Unity in Diversity

[Guest guest]

Dearest Beautiful and wonderful friends,

 

I will be leaving town for a few weeks and be back for the start of the

Fall semester. Thank you all for many gifts and welcome to the new members.

I am glad Cee that you enjoy some of my internet writings. I don't advertise

them much and they are just internet posts put together in no particular

order I think by Jerry (Katz). He has generously done that with many people

and provided space.

 

Harsha rhymes nicely with inertia! But in the Fall, I will organize the

Goddess poetry and some other writings so that they are more accessible.

 

During the last retreat (pictures are in the file section),

I had a chance to speak to Victor about the Buddhist philosophy of Dzogchen.

We had some wonderful conversations and laughed a lot. Victor read some

beautiful and powerful quotes to the retreat group from many of the books

and Dzogchen teachers he has been associated with.

 

Great sages in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, have preached

nonviolence, tolerance, and compassion as the way to peace. My teacher once

told me that from the first principle of Ahimsa (nonviolence) in Jainism

follows the second one called Anekantvad (Relativity in thinking - the

theory that multiple conflicting views are simultaneously true from

different perspectives.).

 

Well, during the mantra discussion, I reflected on that and decided to send

to the list the following post from the Dzogchen list from Sean. Sean gives

a beautiful quote from the Dzogchen master, Nyoshul Kenpo Rinpoche. Our own

resident master and friend Jerrysan Rinpoche would agree with this I believe

as would the wise and scholarly Victor (who is our Dzogchen expert and whose

knowledge is wide and varied on Buddhism)....Love to All...Harsha.

>From Sean:

 

Hi all,

 

I know that my practice is inadequate. I struggle everyday trying to take

another step on the path. Before I leave this group, I felt moved to share

something written by wonderful late Dzogchen master, Nyoshul Khenpo

Rinpoche.

 

In talking about developing the right attitude toward Buddhadharma he

writes:

 

"We may consider ourselves Buddhists. In a way that is good, because the

Buddhist teachings are extremely vast and blessed. However, we should not

have a limited and narrow view regarding that. What does it mean to think

of ourselves as Buddhists? Is it merely another way for our egotism to help

us feel superior to other people elsewhere in the world? Are we really

Buddhists, bodhisattvas, spiritual practitioners -- or perhaps just

following our ancestors, without more than a superficial resemblance to true

followers of omniscient Buddha? We should have a very open mind, and

consider -- know, even -- all the other different Dharmas, the different

religions would also be quite limited, because there is not only this world

but billions of other universes. For each of these world systems, out of

the compassion of the Buddha, there are liberating teachings.

 

Similarly, as the number of beings is infinite, so also are the methods to

bring sentient beings to the ultimate goal. All these teachings assist in

realizing the absolute truth, the natural state of all phenomena, ultimate

knowledge. But since different beings have different capacities,

inclinations, and aspirations, there are different means to lead them to

ultimate understanding. Therefore, do not have such a narrow point of view

as to consider only your own religion, or even only your universe, but try

to be very open and realize there are infinitely various beings, countless

different approaches and teachings leading to the ultimate goal. We should

have a very vast and spacious attitude and be open to all forms of the

truth, all the different paths that can bring beings to the ultimate

understanding."

 

Thank you for the many enlightening conversations.

 

Metta,

sean

[Guest guest]

"Harsha (Dr. Harsh K. Luthar)" wrote:

>

> Dearest Beautiful and wonderful friends,

>

> I will be leaving town for a few weeks

 

[snip]

 

So long, Harsha. The website with your writings is at

http://www.nonduality.com/harsha.htm

 

Send us a post card!

 

Jerry K.

 

 

We are the Nonduality Generation.

http://www.nonduality.com