Who is your master? Who makes you suffer the torment of the world? Who has imprisoned you with their thoughts or words? Who is Mara and why does he sit under the Bodhi Tree?
Thank you for your advice. I used the term "me" because I don't like to write sentences saying "not-me", "my ego", or any other term you can think of. It's just so tiring.
And, better than "looking" at me as an illusion, is "seeing" it. Pablo doesn't exist as a constant. The Pablo that started writing this comment is already gone. Sometimes I forget it, but there's always the sensation that "I" am changing every day, that I don't know myself, that I don't know what Pablo is, or what he's supposed to be.
Just like the seed becomes a tree and doesn't remember how it was born...
Who is Mara and why does he sit under the Bodhi Tree?
Miles,
Good question.
Mara sits under the bodhi tree so that we may meet our self, so that we may meet a master, and so that he may be fully realised and liberated.
What does a buddha sitting under the tree realise without Mara?
What a pity that people equate him with 'the Ego' or whatever and think of him as inferior, unreal, or impure. He's a function of ourselves, of reality, and 'he' is not inherently harmful, inferior, impure until we render him thus. This is exactly how Buddhism has become adopted as a subtle, and not-so-subtle, form of self loathing here in the West.
"I" thought "you" thought that. (Ok, I'll quit the annoying quote marks now.)
Yes, you're not the you that posted your original message. The universe flows into Pablo and Pablo flows into the universe, universe and Pablo exchanging parts constantly.
So don't be so hard on yourself!
May I therefore rephrase your answers? (Hey, they're not your answers any more, so I can do what I like!)
a) Who is your master? There is nobody to master. I am constantly changing, so masters are constantly coming into and out of existence.
b) Who makes you suffer the torment of the world? The universe sometimes expresses itself as suffering.
c) Who has imprisoned you with their thoughts or words? Illusions are part of the fabric of the universe.
d) Who is Mara? See (c).
See? Not your fault! And if it was your fault, it isn't any more!
OK, I'm having fun, but this is a serious point, and perhaps illustrates the difference between Indian and Chinese ontology.
See? The quote marks get annoying (I get irritated when people in my meditation group start talking about "my ego" or "your ego"...)
"The universe flows into Pablo and Pablo flows into the universe, universe and Pablo exchanging parts constantly." That may seem quite weird if you read it out of context. I mean, exchanging parts with the universe sounds pretty disgusting. Just my opinion.
Past Pablo has just told me that he's ok with you rephrasing his words. They seem more like "your" answers, though :P
I don't know about the difference between Indian and Chinese ontology (last time I tried to understand Zen ontology it gave me headaches). I just feel my body and something that seems like my mind, and I'm just typing this. I hope it is good enough for enlightenment.
And, for the record, I'm not hard on myself, not anymore: I used to be before I meditated, then I decided it was silly to suffer twice (first for feeling anger, sadness or whatever, and second for feeling guilty for feeling bad in the first time...what's the point?).
Harry, about your last paragraph, a guy came to our meditation group last month, and he said he wanted to meditate to "get rid of himself". I just laughed and thought: "Well, good luck with that, man!".
PABLO: "exchanging parts with the universe sounds pretty disgusting."
Often on this blog I'm sure I write complete nonsense - and sometimes I read stuff that seems pretty odd! - but the process can be really, really helpful. People write stuff that clarifies issues.
Such as this business of exchanging parts with the universe. We can't avoid the truth of it. As a result of our typed conversation, Pablo is now infected with Michael and Michael with Pablo. His thoughts have got into my head and (Sorry, Pablo!) vice versa.
So here's today's moment of clarity:-
It is when we have become content with the notion of exchanging parts with the universe that we have lost our attachment to self.
(I'm not claiming I'm always in that state: come at me with an axe and I'll want to keep the blood inside my skin and the axe outside.)
The Dojin Roku, translated into English as The Wayfarers Record, is a collection of thoughts, observations and shared teachings as presented by the Dojin, or Wayfarers, of the Boundless Mind Zen School. The purpose of this journal is to connect like minded individuals who understand their Zen practice to be a continuing journey beyond standardized Zen practices and independent of sectarian differences.
a) Who is your master?
ReplyDeleteDukkha, suffering.
b) Who makes you suffer the torment of the world?
Nobody but me.
c) Who has imprisoned you with their thoughts or words?
Myself.
d) Who is Mara?
He is a part of me, and so he accompanies me wherever I go.
Hi Miles,
ReplyDeleteSometimes, unknown to myself maybe, I wish I had a Master to blame it all on.
Regards,
Harry.
Hi Pablo,
ReplyDeletehave you tried looking at yourself as an illusion?
I find that helps.
Michael
Hi Michael
ReplyDeleteThank you for your advice. I used the term "me" because I don't like to write sentences saying "not-me", "my ego", or any other term you can think of. It's just so tiring.
And, better than "looking" at me as an illusion, is "seeing" it. Pablo doesn't exist as a constant. The Pablo that started writing this comment is already gone. Sometimes I forget it, but there's always the sensation that "I" am changing every day, that I don't know myself, that I don't know what Pablo is, or what he's supposed to be.
Just like the seed becomes a tree and doesn't remember how it was born...
Who is Mara and why does he sit under the Bodhi Tree?
ReplyDeleteMiles,
Good question.
Mara sits under the bodhi tree so that we may meet our self, so that we may meet a master, and so that he may be fully realised and liberated.
What does a buddha sitting under the tree realise without Mara?
What a pity that people equate him with 'the Ego' or whatever and think of him as inferior, unreal, or impure. He's a function of ourselves, of reality, and 'he' is not inherently harmful, inferior, impure until we render him thus. This is exactly how Buddhism has become adopted as a subtle, and not-so-subtle, form of self loathing here in the West.
Regards,
Harry.
Hi Pablo,
ReplyDelete"I" thought "you" thought that. (Ok, I'll quit the annoying quote marks now.)
Yes, you're not the you that posted your original message. The universe flows into Pablo and Pablo flows into the universe, universe and Pablo exchanging parts constantly.
So don't be so hard on yourself!
May I therefore rephrase your answers? (Hey, they're not your answers any more, so I can do what I like!)
a) Who is your master?
There is nobody to master. I am constantly changing, so masters are constantly coming into and out of existence.
b) Who makes you suffer the torment of the world?
The universe sometimes expresses itself as suffering.
c) Who has imprisoned you with their thoughts or words?
Illusions are part of the fabric of the universe.
d) Who is Mara?
See (c).
See? Not your fault! And if it was your fault, it isn't any more!
OK, I'm having fun, but this is a serious point, and perhaps illustrates the difference between Indian and Chinese ontology.
Hi Michael
ReplyDeleteSee? The quote marks get annoying (I get irritated when people in my meditation group start talking about "my ego" or "your ego"...)
"The universe flows into Pablo and Pablo flows into the universe, universe and Pablo exchanging parts constantly."
That may seem quite weird if you read it out of context. I mean, exchanging parts with the universe sounds pretty disgusting. Just my opinion.
Past Pablo has just told me that he's ok with you rephrasing his words. They seem more like "your" answers, though :P
I don't know about the difference between Indian and Chinese ontology (last time I tried to understand Zen ontology it gave me headaches). I just feel my body and something that seems like my mind, and I'm just typing this. I hope it is good enough for enlightenment.
And, for the record, I'm not hard on myself, not anymore: I used to be before I meditated, then I decided it was silly to suffer twice (first for feeling anger, sadness or whatever, and second for feeling guilty for feeling bad in the first time...what's the point?).
Harry, about your last paragraph, a guy came to our meditation group last month, and he said he wanted to meditate to "get rid of himself". I just laughed and thought: "Well, good luck with that, man!".
I don't know who I am... how would I know who is my master?
ReplyDeletePABLO: "exchanging parts with the universe sounds pretty disgusting."
ReplyDeleteOften on this blog I'm sure I write complete nonsense - and sometimes I read stuff that seems pretty odd! - but the process can be really, really helpful. People write stuff that clarifies issues.
Such as this business of exchanging parts with the universe. We can't avoid the truth of it. As a result of our typed conversation, Pablo is now infected with Michael and Michael with Pablo. His thoughts have got into my head and (Sorry, Pablo!) vice versa.
So here's today's moment of clarity:-
It is when we have become content with the notion of exchanging parts with the universe that we have lost our attachment to self.
(I'm not claiming I'm always in that state: come at me with an axe and I'll want to keep the blood inside my skin and the axe outside.)
When you realise that death in all its forms is just fine, then you can be happy. Sort of.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, I'm ok with not having an axe in my head, thank you.
PS: I'm starting to talk zen-like. It scares me :)