XPost: talk.religion.buddhism, alt.zen, alt.philosophy.zen   
   XPost: alt.buddha.short.fat.guy   
   From: evelyn.ruut@gmail.com   
      
   "Julian"  wrote in message   
   news:i491b1$39u$1@news.eternal-september.org...   
   > On 15/08/2010 16:08, Tang Huyen wrote:   
   >>   
   >>   
   >> Evelyn wrote:   
   >>   
   >>> "Julian"   
   >>>   
   >>>> As for myself, I have only ever "chanted for" something once in   
   >>>> my life and far from involving anything magic/occult it was a purely   
   >>>> mundane transaction. In order to obtain a Gohonzon I had to demonstrate   
   >>>> mastery of the Gongyo ceremony.  There was nothing whatsoever magical   
   >>>> or occult in my performance of the ceremony merely the result of the   
   >>>> long   
   >>>> and painful austerity of the assiduous practice that was (for me)   
   >>>> required   
   >>>> to master it. Just bloody hard work (and sore knees.)   
   >>>   
   >>> And you make fun of tibetan buddhism?   
   >>   
   >> Julian can speak for himself, but from my side, I can see   
   >> the humour of what he says. He says that he goes through   
   >> the motion without any faith in it. Just the bare motions,   
   >> devoid of any supernatural superstructure to infuse   
   >> meaning into them. Like many Christian priests and   
   >> ministers who have lost faith. The part:<> involving anything magic/occult it was a purely mundane   
   >> transaction>>  is very poignant. Also:<> work>>.   
   >>   
   >> It is also very poignant that you miss his humour.   
   >>   
   >> Now just imagine a follower of the Tibetan religion going   
   >> though the Tantric motions day after day in such spirit ...   
   >   
   > Went through the motion, not "goes."   
   > Once I received the Gohonzon it was "game over!"  :)   
      
      
   Why did you bother?   
      
   --   
   Best Regards,   
   Evelyn   
      
   In the stony fastness of the mountains there is a strange market, where one   
   may barter the vortex of life for boundless bliss.  - Milarepa   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)