Posted by giveawayboy on February 19, 2003 at 01:42:31:
In Reply to: Re: thanks for this post Bob posted by Bob - the Alie on February 19, 2003 at 01:22:10:
: 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.
Yes, I have noticed this great strength of his. Look at him. He has lived in exile yet he has been a gracious host to people all around the world. He has chosen not to hate, and he has taught compassion.
: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.
I am blessed to have one such address on CD.
: 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. :)
No problem, at least you aren't indifferent. That is good.
: 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 growing 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.
I began to realize this as I began to receive help from some Buddhist teachings, esp. the Bhaddekaratta Sutta and also from some other Hindu books, esp. The Ramayana. I began to realize that although I do not regard them as scripture as I do the books in my own religious tradition I have to at least acknowledge that to others they are holy books. I think this humbled me. I began to realize that even with our differences we all have this stamp on us that recognizes that certain books are sacred or that certain teachings or words have the power to liberate. Ofcourse, as a Christian I have a slightly different view of what liberation means or what it consists of, or what sacredness means, but there is still some general respect thing that I had to just go with.
Well, it's really time for me to go to bed.
See ya, Bill