Joyce/devotion

[Guest guest]

>>Buddhism doesnt say there is a self, doesnt say

>>there isnt, it addresses the truth of suffering, how it arises and how

>>sentient beings can become free.

>

> That's one of the flaws of Advaita Vedanta as I see it, in that it makes

> " seekers " out of many people. Seeking for moksha in a nonexistent future

> will only create misery and disillusionment. Buddhism neatly avoids this

> (at least, " nonreligious " forms of Buddhism like Zen and others).

>

> Of course, human nature being what it is, there will always be those who

> mainly see Buddhism as a matter of worshipping the Buddha. I suppose in

> the extreme long term that may be of some value (it would be similar to

> Bhakti in Hinduism) but otherwise it's the " lowest " teaching as far as I

> see it. I believe the Buddha would be astonished at anyone attempting to

> worship him, and would take swift measures to correct that foolishness.

>

 

Hi Ho O Noble One - thanks for your message-

>

I was a " seeker " for many, many years until one day a thought arose that

pointed out that mind was so busy seeking that mind wasn't finding. This

caused a shift in my practice and mind became a " finder " which then caused

bewilderment and confusion in what mind found - which then........

 

In the beginning one tends to practice Buddhism because one wants to be

happy and the teaching does bring the happiness of a meaningful life and

then the happiness beyond all happiness. And I also notice that all

sentient being has a drive to find complete realization of Being both

collectively and individually. This is the same irresistible urge as a seed

to grow, a sunflower to follow the direction of the sun, birds to follow

migration patterns. We just can't help it and our path follows all sorts of

interesting terrain.

 

Zen Master Hui Hai was asked, " What is meant by 'being never apart from the

Buddha?'

 

To which he replied, " Having a mind freed from the going and coming of

concepts, its stillness unaffected by environmental forms so that it remains

eternally void and motionless - this is being never apart from the Buddha.

 

And this can start with adoring the external form, and is interestingly very

similar from the Christian Practice of the Presence of God. Love in all its

forms is the best motivator Ive ever found. I understand what Hui Hai means

intellectually but the experience is different when I put my head in the

Buddhas lap.

 

Those who worship the Buddha or God or Guru have a greater gift for devotion

than I and capacity for devotion is indespensible for living, much less

practice otherwise ones practice is dry and one's soul shrivelled and

miserable. (speaking from experience here) I have heard the greatest

Dzogchen masters say that devotion is the real and only practice. The yogi

is not O Ho Hum about great Perfection. Devotion is the highest teaching

although the expression of peoples devotion may look strange to an on looker

- I mean, chewing your lovers toes can be pretty wonderful for you but an

onlooker may find your expression odd and perhaps trivial.

 

Devotion itself is a practice and cultivation of devotion is in all Buddhist

practice and I havent met many practicing Hinduism but the lives of those I

have met seem competely informed by devotion the same as the Thais, Burmese,

Tibetans etc. They seem to drink in devotion with their mothers milk - and

I as a a western practitoner had to be taught as with my mothers milk I had

hell fire and damnation. But thats just my experience.

 

I found misery and disillusionment also good motivators but the best is

love.

 

Thats an important topic for me, devotion, what it is and means - maybe

someone else has some thoughts. Joyce