Philosophy

I found a little Zen story that I felt was funny and I should share... To me it shows a lack of understanding of both an enlightened man and a simple minded man;

Trading Dialogue For Lodging

Provided he makes and wins an argument about Buddhism with those who live there, any wandering monk can remain in a Zen temple. If he is defeated, he has to move on.

In a temple in the northern part of Japan two brother monks were dwelling together. The elder one was learned, but the younger one was stupid and had but one eye.

A wandering monk came and asked for lodging, properly challenging them to a debate about the sublime teaching. The elder brother, tired that day from much studying, told the younger one to take his place. "Go and request the dialogue in silence," he cautioned.

So the young monk and the stranger went to the shrine and sat down.

Shortly afterwards the traveler rose and went in to the elder brother and said: "Your young brother is a wonderful fellow. He defeated me."

"Relate the dialogue to me," said the elder one.

"Well," explained the traveler, "first I held up one finger, representing Buddha, the enlightened one. So he held up two fingers, signifying Buddha and his teaching. I held up three fingers, representing Buddha, his teaching, and his followers, living the harmonious life. Then he shook his clenched fist in my face, indicating that all three come from one realization. Thus he won and so I have no right to remain here." With this, the traveler left.

"Where is that fellow?" asked the younger one, running in to his elder brother.

"I understand you won the debate."

"Won nothing. I'm going to beat him up."

"Tell me the subject of the debate," asked the elder one.

"Why, the minute he saw me he held up one finger, insulting me by insinuating that I have only one eye. Since he was a stranger I thought I would be polite to him, so I held up two fingers, congratulating him that he has two eyes. Then the impolite wretch held up three fingers, suggesting that between us we only have three eyes. So I got mad and started to punch him, but he ran out and that ended it!"

I came accross a saying a few years ago, about five I think. In that time I have been unable to understand it in a way that seemed confident to me I have any number theories and possibilities...but I'm eager to accept any thoughts that anyone would have on the matter. Here is the quote that I am refering to;

"If you meet on the way a man who knows, don't speak a word- don't keep silent!"
-Zen saying

Its an open forum to beliefs, opinions, theories, and philosophy.

I usually read alot of eastern philosophy, and in turn, I post alot of it on the web here and there. A friend of mine posted a bulletin on myspace that reminded me of many things my dad would tell me growing up in the back woods of Missouri. It may not be eastern philosophy, but its good none the less and would make life a little better if more people followed it;

Subject: Old Farmer's Advice

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
* Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

Shou Shu has given me a new breath of life. Before now, I have always walked a ravors edge that simply left me feeling empty. A few years ago I started to study the art of Shen Ku. Its not a combat art by any means, just one with a base that embraces survival. Shen Ku has a few meanings;"Secret Stranger", "Dark Visitor", and "Phantom Passanger" to name a few. All these meanings have a substance that concerns being in the shadows. Below is a passage I wrote before I started to practice Shou Shu;

"How far have you traveled in this world we live in? How many things of wonder have you seen? How long have you traveled and how much have you suffered at the hands of others....or have you suffered because of your own actions. The things we do change our lives, even if we never see it. Actions are like pebbles cast into a lake. They cause a splash and send small ripples radiating all around...eventually the water becomes still again and all appears normal. However, those pebbles sank to the bottom...so what lies beneath the surface has been forever changed. It will never be as it once was...for better or worse. How many paths have you followed in your travels through this life? How many decissions have you made that have caused you to take the wrong path. More than you will probably ever realize. Theres no telling how far we could actualy be or what we could have accomplished if we didn't make mistakes. Its impossible to tell just how much pain and suffering we've caused along the way. I suppose the mistakes we have made were to teach us to change. Life is a tangled web we weave, how long can we live before we are caught in our own web. Will we find redemption for the sins we have comitted, will we be forgiven for our mistakes...or will our souls perish into darkness as our final breath is released. I've lost track of the paths that I have taken...they have led me down many dark trails. Each time I see a light ahead, something catches my eye and draws me away from the path of light....I find myself once again on a trail of darkness with a handfull of friends and only a flickering light of hope to remind me that my travels are not in vain. Everyone has a purpose, I know I do...I'm simply to blind to see what it is. I will...as we all must, continue...for it is not in me to perish or give up. Hope has kept me alive this long and will continue to do o, through the length of my life is but a drop of water no larger that the eye o a needle in the sea of time. I will struggle down these paths untill I find the one that was created for me. As I think of it...fate and destiny are not certain, perhaps I will need to leave all these beaten paths, followed by countless souls through-out time, and cut my own path through this wilderness of webs. I am my own being, I seek enlightenment not only for myself but for the good of others as well. I have free will to do what I feel is right...and no man, woman, nor beast may judge me! I am walking in shadow...the shadow that rest between light and darkness...the warrior renounces anything in his experience that is a barrier between himself and others. It is a difficult thing to accomplish, its hard to accept the sins we have committed. Even harder still it accept forgivness and renounce guilt. Strive we should, never give into dought and never nurture a dark seed planted by another...only sow and reap what what is seen to be right to yourself."

My apologies to one and all. The past couple of months have been a bit of a downer and somewhat of an obsticle that has slowed me down to a crawl on practically everything. Unfortunately that has included my training at home and my attendence at the school. I think i've got it back together again now that the hollidays are coming to an end. Holidays are a time for fun, but the pandimonium (I cant spell) that is caused by the big holidays seems to have caused me to forget the important fact that;"Every day we are alive...is a holiday to be celebrated." I think my difficulties started comeing to a close a couple of days ago when I started reading more philosophy and Chinese meditation and Zen. I came across a simple passage that made me think about myself a bit.