Re: why do they get so upset?
We are human.
Look at how riled up I got about the 'Women only' thread. Craziness, really. I am opposed to the idea, yes - but I went a little over the top.
Religion is very important to people - to many people, especially transmitted teachers, it is the most important thing. It's one of the weird things about Zen practice - how to go about it without forming an identity around it. Very difficult - maybe impossible! And where that identity becomes dented or threatened, well, then the sharp knives come out. We shouldn't be surprised that it happens, only surprised that it doesn't happen more often.
Chet
We are human.
Look at how riled up I got about the 'Women only' thread. Craziness, really. I am opposed to the idea, yes - but I went a little over the top.
Religion is very important to people - to many people, especially transmitted teachers, it is the most important thing. It's one of the weird things about Zen practice - how to go about it without forming an identity around it. Very difficult - maybe impossible! And where that identity becomes dented or threatened, well, then the sharp knives come out. We shouldn't be surprised that it happens, only surprised that it doesn't happen more often.
Chet
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