In a discussion with u/owlsdoom the other day, we were talking about the general topic of Zen and helping others, and then similar things came up a couple more times and that made me think an OP might be good. Apologies if this is a dead horse here. :)
One exchange that stays with me:
Owls: All ideas of helping others stem from deluded views.
Me: But many actions that do help others do not.
Owls: Muddy waters clear fastest when left alone.
Me: Yet the Zen masters keep on teaching. 😁
If muddy waters clear fastest when left alone, why do the masters teach, why do wise people record their sayings, write and distribute commentary about them, and generally not leave the waters alone?
Owls also brought up this story:
Passing by the main hall, Joshu saw a monk worshipping. Joshu hit him once with his stick.
The monk said, "After all, worshipping is a good thing."
Joshu said, "A good thing isn't as good as nothing."
and I wonder to myself what would happen if a meta-Joshu were to come up behind Joshu here and hit him with his stick. After all, remonstrating monks may be a good thing, but a good thing isn't as good as nothing.
Is it just that Joshu's blow with the stick was nothing? How did it get to be that way?
Submitted September 08, 2021 at 07:54PM by ceoln https://ift.tt/3DV6Ajw
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