On taking off the collar

Good afternoon (or morning, or evening, as it is for you),

Perhaps I just had an insight, perhaps I just went a little further 'round the bend.

Arriving home from work, I walked in the door and petted George the Dog. As I was scratching around his ears, I removed his collar, and a thought (or perhaps intuition) struck me; the discriminating mind is like the collar-useful to put on when dealing with the outside world. It allows a certain measure of limitation/restraint (not walking in front of that bus), and helps others know something about you (such as when your last rabies shot was). When he is home, though, it is unnecessary; perhaps a little uncomfortable.

Yet George walks, eats, drinks and sleeps with the collar, only becoming aware of that place he couldn't previously scratch after the collar is off.

Metta,

Perry

Zazen = taking off one's collar
so as to run free with the ....................
and realize the ................................
yup, dat!

Many smiles while I read the story of George.
Thank you for the interesting view.
Gassho ~ Dave.

Our cat, Tin Tin, seems rather oblivious to the collar even when on.

In life, can we be free of the collar, and let it be fully off ... even when we must where the collar and it is on? (Koany logic) Do not think of these things as either/or choices.

Shuzan said, holding up a stick: "Call this a stick and you assert; call it not a stick and you negate. Now, do not assert nor negate, and what would you call it? Speak, speak!"

Gassho, J

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jundo

Shuzan said, holding up a stick: "Call this a stick and you assert; call it not a stick and you negate. Now, do not assert nor negate, and what would you call it? Speak, speak!"

Gassho, J

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Hmmm - I can already tell this one is going to gnaw at me for a while...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CraigfromAz

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jundo

Shuzan said, holding up a stick: "Call this a stick and you assert; call it not a stick and you negate. Now, do not assert nor negate, and what would you call it? Speak, speak!"

Gassho, J

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Hmmm - I can already tell this one is going to gnaw at me for a while...

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I should say we all need a good whack from the stick now and then :wink: