We have a sit-a-long for Beginningless Beginners on such ...
But what of dropping that mode of relating? Dealing with the talkers, the verbose, the opinionated. Some people think that human existence is all (or only) about thought/conceptualization/analysis/opinion. For example, some people can’t simply watch a soccer game, seeing the players, hearing the chants and drumming in the crowd, the smell of stadium food.....they need the opinionated chatter, the commentary, the never ending flow of information....and so they stay at home and watch the game on TV, where they can be continually fed analysis and data. Later on, what has remained important is the judgement, the opinion, the analysis. Not so much about the “dance” of
the game.
the game.
There is a time for just watching and being, a time for talking about. Sometimes I just watch (and am) a flower or sunrise ... sometimes I talk about how to grow flowers, or the heat of the sun. Sometimes I do, sometimes I talk about doing ... each in its appropriate moment. Sometimes I drop all opinions (and "I" with em), sometimes I offer opinions ... including about how to drop opinions! A time for each ... silence or talking, planning to do and doing ... even in Zen! All are necessary and appropriate in their proper space, balance and moderation.
That is why the bookstores are filled with 1000 books about Zen ... A Way Beyond Words and Letters!
Anyway, that is my opinion.
Gassho, J
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