{"id":264,"date":"2009-10-07T18:35:00","date_gmt":"2009-10-07T18:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2009\/10\/as-an-ornament-to-ego-zen-sucks-ii-an-invitation\/"},"modified":"2009-10-07T18:35:00","modified_gmt":"2009-10-07T18:35:00","slug":"as-an-ornament-to-ego-zen-sucks-ii-an-invitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/wildfoxzen\/2009\/10\/as-an-ornament-to-ego-zen-sucks-ii-an-invitation.html","title":{"rendered":"As an Ornament to Ego, Zen Sucks II: An Invitation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Thanks to all who commented on the previous post.<\/span><\/p>\n

I like Steve\u2019s idea for a video conference and just got off Skype talking with him about it. Seems like there\u2019s a lot of energy and different perspectives surfacing so let\u2019s see what would happen to continue the conversation with some video conferencing, Saturday, 10\/17, at 11:15am CDT (UMT -5) \u2013 12:15pm.<\/p>\n

The idea is for a \u201cfish bowl conversation\u201d where everybody swims and everybody shits \u2013 and through our listening, we clear the water.<\/p>\n

Topic: An inquiry into the unmentionables in the conversation about ego and Zen.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve asked Steve, an extraordinarily skilled and experienced facilitator, to do just that. I\u2019ll show up and listen. If you\u2019re interested, send me an email (wildfoxzen@gmail.com) and I\u2019ll send you a Webex invitation. We\u2019ve got 23 more chairs (Webex has a max of 25). Video camera and headphones are essential.<\/p>\n

The main thing that I\u2019m interested in exploring on this blog is the possibility for authentic dharma<\/a> work on the internet. I don\u2019t mind a good row but I\u2019d like it to result in greater understanding and application and think that we could use some improvement in that regard. Here are some questions that seem important to me:<\/p>\n

\u2013 Am I listening\/speaking in a way that deepens the conversation?
\u2013 Am I speaking from experience \u2026 or speculating \u2026 or fortifying a previously held view \u2026 or jabbing for the sake of jabbing \u2026 or rehearsing old issues that could be dropped?
\u2013 Am I putting others in my shoes?
\u2013 Am I reporting on my own dharma investigation in the midst of actual practice?
\u2013 Am I listening\/speaking in a way that expresses letting go of self-clinging?<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s an example of much of this coming together (Genjokoan<\/span><\/span> and Heart Sutra too) from Abbot Obora\u2019s commentary on the Heart Sutra found in <\/span>The Tiger\u2019s Cave<\/span><\/span><\/a>, translated by Trevor Leggett:<\/span><\/p>\n

However distinguished a countenance I had put on, however many<\/span><\/span> <\/span> professorships I might have held, that was nothing to the teacher. I<\/span><\/span> <\/span> might feel myself a man of elevated views, but the teacher\u2019s comment<\/span><\/span> <\/span> was: \u201cIf you still don\u2019t know how to answer properly, your spiritual<\/span><\/span> <\/span> training doesn\u2019t amount to much. Do some self-examination!\u201d<\/span><\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


<\/span><\/div>\n
Sometimes I used to feel: Why doesn\u2019t the old man let up a bit, yes,<\/span><\/span> <\/span> let up a bit, just a bit, damn it! But when he died, I had that<\/span><\/span> <\/span> unutterable loneliness. Now there are many to praise, but the teacher<\/span><\/span> <\/span> who was really kind to me, who used to hide his tears of love under<\/span><\/span> <\/span> his scoldings, is dead. And I am alone.<\/span><\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
We have to face the fact of our illusions. We must realize our<\/span><\/span> <\/span> clinging attachment to the five-aggregates for what it is. In this he<\/span><\/span> <\/span> negates and negates. But when we come to realize we are nothing at<\/span><\/span> <\/span> all, then we have an experience of the sublime world of Kannon which<\/span><\/span> <\/span> embraces all in an infinite forgiveness.<\/span><\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
For the Bodhisattva the world of Emptiness and the world of form are<\/span><\/span> <\/span> not two; form is Emptiness, Emptiness is form\u2026.<\/span><\/span> <\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
In the Genjokoan book of Shobogenzo it is written: \u201cIn the feeling of<\/span><\/span> <\/span> inadequacy of body and mind the dharma is fulfilled; know also that in<\/span><\/span> <\/span> the feeling that the dharma has been fulfilled by body and mind, there<\/span><\/span> <\/span> is yet something lacking.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n
When we come to know Buddhism, to feel that<\/span><\/span> <\/span> it is well, that all is at peace, to set ourselves down in a state of<\/span><\/span> <\/span> so-called satori, means there is as yet no real understanding of<\/span><\/span> <\/span> Buddhism. If we are really receptive to Buddhism, there is always the<\/span><\/span> <\/span> feeling of not enough, not enough; limitless endeavour and striving<\/span><\/span> <\/span> continued age after age, that must be the spirit of Mahayana. There is<\/span><\/span> <\/span> no feeling of completion. Not enough and still not enough \u2013 gradually<\/span><\/span> <\/span> self is negated and the world of liberation reveals itself.<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
\"\"<\/div>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thanks to all who commented on the previous post. I like Steve\u2019s idea for a video conference and just got off Skype talking with him about it. Seems like there\u2019s a lot of energy and different perspectives surfacing so let\u2019s see what would happen to continue the conversation with some video conferencing, Saturday, 10\/17, at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nAs an Ornament to Ego, Zen Sucks II: An Invitation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Thanks to all who commented on the previous post.I like Steve's idea for a video conference and just got off Skype talking with him about it. 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