Moment of Zen

[Xue Sheng]

This is likely just me but....

I went for a walk at lunch time today and just before I rounded the corner I hear this "Damn it Zen come on" I then notice a guy walking a pit bull who was not moving and the guy trying to walk the pit bull then said... "Damn it Zen LETS GO!" to which the Pit bull...named Zen.... got up and moved.

For some reason this whole concept has befuddled me today.

Swearing at a pit bull…. named Zen… that refused to move….

 

[CoryKS]

"Bad dogma!"

 

[Xue Sheng]

"Bad dogma!"

:lol:

To be honest I am not sure if that makes my befuddlement better or worse :uhyeah:

 

[CoryKS]

:lol:

To be honest I am not sure if that makes my befuddlement better or worse :uhyeah:

I suppose you could look at it as a metaphor for the tendency among Western people to attempt to compel Eastern philosophies to lead them where they (the people) want to go. Or something. Though I've never heard of Buddhism tearing someone's arm off.

 

[JadecloudAlchemist]

If he wanted Zen to move he should have not held on to it in the first place

 

[Xue Sheng]

Though I've never heard of Buddhism tearing someone's arm off.

ahhh but that's the thing...it was a PITBULL named ZEN.... :erg:

If he wanted Zen to move he should have not held on to it in the first place

That is a good point but my guess is if he had not held onto Zen so tightly Zen might have done what CoryKS said

Tore my arm off..... which is a WHOLE other Philosophical conundrum that I just can't get my brain around :uhyeah:

 

[CoryKS]

Could be an interesting new ad campaign. "Zen: It'll blow your mind or maybe just rip your arm off"

 

[Xue Sheng]

Let me tell you NOTHING like this was covered in any books I have read by D. T. Suzuki or Shunryu Suzuki and this WHOLE concept is giving me a VERY different perspective on places like Zen Mountain Monastery.

Where I once visualized peaceful monks sitting in Zazen meditating I now see immovable pit bulls :uhoh: waiting to tear peoples arms off. :anic:

A pitbull....named Zen... that refused to move..... :erg:

I think it might be best if I just go with your first suggestion...

Bad Dogma :uhyeah:

 

[shesulsa]

I guess Zen was waiting for the right moment ....

 

[Xue Sheng]

After this incident

Studying Zen, learning the way, is originally for the sake of birth and death, no other thing.

Chien-ju

Is now forever burned in my mind as

Seeing Zen, standing in the way, is originally for the sake of ripping of arms, no other thing

 

[Archangel M]

I was bitten by Zen once.

 

[CoryKS]

I was bitten by Zen once.

Yeah, but that was Zen; this is Tao.

 

[morph4me]

Where I once visualized peaceful monks sitting in Zazen meditating I now see immovable pit bulls :uhoh: waiting to tear peoples arms off. :anic:[/quote]

Isn't that where the koan about the sound of one hand clapping comes from?

 

[Xue Sheng]

Isn't that where the koan about the sound of one hand clapping comes from?

You know...you could be on to something here

 

[Carol]

I need to stop reading Xue's posts while doing my take-home midterm....

 

[MA-Caver]

Yeah, but that was Zen; this is Tao.

:lol:

The guy was definitely trying to be funny naming his dog Zen. Probably hoping that it'll calm the beast down.

That is a deep concept that you're trying to wrap your mind around there Xue. A new one admittedly but deep.

Relax and let it flow like water or a gentle breeze. It'll come to you.

 

[shesulsa]

I need to stop reading Xue's posts while doing my take-home midterm....

Have a beer, it helps ... :drinkbeer

 

[Xue Sheng]

But it was a PITBULL.... named ZEN... that REFUSED to move....... but did move eventually only after being PULLED by the LEASH that ZEN WAS ON.

..OK relax.... calm down..... I can get through this.... breath..... breath some more
:yinyang:

A pitbull named Zen that would not move.... that was on a leash.... and then pulled and then after force was used.... zen moved..... NOPE it just ain't working :erg: :hb:

 

[shesulsa]

But it was a PITBULL.... named ZEN... that REFUSED to move....... but did move eventually only after being PULLED by the LEASH that ZEN WAS ON.

..OK relax.... calm down..... I can get through this.... breath..... breath some more
:yinyang:

A pitbull named Zen that would not move.... that was on a leash.... and then pulled and then after force was used.... zen moved..... NOPE it just ain't working :erg: :hb:

I get it. The owner's name must have been Ray Key.

 

[Archangel M]

"Does a dog have Buddha-nature or not?