Using rational thinking

[Rich]

Hey Rich,

Why did Bodhidharma come to the west?

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

Before bodhidharma came to china Buddhism had already taken root and a fusion was taking place with Taoism. Also elements of Confucianism were integrated as evidenced by the above quoted excerpt. Some say there were thousands of Buddhist temples and maybe a million Buddhists at the time of emperor Wu. But they were confused because everything was based on sutras with no great masters in China So Wu put the word out to India to send a true master.

SAT today

[Jakuden]

Hey Rich,

Why did Bodhidharma come to the west?

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

Because he had no beard.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Jishin]

Before bodhidharma came to china Buddhism had already taken root and a fusion was taking place with Taoism. Also elements of Confucianism were integrated as evidenced by the above quoted excerpt. Some say there were thousands of Buddhist temples and maybe a million Buddhists at the time of emperor Wu. But they were confused because everything was based on sutras with no great masters in China So Wu put the word out to India to send a true master.

SAT today

Thanks for the answer. You know your stuff. [emoji120]

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Jishin]

Because he had no beard.

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

I thought it was because he wanted authentic Chinese food.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Rich]

I thought it was because he wanted authentic Chinese food.

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

Yeah, he was tired of being in a curry.
-)
SAT today

[Byokan]

My question to you all : do you think using rational thinking and understanding is ultimately counterproductive to "getting it" in our guts? Should I only attempt to drop all conceptual thinking and wait for the "aha" moment to hit me in the face instead?

Hi Sim,

Interesting question. What exactly are you wanting to get in your gut, or be hit in the face by? Enlightenment? I’ll take banana cream pie if we have a choice.

I’d say rational thinking is good for understanding some things, and non-conceptual abiding is good for other things, and all those things are aspects of the same complete and whole Truth that expresses itself in everything. So go ahead and use your brain for what it’s good at, and use your heart for what it’s good at, and use your hands for what they’re good at, and sometimes do nothing at all; each in its own appropriate time and place. Think when it’s time to think, act when it’s time to act, sit when it’s time to sit. Buddhism has some great guidelines to help us develop the ability to know what’s appropriate in any situation.

The Truth is manifesting all around us, and as us, in every moment and every thing, whether we’re consciously aware of it or not. Thinking can be one way to real-ize it, and action can be a way, and non-action can be a way. But ultimately the joke is on us because when we do “get it,” maybe we realize there’s nothing to get, because it’s been here all along!

We don’t get it by moving toward it; or by sitting very still and waiting for it to come to us. It is moving as and through us. We’re so silly; we’re like raindrops searching for water. Where is it, how can I find it??? I just know it’s here somewhere.

I like to tell myself that I will never have another aha moment, and I will never be any closer to the Truth than I am right now. And then examine the resistance that comes up around that. That feeling -- “nooo, but I want a reward, I want to make progress, I want to know the secret, I want to be something different than I am today!” -- that feeling is the Self protecting the delusion of Self. This is the cause of much suffering and confusion. One antidote to that is to just live... use your brain, your heart, your body, whatever you have in this life, to do whatever is appropriate to each situation, to live as well and as gently as you can. Go toward the good, and away from the bad, and help others to do the same. Enlightenment will never be attained by anything we do or don’t do. But while you’re busy living, it might sneak up on you when you least expect it, and hit you like a pie in the face. If it does, just laugh along, and lick it up.

Gassho
Byōkan
sat today

[Jishin]

Using rational thinking

I like apple pie a la mode. It's my favorite. Specially when served on a sizzling fajita skillet in some Mexican restaurants. [emoji108]

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Joyo]

Jishin (and anyone else), here's a soup recipe...

Two sweet potatoes (washed but not pealed)
Two carrots
Half a large onion
½ cup of lentils
¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon paprika
Teaspoon of chilli pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

combine all ingredients (except spices) and add enough vegetable broth to cover the veggies and lentils. Bring to boil and cook. Puree, add spices, let it simmer for awhile.

best salad recipe...

http://veggieprimer.com/how-to-make-a-perfect-salad/

enjoy everyone =) I've been a vegetarian (more vegan) since I was 18, ahem many, many years ago. =)

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

[Rich]

Joyo, thanks. Will try it.
SAT today

[Jakuden]

Thanks Joyo! I actually make a very similar soup with Butternut Squash instead of carrots and sweet potatoes... it calls for the addition of a block of cream cheese blended in at the end though, (the whole thing pureed in a blender after cooking) so it wouldn't work for vegans. The red pepper/chili gives it an awesome bite that goes great with the veggies!

Gassho,
Jakuden
SatToday

[Jishin]

Thanks Joyo. Sounds yummy. [emoji3]

Gasho, Jishin, _/st\_

[Getchi]

Joyo, just finished the soup was very nice

As boddhidarma asked Emperor Wu " I have grown this beard for years, what merit have I attained?"

Wu replied "no beard.".

So he sat down for 9 years to let it grow.



Concepts exist in the mind, and not anywhere else. Consequently, there can be nowhere else to go. Let the dirt settle and you will see a clear pond.



Geoff
SatToday.


*all points made by me may coincidently be correct. Caveat Emptor.

[Doshin]

Jishin (and anyone else), here's a soup recipe...

Two sweet potatoes (washed but not pealed)
Two carrots
Half a large onion
½ cup of lentils
¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon paprika
Teaspoon of chilli pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

combine all ingredients (except spices) and add enough vegetable broth to cover the veggies and lentils. Bring to boil and cook. Puree, add spices, let it simmer for awhile.

best salad recipe...

http://veggieprimer.com/how-to-make-a-perfect-salad/

enjoy everyone =) I've been a vegetarian (more vegan) since I was 18, ahem many, many years ago. =)

Gassho,
Joyo
sat today

Joyo,

The soup sounds good, however where I live its mandatory for us to add green chilies!

Gassho
Doshin
Sattoday

[Jundo]

Hi Sim,

Interesting question. What exactly are you wanting to get in your gut, or be hit in the face by? Enlightenment? I’ll take banana cream pie if we have a choice.

I’d say rational thinking is good for understanding some things, and non-conceptual abiding is good for other things, and all those things are aspects of the same complete and whole Truth that expresses itself in everything. So go ahead and use your brain for what it’s good at, and use your heart for what it’s good at, and use your hands for what they’re good at, and sometimes do nothing at all; each in its own appropriate time and place. Think when it’s time to think, act when it’s time to act, sit when it’s time to sit. Buddhism has some great guidelines to help us develop the ability to know what’s appropriate in any situation.

The Truth is manifesting all around us, and as us, in every moment and every thing, whether we’re consciously aware of it or not. Thinking can be one way to real-ize it, and action can be a way, and non-action can be a way. But ultimately the joke is on us because when we do “get it,” maybe we realize there’s nothing to get, because it’s been here all along!

We don’t get it by moving toward it; or by sitting very still and waiting for it to come to us. It is moving as and through us. We’re so silly; we’re like raindrops searching for water. Where is it, how can I find it??? I just know it’s here somewhere.

I like to tell myself that I will never have another aha moment, and I will never be any closer to the Truth than I am right now. And then examine the resistance that comes up around that. That feeling -- “nooo, but I want a reward, I want to make progress, I want to know the secret, I want to be something different than I am today!” -- that feeling is the Self protecting the delusion of Self. This is the cause of much suffering and confusion. One antidote to that is to just live... use your brain, your heart, your body, whatever you have in this life, to do whatever is appropriate to each situation, to live as well and as gently as you can. Go toward the good, and away from the bad, and help others to do the same. Enlightenment will never be attained by anything we do or don’t do. But while you’re busy living, it might sneak up on you when you least expect it, and hit you like a pie in the face. If it does, just laugh along, and lick it up.

Gassho
Byōkan
sat today

Once again, Byokan says what I wish I had.

Gassho, J

SatToday

[Kyonin]

My question to you all : do you think using rational thinking and understanding is ultimately counterproductive to "getting it" in our guts? Should I only attempt to drop all conceptual thinking and wait for the "aha" moment to hit me in the face instead?

Hi Sim,

Rational thinking is fine. It's very useful to understand things and to get along with things that surround us in this universe. But at the same time, the more you sit and practice, you'll find that thinking drops quite often to just marvel with what Is.

So, just live, sit everyday and forget about it all.

If the aha moment comes, that's fine. If it never comes, that's even better.

Gassho,

Kyonin
#SatToday