Questions to the unsui

[anista]

Hello samgha,

Since the news of our new unsui, I feel the time is right for some Q&A. These questions are directed at the unsui, so please, refrain from commenting if you are not unsui, if that is possible (meaning that the questions are directed at the unsui, but everyone can of course comment on their answers).

I feel that it is important to know the different views of the unsui, since they somewhat represent this samgha (of course, we all do) and are seen quite a lot in the forum. It is interesting to see where our unsui are coming from regarding different Buddhist concepts. I realize that some have been unsui longer, and others have just started, but nonetheless, you probably have views in either way.

This thread may be intellectualizing. If this is not your cup of tea, I am sure there are other threads to your liking. If nobody wants to answer, no problem. Even no answer is an answer!

Questions:

1. What is your take on rebirth? To simplify in absurdum: only moment-to-moment, or previous lives?

2. What does awakening mean? How do you view that concept? How is that view comparable to the wider Mahayana corpus (does it differ or not for example)?

3. Mind-only. Is this a teaching you follow, or not? That is, is it applicable to your practice?

4. How strict are the precepts? Can they be altered to fit different conditions? Can you be part of a trade, for example by selling meat, liquor, guns, and still follow the precepts? Can you drink, kill or abuse, and still follow the precepts? How does this tie into the concept of karma-vipaka?

5. What is your definition of prajna? Is this concept applicaple to your own practice?


Please note that this is not about my own understanding; I'm not asking these questions in relation to myself. I'm genuinely interested in your views (I am thinking the answers may vary from unsui to unsui, hence the answers can be of great assistance to other people in this samgha). If a question is not applicable, please ignore it. Also please note that I am not looking for a discussion. Others may feel free to discuss, but I am not going to come up with counter-arguments just for the sake of discussing.

May we all realize the buddha land.

/anista

[Jundo]

Re: Questions to the unsui

Perhaps some of these questions are best answered ... or left alone ... or answered silently ... later down the road, not at the very start of the trip.

However, all good questions. I am curious too! 8)

Gassho, Jundo

[anista]

Re: Questions to the unsui

Perhaps some of these questions are best answered ... or left alone ... or answered silently ... later down the road, not at the very start of the trip.

However, all good questions. I am curious too! 8)

Gassho, Jundo

Well, start of the trip or not, I am sure they still have views, and there is still the title of 'unsui'.

But nobody is of course forced to answer! There is no virtual gun pointing at our illusory existence!

Be well,

/Anista

[Risho]

Re: Questions to the unsui

Anista,

I think these are awesome questions for all of us to clarify our practice. Thank you for these !

Gassho,

Risho

[Hoyu]

Re: Questions to the unsui

Anista wrote:
Well, start of the trip or not, I am sure they still have views, and there is still the title of 'unsui'.

So do you believe there is a certian set of views one should poses to have this title?

Gassho,
John

[anista]

Re: Questions to the unsui

Anista wrote:
Well, start of the trip or not, I am sure they still have views, and there is still the title of 'unsui'.

So do you believe there is a certian set of views one should poses to have this title?

Gassho,
John

No. The title unsui does signify something though (perhaps someone serving the samgha)? As unsui, they are set apart, otherwise all samgha members would be called unsui. Since they are already set apart, their views (unrelated to their title) are interesting in that context. I assume that they have views, as most humans tend to have.

Take great care, John!

/anista

[Nindo]

Re: Questions to the unsui

What does Mind-only mean? I have no idea.

And it's sangha by the way, with an N.

[anista]

Re: Questions to the unsui

What does Mind-only mean? I have no idea.

And it's sangha by the way, with an N.

Hello Nindo.

No, it's most definitely correct with samgha, with the letter M. In Sanskrit, the word is ???, not ????. The dot over the 'sa' is of course an anusvara, which is to be transliterated as the letter M (see Michael Coulson's Sanskrit for example for a short description of the anusvara and the use of M vs. N.), although the nasalized sound could be leaning more towards N. Or so I have been told. Both could perhaps be OK though to use, If I remember my grammar correctly, but I tend to use M more often in translations. But I am definitely interested in your use of N instead of M! Why do you prefer to transliterate the anusvara as N? Because of the sound? Or is there another reason that I have overlooked?

Mind-only, or consciousness-only (cittamatra) is a school of thought on which the early zen buddhism was based (see Yogacara), and perhaps even modern zen buddhism (if we see those as separate).

(Sorry for the lack of diacritics. I'm a bit lazy nowadays . Perhaps that adds to the confusion).

/anista

[Hoyu]

Re: Questions to the unsui

Anista wrote:
Well, start of the trip or not, I am sure they still have views, and there is still the title of 'unsui'.

So do you believe there is a certian set of views one should poses to have this title?

Gassho,
John

No.

Hi Anista,

Given your answer I see you must have changed your previous opinions on such matters then. Thank you for the response.

Gassho,
John

[Kaishin]

Re: Questions to the unsui

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYi61ZhSZ74&feature=player_detailpage#t=5s[/video]]Challenge!

[anista]

Re: Questions to the unsui

Hi Anista,

Given your answer I see you must have changed your previous opinions on such matters then. Thank you for the response.

Gassho,
John

Hi John!

Everything changes!

(Although I am not sure where I have stated otherwise, and where my opinions have changed. Please, if you can, point me to where I have stated that there must be a "certian set of views one should poses to have this title [unsui]". But if I have changed opinions, which is likely, I am glad. It means I am not stubborn enough to never value another point more than the one I am currently having. Or something like that . I thought I was pretty clear though what this thread was supposed to cover, but obviously I have not been able to convey my meaning very well. For that I sincerely apologize. If there is anything unclear, please point it out so I can learn how to better phrase myself. I blame my somewhat lacking skillz in English ).

/anista

[anista]

Re: Questions to the unsui

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYi61ZhSZ74&feature=player_detailpage#t=5s[/video]]Challenge!

Hello Matt!

I am sorry, but YouTube said that that clip was not available in my country. But I think I get the picture, anyway ...

All the best,

/anista

[Hoyu]

Re: Questions to the unsui

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYi61ZhSZ74&feature=player_detailpage#t=5s[/video]]Challenge!

:lol:
Thanks Matt. Cosby can lighten any mood. The best thing to do would be to take off the tap shoes!

Gassho,
John

[Jundo]

Re: Questions to the unsui

No. The title unsui does signify something though (perhaps someone serving the samgha)? As unsui, they are set apart, otherwise all samgha members would be called unsui.

NEVER set apart, not in the least.

If anything ...

It is to volunteer and offer oneself as the lowest ‘sailor on the ship’ at the beck and call of the passengers' well-being and needs, a nurse to help clean soiled linens, a brother or sister to sacrifice oneself for a family, a friend offering to help carry a burden. One must be committed sincerely to serve and benefit others, and one must not undertake such a road for one’s own benefit, praise or reward.

Gassho, J

[Hoyu]

Re: Questions to the unsui

The best thing to do isn't always the easiest!

Anista wrote:
Although I am not sure where I have stated otherwise, and where my opinions have changed. Please, if you can, point me to where I have stated that there must be a "certian set of views one should poses to have this title [unsui]"

Well it's not that you've mentioned a certain set of views one should have to be unsui but rather another stance you have previously taken. Which then relates to your questions here.
You once questioned how a person could even be a Buddhist if they didn't believe in certian parts like reincarnation etc. So then, with this manner of thinking I figured you must take a similar stance towards those who choose to become unsui and later priests. As in, how can one even choose to travel this path should they not believe in some things or have different views from the entirety of these concepts.

Gassho,
John