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Post by cabinintheforest on Jun 14, 2010 17:49:06 GMT -5
i dont smoke but i am sincerely motivated
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Post by zendancer on Jun 14, 2010 20:58:56 GMT -5
Cabin: The cigarette-man represents anyone who is strongly attached to a set of ideas or beliefs. It is not about smoking. Imagine meeting someone who thinks that drinking lots of alcohol is a very healthy activity. It doesn't matter what you say to him, he won't listen to you because he is 100% attached to his idea. How can you teach a person like that? That is what the koan is concerned with--teaching someone who is wrong, but is 100% convinced that his ideas are right. ZD
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Post by cabinintheforest on Jun 14, 2010 21:07:42 GMT -5
ok im getting it now, but that still sounds like me lol, i am strongly attached to alot of things
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Post by zendancer on Jun 14, 2010 21:12:51 GMT -5
ok im getting it now, but that still sounds like me lol, i am strongly attached to alot of things Cabin: At your age I was strongly attached to millions of ideas, so that means that there's hope for everybody. LOL |
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Post by Peter on Jun 15, 2010 0:21:22 GMT -5
Hi Daniel. You know, for a guest, you're putting an awful lot of time and energy into this forum. You might ask yourself what you're trying to achieve here? Zendancer let me clarify i have no problem with you picking and choosing from the bible. I'm glad that you clarified that, because you've really be coming over as if you did have a problem with it. This for example: Are you upholding the 10 commandments? I don't think so. You have just picked and chosen which bits you like and twisted it with some indian zen teachings. Do you believe in the genesis creation story? No. Which bit's exactly do you read? My problem is with people who put down others for reading the bible and taking all of it seriously. OK, I'm getting a feeling for where you're really coming from now. And I'm glad you said that because I was getting all geared up to list some biblical contradictions and some of the more unreasonable laws in Liviticus, which would have just been adding fuel to the fire and most unconstructive of me  You've obviously got a very strong - impressive even - scholerly understanding of the bible. I'm surprised that you would want to discuss it here in this forum, which is not going to be the most supportive place in the world for you, but on the other hand I don't think I've seen anyone put you down for reading the bible and taking it seriously. Is that what you think we do here? Most posters have other fish to fry. You seem to be labouring under the impression that you can make the world a better place (or, perhaps a place that's more to your liking, or God's liking) by criticising what other people are doing. That is not the case. You might ask yourself if you're making the best possible use of your time on the planet. Are you attempting to create, or are you attempting to destroy? Are you helping, or hindering? Rather than quoting scripture at people who are quite happy with themselves and what they're doing, you might consider joining us here in a spirit of creation. Get a proper account and inspire others by talking about your day to day experience of God and the world around you? |
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Post by Daniel on Jun 15, 2010 11:18:49 GMT -5
Peter i am not joining or posting anymore on this forum i found this forum through a google search i typed in 'Spiritual Christian Teachers' and this forum came up, i first thought this was a Christian forum but i was wrong. I have spent along time argueing with people over the bible i no longer want to do this infact when i have done this i even feel bad!! In one of the posts by a user called Zendancer he said 'The Kingdom of God is Within' argueing will not get anyone there.
& Peter i don't have a problem with the laws in Liviticus i do not think they are unreasonable. It is a set of moral laws. As a moral person i have no problem with them. I wish you luck in whatever religion you are, the same to everyone else on this forum.
I will end this but some fine words from Jesus:
John 14:6 (King James Version)
6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
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Post by klaus on Jun 15, 2010 11:24:15 GMT -5
zendancer,
shanti, shanti, shanti....
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Post by zendancer on Jun 15, 2010 16:25:40 GMT -5
Om, om, om! LOL.
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Post by Guest on Jun 15, 2010 19:20:33 GMT -5
Are you writing a sequel to your Christian book Zendancer?
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Post by zendancer on Jun 15, 2010 21:51:01 GMT -5
Guest: No, at one time I planned to write a book about Advaita and nonduality, but I no longer have any strong inclination to do that. Maybe a book about financial enlightenment. Ironically, it is similar in some ways to spiritual enlightenment (until we're ready to hear about the path and willing to do what's necessary to get free we just keep repeating the same old habits that keep us enslaved). Or, maybe I'll finally get around to finishing a children's book that I started years ago (Andrew Appleberry and the Pink Monsters--a book about the environment told from the perspective of small animals fighting against you-know-who). My wife thinks that I should write a book containing funny stories from our years of work in the construction industry, but we probably need to retire before doing that. LOL. Whatever happens next will probably be a surprise.
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Post by Guest2 on Jun 17, 2010 11:58:52 GMT -5
If you happen to get a website about your books or these books please share it. Also does the Very Center have a website?
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Post by skyblue on Jun 17, 2010 16:01:57 GMT -5
Zendancer, I think it would be great if you had a website and did your own videos. I've learned a lot from reading your two books.
Sky
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Post by karen on Jun 17, 2010 22:35:52 GMT -5
I'd like to read the financial enlightenment book if you ever write it. I'm half way there though - I stay out of debt like nobodies business.
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Post by zendancer on Jun 18, 2010 15:15:02 GMT -5
I'd like to read the financial enlightenment book if you ever write it. I'm half way there though - I stay out of debt like nobodies business. Karen: Becoming debt-free and staying debt-free is 50% of the game. Learning how to make money is 20% (raising your income). Learning how to make money make money is 20% (investing). And the other 10% includes hundreds of related issues. Skyblue: I've reserved a website address, but I haven't yet had time to think through what I would want to put on such a site. That's a project for late this year or early next year. I'm a Luddite, so I would need the help of some friends who are web designers and much more tech savvy. I can't even program a VCR! LOL |
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Post by Guest on Jun 21, 2010 11:48:49 GMT -5
does the very center have a website?
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