tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post1151975045436585219..comments2024-03-18T16:28:06.364+07:00Comments on Buddha Space: Reflections on the Karaniya Metta Sutta #6Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-37832756934373699622008-11-21T09:22:00.000+07:002008-11-21T09:22:00.000+07:00You're welcome, Barry!Thank you,G.You're welcome, Barry!<BR/><BR/>Thank you,<BR/>G.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-30746280778893970712008-11-21T08:13:00.000+07:002008-11-21T08:13:00.000+07:00Great response!Thank you,BarryGreat response!<BR/><BR/>Thank you,<BR/>BarryBarryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09412033978642026623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-78723179876674238122008-11-20T09:16:00.000+07:002008-11-20T09:16:00.000+07:00You're welcome!If we see the Metta Sutta and the B...You're welcome!<BR/><BR/>If we see the Metta Sutta and the Bodhisattva Vows as skillful means to develop such qualities as goodwill and compassion, Barry, then their literal meaning is not actually the crucial point. It's the direction we turn our hearts to that's important, becoming more selfless and less selfish. Isn't it? <BR/><BR/>In Zen Buddhism, particularly Rinzai Zen, it's made clear that awakening is beyond the finite understanding of the logical, literal-thinking, mind; when we see the meaning of the 1700 koans of Zen, we see that the Truth is beyond the intellect (as well as everything else), and that in this very moment there is rebirth and yet no rebirth, an individual and yet no individual, etc. <BR/><BR/>As you say, Barry, why wait until we die to find out the living truth of the Buddha Dharma? It is evident right here, right now: What is the sound of one hand clapping?<BR/><BR/>Be well in the Dharma,<BR/>G.Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11820006311674418847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-595900014735598043.post-52215959245834504582008-11-20T05:30:00.000+07:002008-11-20T05:30:00.000+07:00Thanks for this series of posts, Gary.It's probabl...Thanks for this series of posts, Gary.<BR/><BR/>It's probably only in the last line that Mahayana parts from this teaching ("is not born again into this world"). In the Mahayana view, of course, the "freed" person continues to re-enter the world of suffering to help others. <BR/><BR/>Who really knows what happens when the body dies? And why wait to find out?Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09412033978642026623noreply@blogger.com