not judging

[Taigu]

As I witnessed a drunk couple fighting yesterday in a train station of Kobe, the girl ended up thrown on the tarmac (rare sight in Japan...). I happened to be witnessing the whole thing for a good four minutes. It reminded me of a great thing we could all commit ourselves during this ango: not judging. Or at least be aware of how often, how much, how quickly our mind is prompt to decide who is who. This would very naturally nurture a more subtle, flexible and fluid mind.

gassho


Taigu

[Hogen]

Re: not judging

I think in some ways, judging is hardwired into our system...a kind of survival of the fittest aspect to human nature. Realizing how often and minimizing the amount of judging I do will be a goal of mine.

[Taylor]

Re: not judging

Gassho,

We construct a whole world of our own making around a single moment. How little we actually know is amazing.

Flowing flowing flowing

[Myoku]

Re: not judging

Thanks Taigu,
reminds me of nurturing seeds, one of my major tasks during Ango. And yes,
I even judge my tea as being to cold to be tasty, ts ts ts ...
_()_
Peter

[Shokai]

Re: not judging

Did anyone attempt to assist in her distress?? :roll:

[Taigu]

Re: not judging

Indeed,Shokai, two people did. Two women. In Japan, a man helping a woman out of the blue is a bit weird...And for once I gave up my shining armour for the role of witness. Loving and caring witness for both of them, and all of us.
Thank you for asking.


gassho


Taigu

[Taigu]

Re: not judging

By the way...It is really important guys, you are all excited about Dharma big ideas and would be philosophical stuff...
No judging is the core of our practice.
If there is one direction I would give my students it is this one. Not exciting. Not thrilling. Not rocking.
Sorry to disappoint an it is what Dharma is about.

Not knowing, not judging.

from Issa:

in holy Jizo's lap
squatting, croaking
a frog



gassho


Taigu

[Seiryu]

Re: not judging

We rarely see what's infront of us, we tend to see only our thoughts and projections about what is in front of us... Not knowing, not judging.... To step away from our thinking patterns and just to look and see... Like our practice... See a thought let it pass... Take this with you into everyday life.... See a thought about something let it pass....

[Taylor]

Re: not judging

Taigu,

Might it also be true that there can be action in non-judgement? Yes, sometimes we give up the shining armor but isn't there no shining armor to begin with? If someone falls down, we act without thought of "That person on the ground" and "me the knight in shining armor". Just me on the ground with me helping myself up and moving in both directions. No selfish desire for that glory of the savior.

We rarely see what's infront of us, we tend to see only our thoughts and projections about what is in front of us... Not knowing, not judging.... To step away from our thinking patterns and just to look and see... Like our practice... See a thought let it pass... Take this with you into everyday life.... See a thought about something let it pass....

I think this is important, but even more important not to fall into stagnation of "Oh, no judgement, let it pass" when things REALLY need to be done. Maybe I'm complicating a simple point, but I'm not sure if that's the case. I believe that we can simultaneously not assign all of our complicated BS to a situation and still manage to help if help is needed. Completely content in whatever arises.

But just a few thoughts.

[Hoyu]

Re: not judging

As I witnessed a drunk couple fighting yesterday in a train station of Kobe

One of the many undesirable traits alcohol bestows upon us. Which is why I avoid it altogether!

O God, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! that we should, with joy, pleasance, revel, and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!  ~William Shakespeare, Othello

Gassho,
John

[Taigu]

Re: not judging

Yes, I was expecting this...something like...Why did'nt you help this poor woman? What on earth did you do not doing anything?
Judging. Our poison. Our drunken state.

Now, a simple invitation : let us look at ourselves and the ten thousand judging thoughts we generate every day.

In this case, non action was true action. And what took place in my gentle witnessing confirmed this. My clumsy gaijin ( a word which means foreign in Japanese) intervention would have caused more trouble than help. The girl was shaky but fine (having two Japanese women helping her), the boy really sorry and scarred at what he did (he was also trying to help her and show her compassion).

And to be honest, I am getting tired of this, because this empty forum is filled with opinions and thoughts and this and that...

NO MIND !


gassho

Taigu


Taigu

[Taylor]

Re: not judging

Gassho Taigu,

If I came across that way, I apologize, it was not my intention. No judging on your action, really! I suppose more so what I was getting at was the fact that action can be taken in the heart of non-judging. No good guys and bad guys. No me no you. All embraced in not-knowing-not-judging-fluid-act-when-acting-sit-when sitting mind. The giant blanket of BIG MIND.

Action non-action (not INACTION, no such thing), not one not two.

Something more like that, I think is what I was getting at. Pardon clumsy words.

[Taigu]

Re: not judging

I totally agree with you, Taylor. Action-non-action is not inaction.
Every situation is different.

gassho

Taigu

[Ekai]

Re: not judging

Letting go of our judgements allows us to respond with compassion instead of our knee-jerk reaction. It is dangerous when we quickly assume what we think is true without knowing the details of any situation.

It is also important to let of our self-judgements. How can we expect to let go of judging others if we are constantly judging ourselves? However, I admit that self-judging is something I need and have working on.

Thanks,
Jodi

[ChrisA]

Re: not judging

Great topic!

Oops...

Seriously, gassho for this discussion.