Even the Dalai Lama farts

[AlanLa]

...His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In June, while speaking to an audience in Australia, he explained that, at our core, all people are the same. And then he shared this wonderful anecdote.
"When in aeroplane, sometimes this gas problem comes," he said. "Then, you see, it is difficult to let out. So, occasionally, you see, look around, then you go like that."
His Holiness leaned over to the side as though he was letting out a big ripper and then proceeded to laugh like a 12-year-old boy.
Because farts are funny. Even to the Dalai Lama.

from http://www.cnn.com/2013/11/22/tech/i...html?hpt=hp_t3

[Myosha]

Thanks Alan.

How fart can make you grow spiritually:
One day, Su Dongpo felt inspired and wrote the following poem:
稽首天中天，
毫光照大千；
八风吹不动，
端坐紫金莲。
I bow my head to the heaven within heaven,
Hairline rays illuminating the universe,
The eight winds cannot move me,
Sitting still upon the purple golden lotus.

The “eight winds (八风)” in the poem referred to praise (称), ridicule (讥), honor (誉), disgrace (毁), gain (得), loss (失), pleasure (乐) and misery (苦) – interpersonal forces of the material world that drive and influence the hearts of men. Su Dongpo was saying that he has attained a higher level of spirituality, where these forces no longer affect him.
Impressed by himself, Su Dongpo sent a servant to hand-carry this poem to Fo Yin. He was sure that his friend would be equally impressed. When Fo Yin read the poem, he immediately saw that it was both a tribute to the Buddha and a declaration of spiritual refinement. Smiling, the Zen Master wrote “fart” on the manuscript and had it returned to Su Dongpo.
Su Dongpo was expecting compliments and a seal of approval. When he saw “fart” written on the manuscript, he was shocked . He burst into anger: “How dare he insult me like this? Why that lousy old monk! He’s got a lot of explaining to do!”
Full of indignation, he rushed out of his house and ordered a boat to ferry him to the other shore as quickly as possible. He wanted to find Fo Yin and demand an apology. However, Fo Yin’s door closed. On the door was a piece of paper, for Su Dongpo. The paper had following two lines:
八风吹不动，
一屁弹过江。
The eight winds cannot move me,
One fart blows me across the river.
This stopped Su Dongpo cold. Fo Yin had anticipated this hot-headed visit. Su Dongpo’s anger suddenly drained away as he understood his friend’s meaning. If he really was a man of spiritual refinement,
completely unaffected by the eight winds, then how could he be so easily provoked?
With a few strokes of the pen and minimal effort, Fo Yin showed that Su Dongpo was in fact not as spiritually advanced as he claimed to be. Ashamed but wiser, Su Dongpo departed quietly.
This event proved to be a turning point in Su Dongpo’s spiritual development. From that point on, he became a man of humility, and not merely someone who boasted of possessing the virtue. (history.china-culture.com)


Gassho,
Edward

[Daitetsu]

Reminds a bit of what the French philosopher Michel de Montaigne once said:

Even on the highest throne in the world, we are still sitting on our ass.

Gassho,

Timo

[Heisoku]

Great quotes Edward and Timo- GaSsho.

[Oheso]

GaSsho.

did not go unappreciated!

[Jundo]

I attended a conference with the Dalai Lama a few years ago, sitting close to him as he spoke. Suddenly, he let out a huge sneeze ... a real humdinger ... and turned beet red with what seemed like a bit of embarrassment, very apologetic. So human. It is one of my favorite Dalai Lama teaching moments.

It is a lovely and wise talk by the DL, besides the fart story at the 3:00 mark. Happiness is a deep, abiding sense of satisfaction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUEkDc_LfKQ#t=457

A related topic that sometimes comes up is what is often meant when the Dalai Lama writes many of his books on "happiness". It is not necessarily (although it sometimes is) giddy giddy ha ha happy happy happiness.

The Tibetans tend to speak of "Happiness" quite a bit in their books and talks ... but when looked at closely, it is much the same as the subtle Joy and Peace that we speak of in the Zen corner of the woods ... a Joy that holds comfortably the happy times and sad times, a Peace that is wholly all life's many pieces.

Frankly, if somebody just wanted to be "happy happy happy", I think there are pharmaceuticals that will do the job faster and deeper than any meditation ... at least for a short time.

I sometimes think that the Tibetans writers chose the word "Happiness" in their literature to impress Westerners. The problem is that some folks may hear that and think that they are going to find the key to 24/7 "laughing gas" happiness ... and are a bit disappointed when in fact what is delivered is something much more subtle (though fathomlessly richer). I once wrote ...

Even in Tibetan Buddhism's emphasis on "happiness" ... such words might disguise the real teaching of the Dalai Lama and most Tibetan Teachers I know (same message as here at Treeleaf, in fact) that the point of this Practice is not the attaining of a happy happy ha ha happy happiness all the time (I have never met such a constantly giddy Tibetan teacher, and who would want such a state ... like only watching the comedy movies and never the drama!), but of a certain subtle Happiness (big "H") that transcends AND yet fully contains both the happy times and the sad, smiles and tears, the rainy days and sunny days, as judged by small human eyes in this life of Samsara. I do not think they are teaching people to feel happy that their mother died or tickled that there is a war somewhere in the world ... but a Boundless Joy and Buddha's Smile that shines through all that life can dish out.

A Buddha's Happiness transcends and holds small human "happy and sad".



Gassho, J

[Jundo]

By the way, please be sure to catch my small "happiness" moment ... as my pants fell down around my knees during yesterday's Zazenkai! From the 11:20 mark here.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11668-November-22nd-23rd-2013-Treeleaf-Weekly-Zazenkai

Mindfulness ... remembering to tie your pants tight before the Ceremony!

Next time I get too big for my britches, just pull up an old clip of my pants around my knees during the Ceremony!

Gassho, J

[Daitetsu]

Hi Jundo,

Actually it's moments like these that make Treeleaf so nice for me - perfectly imperfect!
And the look on Dosho's face when he saw it - priceless!

Gassho,

Timo

[Mp]

Hi Jundo,

Actually it's moments like these that make Treeleaf so nice for me - perfectly imperfect!
And the look on Dosho's face when he saw it - priceless!

Gassho,

Timo

So true ... Now that is sharing the Dharma in more ways than one!

Gassho
Shingen

[Jinyo]

By the way, please be sure to catch my small "happiness" moment ... as my pants fell down around my knees during yesterday's Zazenkai! From the 11:20 mark here.

http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?11668-November-22nd-23rd-2013-Treeleaf-Weekly-Zazenkai

Mindfulness ... remembering to tie your pants tight before the Ceremony!

Next time I get too big for my britches, just pull up an old clip of my pants around my knees during the Ceremony!

Gassho, J

Wonderful! Almost an Abramovic performance art moment

Gassho

Willow

[Shokai]

When somepne gets too big for his britches everything gets exposed in the end.

gassho, Shokai

Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk4

[sittingzen]

Jundo, you are a hoot!

Happiness is abiding in the awareness of now. I will pull up that clip of you next time you think you're too big for your britches!

[Nindo]

The eight winds cannot move me,
One fart blows me across the river.

That's awesome, I will remember this.

[alan.r]

The eight winds cannot move me,
One fart blows me across the river.

The eight winds may not move us, but don't stand behind someone farting such a fart. I believe you could be killed, either from force or pungency.

[RichardH]

Farting takes on an important function with age. For the very old it can be a form of propulsion that assists rising from the dinner table, the chairlift, or the bathtub. It gives that extra little boost to get them on their feet.

Daizan /\