Hi Everyone,
We will finish Chapter 12 this time, and more questions about "everyday life" such as ...
- Meat eating. (Always a hot topic. I remind folks that the historical Buddha seemingly ate meat if placed in his bowl, and allowed his monks to do so, if they did not know that the animal was killed especially for them. Meat eating of chicken and frogs is common in Thailand, Japanese Buddhists priests generally eat meat when not in monastic settings. Meat eating, I understand, is common in Tibet as well. However, the Chinese are generally very strict vegetarians among the Ordained and many lay folks. Some Japanese priests believe that meat eating is wrong.)
- Expressing opinions about others.
- Getting lost in the small things.
- The seeming contradictions of Zen.
... and much more ...
After we complete this book, we will return for a few weeks to further Koans of Shishin Wick's commentary on the Book of Serenity, starting from where we left off (from Case 81)
After that, not sure yet, and I am considering a few possibilities. Suggestions welcome.Okumura Roshi's "Realizing Genjokoan"? Hmmm.
Gassho, Jundo
STLah