The Good, the Brad, and the lucky.

[Dainin]

I agree with Skye:

Blah blah Brad Warner blah blah blah Brad Warner blah blah


Anyway, it was a surprise to find so much here, much ado about nothing, really.

keishin

Hmmmm... I am somewhat put off by your response here, since you're the one who began this thread (pretty passionately I'd say); and we were all responding to you. I now feel a touch insulted.

Regards,
Keith

[Jundo]

Good time for some Shikantaza-ish advice ...

Let's drop all thought of this and all things.

In other words ...

Let's just drop it!

And if our heads have to be thinking something, let's fill our pretty little heads with a useful and peaceful something.


Gassho, Jundo

[Jundo]

A couple of appropriate gems from the Dhammapada ....

``He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,'' in those who harbour such thoughts hatred is not appeased.

``He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,'' in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred is appeased.

Hate is not overcome by hate; by Love (Metta) alone is hate appeased. This is an eternal law.

The others know not that in this quarrel we perish; those of them who realise it, have their quarrels calmed thereby.

[Kelly M.]

A couple of appropriate gems from the Dhammapada ....

``He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,'' in those who harbour such thoughts hatred is not appeased.

``He abused me, he beat me, he defeated me, he robbed me,'' in those who do not harbour such thoughts hatred is appeased.

Hate is not overcome by hate; by Love (Metta) alone is hate appeased. This is an eternal law.

The others know not that in this quarrel we perish; those of them who realise it, have their quarrels calmed thereby.

Dichotomies is my favourite chapter.

[Keishin]

The good the Brad and the lucky

Hello to all who posted (and didn't!) post here:
I apologize for starting this forum and then not having the time to stick around and respond to it, but let it tend to itself. I can see my reply (in agreement with Skye) may not have been fully formed.
Anyway replies:

Jundo: I don't think Brad needs protecting. Thank you for thinking I might have some Wisdom, every now and then I think so too, usually just before the banana peel! Life has a way of keeping things real.

Keith, Martin: I liked hearing your take on the effect of Brad's writings. You both have shared some of how you believe your practice has benefitted from him in positive ways on other threads here, as i recall. I wasn't fishing for testimonials in his behalf, but it was nice to hear.
My original post was simply the puzzling in my mind: experiencing a person directly one way, (understanding that their writings might strike various cords of responses in various readers), and the strong reactions others here have posted--(based on an emotional place, not his writings per se or his person, (they've never even met the guy!). So that was it really--my seeing these strong responses, of others and holding them up to my own reactions to Brad's articles and books and what little I know of him in person (just from sitting with him for a little under a year now and going out to lunch with 'the group'). These two are poles apart--my direct experience and their emotional response--it just had me puzzled, is all. It continues to puzzle me. Most people don't like the way something tastes, they don't heap more of it on their plate and keep putting spoonfuls in their mouth saying "God, this stuff is awful!"


HezB: I liked your comment 'in the real Sangha there are no outsiders.'
I hooted when I read your comment 'I bow down to all the strutting idiots of the past, present and future,' I almost choked on my tea and had to mop up my keyboard!.

Stephanie, Jun, and Kelly M, thank you for your levity.

KvonNJ and Skye: I very much appreciate your reminders to me of the futile and the absurd--which brings out a different vein of humor in me.

Keith, my state of mind in saying, "I agree with Skye: it's all blah blah blah, Brad Warner, blah blah" would better have been worded--it's all 'blah blah blah, blah blah, bla bitty bla bitty blah blah.' In other words, all words --this thread, all threads -- all words everywhere, just a collections of fricatives, plosives, long and short vowels, dipthongs (sp? what are they, anyway?), etc.
just the water fountain I talked about in another thread (I believe the one Will started with regard to those strange 'zennish' feelings of 'really getting it,' and then the banana peel, or the pile of feces, whichever the foot connects with first).

While I was puzzled by the strong responses others have to this quiet, mild mannered guy I sit with, I have to say, in no way was I harmed by what others were saying and posting--I just couldn't fathom the full spectrum difference, nor did I or do I feel any need to 'rush to Brad's defense' Brad doesn't need defending. All I was putting out there was my own experience, based on my own direct contact with this person--limited, I'll warrant--but valid nonetheless.
Isn't this true of so many things in life? "I loved the movie," "I hated it," "I adore .. I detest"
"The way is not difficult for those who give up all likes and dislikes, who abandon preferences" (badly misquoted here, but I don't want to get up, go find the book, get sidetracked by something else and not finish this post!!!."

It touched me very deeply to see those posting here, each in your own way, assisting me with this 'bepuzzlewilderment' of mine by your kind words, your various forms of humor (all of which I relished).

to all of you: thank you!

keishin

[Ankai]

KvonNJ and Skye: I very much appreciate your reminders to me of the futile and the absurd--which brings out a different vein of humor in me.

Glad you take it that way. I have a penchant for the futile and absurd.