XPost: talk.religion.buddhism, alt.zen, alt.philosophy.zen   
   XPost: alt.buddha.short.fat.guy   
   From: oxtail@nowhere.org   
      
   Evelyn wrote:   
      
   > "Evelyn"  wrote in message   
   >> "Julian"  wrote in message   
   >>> 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:<>.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> 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!"  :)   
   >>   
   >>   
   >> Ah then you had possession of the  "preccciooussssss........."   
   >   
   >   
   > Am I the only one who thinks it is pretty weird to FAKE a practice meant   
   > to be taken sincerely, in order to GET an object?   
      
      
   It's never weird for human beings   
   to pray to the unknown god   
   in whatever mode and for whatever purpose.   
   That's just one way of   
   being humble spirituality.   
      
   --   
   Oxtail is not doing what he thinks he is doing here.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)