Zen Talking

#Post(s) in Question

Post: https://old.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/1ffo17e/what_is_conversation_the_record_of_tungshan_85/

One time the Master said, "If you would experience that which transcends even the Buddha, you must first be capable of a bit of conversation."

At times, the Master said, "Only when you comprehend the matter beyond the Buddha can you have a share in words and speech."

The master once said: "only after understanding the matter beyond Buddha, one can discourse."

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#What did we end up talking about?

Dongshan says "conversation", he doesn't say "...and conversation requires".

Public means? Not private, not in your head.

What is conversation vs debate?

Lots of people who don't want to have a conversation posting/commenting about conversation being required.

Why do people want to be in a conversation club, but not have any conversation?

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#Post(s) in Question

Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/1fbby2c/postoftheweek_podcast_gatelesss_41_free_ur_mind/

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#What did we end up talking about?

This is the first time we've done a podcast about the podcast... that's meta.

The whole thing is meta... how can you talk about getting somewhere that you already are?

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#Post(s) in Question

Link to post: https://www.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/1f3mbn5/bodhidharma_helps_everybody_out/

Link to episode: ???

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#What did we end up talking about?

Mostly the translation... but we missed questions about the verse.

Forty-one: Bodhidharma Pacifies the Mind

Bodhidharma [stood] facing the wall. The Second Patriarch stands in the snow, cuts off his arm, and says, "My mind is not at peace. I beg the master to pacify my mind." Bodhidharma says, "Bring me your mind, and I will pacify it for you." The Patriarch says, "I searched for my mind, but I cannot obtain it." Bodhidharma says, "I have pacified your mind for you."

Wumen says:

The toothless old barbarian crossed the sea, coming tens of thousands of miles. One could say he raised waves where there was no wind. In the end, he received a single disciple, and yet that disciple was missing [the complete set of] his six faculties1. Yi Xie Sanlang does not recognize four characters.

The verse says:

Coming from the West, directly pointing, The situation emerged because of a reliance on entrusted words. The noise disturbed the forest of monks (all monks everywhere), To arrive is thus.

1The six faculties are eye, ear, nose, tongue, touch, awareness. Cutting off his arm means he lacked an arm and therefore touch, but is also a joke about him not being able to "find his mind".

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#Post(s) in Question

Post: https://old.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/1fba4h5/jinniu_breaks_into_a_dance_blue_cliff_record_74/

Link to episode: ???

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#What did we end up talking about?

the Case: "Every day at the midday meal, Master Jinniu personally manned the rice bucket and standing before the Sangha Hall broke into a dance. Whooping and laughing, he would say, "Little bodhisattvas! Come and eat the rice!" (Xuedou said, "Although he acted this way, Jinniu was not good-hearted.") A monk asked Changqing, "The man of old taught, 'Little bodhisattvas! Come and eat the rice!' What did he mean?" Changqing said, "It really seems. he was extolling each meal as an occasion for joy"

What is a bodhisattva?

> They have these traits: These beings are exemplified by important spiritual qualities such as the "four divine abodes" (brahmavihāras) of loving-kindness (maitrī), compassion (karuṇā), empathetic joy (muditā) and equanimity (upekṣā),

.

> Then the bodhisattva Avaloki­teśvara addressed the Blessed One, "Blessed One, the ten stages of the bodhisattva are called (1) Utmost (or Perfect) Joy, (2) Stainless, (3) Illuminating, (4) Radiant, (5) Hard to Conquer, (6) Manifest, (7) Far-Reaching, (8) Immovable, (9) Excellent Intelligence, and (10) Cloud of Dharma. In the same chapter, the bodhisattva Avaloki­teśvara asks the Buddha why the grounds have these particular names. "Blessed One, why is the first stage called Utmost Joy? Why are the other stages up to the Buddha Stage called what they are?" ..."The first stage is called Utmost Joy because there is a supreme and immense joy in attaining the immaculate and sublime purpose, the supramundane mind.

.

> Huangbo: Even if you go through all the stages of a Bodhisattva's progress towards Buddhahood, one by one.

.

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#Post(s) in Question

Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/1f4aquf/29_xuefengs_feathers_and_wings_new_aiassisted/

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#What did we end up talking about?

Koan aka Case in plain English:

1. Xuefeng kocks on door of Teacher Wushi 2. Wushi asks who is it? 3. Xuefeng says it's a baby King of Birds, wants wisdom 4. Wushi opens the door, grabs Xuefeng, demands Xuefeng give the wisdom 5. Xuefeng chokes, Wushi slams the door in his face. 6. Xuefeng later uses this historical event (koan) to teach his own congregation, who has come to him for wisdom. 7. Xuefeng says, if I had gotten any wisdom at that time, I wouldn't be here now to teach you.

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#Post(s) in Question

Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/1ewdwyv/overthrowing_buddhas_teaching/

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# ewk translation

Master Guishan, initially joined the assembly at Baizhang [Mountain, under Master Baizhang]. Baizhang, intending to choose the master for the great [temple at] Guishan [Mountain], then invited the head seat to address the assembly, saying, "Those who are exceptional may come forward." Baizhang then picked up a Purified Bottle, placed it on the ground, and posed the question, "You must not call this a Purified Bottle1. What do you call it?" The head seat then said, "It cannot be called a block of wood." Baizhang then asked Guishan. Guishan then toppled the purified bottle and left. Baizhang laughed and said, "The first seat has lost to Guishan," and thus he named him the founder.

Wumen says,

"Guishan's moment of courage, yet he could not leap out of Baizhang's circle. Upon examination, [the yoke] is found weighty, not light." "Why is it that, deaf [unable to hear the instructions for the contest, because of the head wrap], he could free his bound head2 and lift an iron yoke [of service on Mount Guishan]?"

The verse says,

"Knocked down, the strainer3 and the wooden ladle together, with one thrust under the bright sun, nothing obstructs; Baizhang's heavy barrier could not hold [him] back, With a flick of his foot, [because he expounded the dharma, there were] Buddhas [everywhere] like hemp."

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#What did we end up talking about?

What's the water bottle.

What's the longer version.

What's the reason for Wumen shortening it.

What's the head scarf.

What the deal with a franchise.

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#Post(s) in Question

Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/1eqbs65/monday_motivation_welcome_to_reality/

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#Post(s) in Question

Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/1enf7je/dont_trust_anybody_on_whatll_get_you_there/

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#What did we end up talking about?

Translation questions and popular errors, the one coin two sides problem.

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#Post(s) in Question

Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/zen/comments/1ekmfjr/monday_motivation_no_explain/

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#What did we end up talking about?

Foyan: People who can't explain have problems... they live in a fog of darkness.

Religion in education Buddhists on the internet Practicing Catholics What motivates people? Right to question. Political/economic stability. Lack of barriers to entry.

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