t really have much to add than what has already been said. I guess at a gut level I sometimes feel more “pulled” than consciously moving straight ahead. Judgment enters and results in making a choice….sometimes good …sometimes not so good. And then back to being “pulled” straight ahead.

Gassho,
Jisen/BrianW

[Jundo]

Hi,

I believe Mr. Chopra is largely a commercial operation, a holy "Profit$$" as he refers to himself. I know that, simultaneously, his books give some quick comfort to many ... but as a kind of fast food, Dharma Drive-Thru.

He is a very bright man who can frequently express insightful and smart opinions, and many wise spiritual quotes, as bright and well-studied in their field people will. However, he also frequently expresses spiritual pap, schmaltz, woo woo and weirdness.

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/04/05/chopra-blames-own-meditation-for-baja-quake/

I know that many folks buy into his packaging ... thus the very large "Profit". I know he may frequently appear on CNN and Oprah, which unfortunately says much about the presentation of eastern spirituality in the media. I also know that many (most) people do not appreciate criticism of their particular spiritual heroes and sacred cows.

As to the cheap "dharma combat" and "zen speak" that is so common, especially in many corners of the Buddhist internet (and may or may not have been common in old Chinese tea houses back in the day) ... we call that "the stink of Zen" (Zen Kusai in Japanese). Here is a pretty good definition I found ...

Zen kusai is “Zen stink”, a common ailment among those who discuss things of a ‘spiritual’ nature ... . It is the bandying about of ‘spiritual’ sounding words, or a certain crafty, ‘paradoxical’ way of putting things, as if they hid some deep meaning — without their being truly rooted in experience.

Stuart David makes fun of such "faux Dharma Combat" in the first few minutes of his biting video I posted elsewhere today ...

Zen is a two headed crow ... two crows with one eye ... a Malibu Barbie.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?10004-BOOK-OF-EQUANIMITY-Case-11&p=83052&viewfull=1#post83052

Gassho, Jundo

[Seisou]

Put aside the intellectual practice of investigating words and
chasing phrases, and learn to take the backward step that turns the
light and shines it inward. - Dogen

Thank you Jundo.

Gassho
Jeff