Posted by Bob - the Alie on February 19, 2003 at 01:22:10:
In Reply to: thanks for this post Bob posted by giveawayboy on February 19, 2003 at 00:59:52:
OK, I don't exactly have much dialogue to add, but I do have comments. :)
: well I could list a few, but I'll just say Geshe Kelsang Gyatso (one of my favorite writers) and of course The Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh.
The Dalai Lama -- my favorite buddhist. As you mentioned, he is very flexible in working with differing cultures and traditions, while at the same time maintaining an absolute strictness when conflicts come up that actually are a direct conflict. He will make the world seem like a great place, while at the same time not sugarcoating the bad parts. I've seen him in person the last two times he has come to the states...I just happenned to live near a place he was speaking both times. The first time was to a huge crowd in a packed stadium. The message was unfortunately very simplistic to target such a large audience.
But the second time was amazing --
I showed up early... he was speaking in a small park in Portland, Oregon. It was small, and crowded, and I found a small place to sit next to this girl named Heidi. As the day went on, more people showed up. There was no room to stand, no room to sit... Heidi and I stood up, helped other people up onto the wall we were sitting on, and fit about 6 people where the two of us had been sitting. It got even more crowded, and people were packed in like sardines. In any other situation, it would have been a nightmare. But everyone just seemed comfortable, and kept making room, and i think everyone got a chance to see and hear the talks. The talks were great, but the actions of the ccrowd were just amazing... I have never seen that many people be so helpful and polite to each other.
Thich Nhat Hanh -- Let me sum up all 800 of his books and tapes in one sentence: Be Mindful. Thanks, Thich... we got that.. do you have ANYTHING else to say? :) Sorry, the guy just bugs me. :)
: Exactly, I've been reading about this American development process. I know what you mean about us picking and choosing. It's almost like we have to construct a vehicle for Dharma practice here. Hey, I'm no expert since I'm not really one of the ones contributing to this movement. Still, it will be interesting to see how it blossoms.
Noone is an expert yet. It took hundreds of years for any established religion to develop, and our local flavor of buddhism is only beginning that process. I'm amazed at how long simple personal growth can take. The mind boggles at the concept of consciously gorwing as a culture to form a new tradition.
I don't know why, but this process reminds me of my changing opinions on books. When I was a kid, I was taught to respect the Bible.. meaning treat it well, don't destroy it, don't throw it around. When I got disillusioned with catholicism, I disregarded those teachings. Then a buddhist told me to show that same respect to any spiritual book... the bible, essays on the bible, books about any spiritual tradition, books of meditations, etc, etc... At first I thought, "Whatever.. they are just books? Isn't it silly to put such importance on simple material things?"
But then, after a couple of years, I got the point -- It isn't about showing respect to the material items themselves... it is about maintaining a mindfulness of what they represent. Showing them respect is a habit that forces you be maintain mindfulness of more than just the material.
Which is why I was surprised when I was in Florida. I had given a book to jonvon to give back to Steve, after I had read it, and he simply threw it over onto a shelf and said that he would get it back to him sometime. My mind was both shocked at the action at the same time as it was laughing at myself for being so serious about it. So everything comes full circle.
Ok, I am really digressing from the point here.
What was the point again?
I suppose not much of one, as we both seem to agree on things.
So this was just a late-night, mountain-dew-inspired post.
With Love,
Bob