CycleBanter.com - View Single Post - I don't understand

**Tom Keats**

In article ,
writes:
On Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:57:54 -0700, (Tom Keats)
wrote:

In article ,
writes:

Koans are not quite the same as aphorisms . . .

Actually, they are.

Old saws 'n chestnuts are not the same as koans.

Well, they are, too. After all, it's not about
the nail -- it's about the hammer. Or the hand
that swings the hammer. Or the mind that decides
to swing the hammer. Or the superlative being that
decides that an hammer should be swung. Or the
Parvardegar that says: "Yeah, sure. Swing the hammer
if ya wanna. I dreamt that it would happen, anyway. And
what are dreams to me, are reality to you, and what you
believe to be real is mere, ethereal daydreaming to me:
I daydreamed you up. Knock yerselves out. Try not to
hurt each other, but rather try to help each other, and
co-exist in mutual love and respect. You're going to do
that anyways, 'cuz that's how I invented you in my daydreams.
So feel good, and don't hurt anybody. Love your fellows."

The Almighty might even be able to put up with you on a
personal level, if you don't bug him too much. Just remember,
he's already got a lot on his plate, what with making the
entire universe work, and we're not particularly special.

Well, we all are special, but we're not allowed to wield
it against each other. By helping each other, we're
helping the Cosmic Him/Her/It.

Screw koans. Screw aphorisms. Screw ego. Screw my ego.
Screw your ego. Screw everybody's ego.

cheers,
Tom

Dear Tom,

A Zen student asked his master whether koans were aphorisms.

The master told him to shoplift the second volume of the condensed
Oxford English Dictionary from WalMart.

Everbody knows the /Cambridge/ Dictionary is the
one, true lexicon. In fact, Cambridge is the one,
true seat of learning.

Well, that, and the place where the Teletubbies hang
around in.

And Pender Harbour (... mmm ... clam chowder & a puffy bannock.)

And a certain spot northeast of Mission BC, up Sylvester Road,
adjacent to Cascade (McConnell) Creek.

The Parvardargar, like you & me, doesn't like stupid useless
razmatazz. He/She/It especially doesn't like beings
subjecting other beings to razmatazz. And that's what's fscking
this whole world up -- people subjecting other people to
razmatazz. And then responding with counter-razmatazz.
The whole world is filled up and replete with razmatazz.
What a bunch of idiots we are. "What fools these mortals be."

Go steal a library book, indeed! A /reference/ book, at that.
Y'know what? Imo Philips once discussed that very topic, and
he handled it much more adroitly than any Zen Bhuddist. Of
course the Parvardargar would be unhappy with his approach, too.

Why are we so self-destructive?
Why should we /be/ so self-destructive?

Oh, well. It'll all come out in t' wash.

It always does.

That Zen master needs his handlebar-mounted mirror
knocked out of adjustment.

cheers,
Tom

--
I'm really at
You're nice people. I'm glad you're here.

cheers,
Tom

--
Nothing is safe from me.
I'm really at:
tkeats curlicue vcn dot bc dot ca