My friend Hans wrote that about my last post about "no self."
Exactly, Hans. The brain cannot comprehend very much. It is the wrong tool for the job. Our western delusion is that we can figure things out with brain power. Socrates (the epitome of Western thinking) said that it is better to be dead because then our heart (emotions) won't get in the way and we could see things clearly. I doubt that he found that to be true after he took the hemlock.
Our brain constructs lots of garbage—convenient ways for us to understand the world and for us to relieve suffering. It is not our best friend, yet we rely on it "to sort things out."
Just as I posted yesterday that everything changes I read that "Buddha Nature" is eternal and never changes. Now that hurts my brain.
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Reflections on Talks on Buddha's Lists
During a recent Appamada Intensive our students gave talks on Buddha's lists. Here are my reflections on their talks.
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Rhinoceros Fan (an infamous koan) One day Yanguan called to his attendant, "Bring me the rhinoceros fan." The attendant said, ...
5 comments:
Our western delusion --- Mr. Kim
Do people from eastern countries think that they cannot figure things out using their brains?
A western delusion is thinking there is a western delusion.
I'm sure you are right... and I'm wrong. Thanks!
You are a much older soul than I. H.
I know you don't believe in right and wrong.
Funny... makes me a perfect candidate to cook crack... if only I had been a better chemistry student.
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