To: K-list
Recieved: 2002/11/01 22:40
Subject: [K-list] Story 2 True
From: Edjason
On 2002/11/01 22:40, Edjason posted thus to the K-list:
>More stories, please!
:-)
The Octopus was sitting in the 'Very Full Lotus'
which as you can imagine with 8 limbs is very impressive.
Lobster was leaning forward attentively perched
on a rather interesting rock and waiting patiently
for some helpful advice.
"Make errors," advised the Octopus as if he had
sold one of his tentacles.
"WHAT?" The Lobster slid off the rock, his claws clicked
and he landed on his back, many legs were twitching
and a strange gurgling noise mixed with bubbles
was frothing from his mouth. He was also turning red again.
"Make errors!" repeated the Octopus with great certainty.
"But . . . but . . . " spluttered the Lobster.
The Octopus leaned forward.
"How else will you be corrected? And is it not
in righting that all is made right?"
The Lobster righted himself, his eyes bulged
as he stroked his whiskers
and he said, "You mean we should
make mistakes DELIBERATELY?"
"Oh no!" said the Octopus laughing, "that comes naturally
We just have to admit our mistakes . . . "
"But then we would look a fool . . . " said the Lobster
looking around to ensure no stray fish had seen the fall.
"Did you just fall off that rock?" asked the Octopus fixing a very
large and unblinking eye on Lobster.
"Well . . . " said Lobster crossing his claws and swishing
his tail from side to side whilst thinking of an explanation.
Lobster realised that he did not like to
admit that he had fallen.
"I fell off the rock!" admitted the Lobster forlornly
his tail flopped sadly. A rather silly fish
giggled as it swam past but Lobster did not
care.
"Thank you," said the Octupus beaming as if receiving
all the treasures of Atlantis.
"You want my mistake . . . ?" asked the Lobster incredulously.
"What was my initial advice," enquired the Octopus
Lobster thought hard. What was it again.
"Give up giving," remembered Lobster straining his little mind
to remember.
"Well now I advise . . .," began the Octopus,
"Take what is not given."
"STEALING?" shouted the Lobster flicking his body into motion
and waving his claws in consternation. He was turning a familiar
shade of pinky red . . .
The Octopus smiled.
"Few will give up their burdens easily.
This is why we find skillful means
to remove their attachments.
Just as we deal with our own
and learn about the nature of suffering.
The reason we have to steal others karma
is because we can own it
even though others may still be playing with it."
Lobster though for a while and then smiling asked,
"We have to steal their bad karma before
it comes our way . . . ? So I guess it is in our best interests?"
"Yes indeed." The Octopus assured Lobster and continued,
"Perhaps you have heard of the
'Eight Verses on Thought Transformation'?"
"I don't think so . . ." said Lobster thinking hard
with what little brain was available.
"I can also recite the commentary by the Dalai Lama . . ."
offered the Octopus.
"What is the Dalai Lama - is it a kind of squid?"
enquired the Lobster stroking his whiskers wisely
as if he knew of such things.
"Well it is a sort of squid that does not live in water . . ."
explained the Octopus.
Lobster laughed.
"Does not live in water! We have legends of such creatures
but they are just stories told by mermaids."
Lobster laughed some more and finally asked,
"What are the 8 verses?"
And the Octopus recited . . .
~ ~ ~
Eight Verses on Thought Transformation
(i)
With a determination to accomplish
the highest welfare for all sentient beings,
Who surpass even a wish-granting jewel,
I will learn to hold them supremely dear.
legendary squid commentary:
One is requesting May I be able to view them as a precious jewel because
they are the object on whose account I can achieve omniscience; so, may I
be able to hold them dear.
(ii)
Whenever I associate with others,
I will learn to think of myself as the lowest among all,
And respectfully hold others as being supreme,
From the depth of my heart.
commentary Dalai Lama: "Respectfully hold others as being supreme" means
not regarding them as some object of pity that you look down on, but rather
taking them as higher objects. Take, for example, insects They are
inferior to ourselves because they do not know the proper things to adopt
and discard - whereas we do know because we see the destructive nature of
the defilements. Such is the case, but we can look at the facts from
another viewpoint as well. Although we are aware of the destructive nature
of the defilements, we nevertheless let ourselves be under their influence,
and in that sense we are inferior to insects.
(iii)
In all actions, I will learn to search into my own mind,
And as soon as an afflictive emotion arises,
Endangering myself and others, I will firmly face and avert it.
commentary: When one is engaged in a practice of this kind, the only thing
which causes obstacles is the defilements within one's own mental
continuum; on the other hand, spirits and so forth do not cause any
obstacles. So, you should not have an attitude of idleness and passivity
towards the inner enemy; but rather, you should be alert and forthcoming,
countering the defilements immediately.
(iv)
I will cherish beings of bad nature,
And those oppressed by strong negativities and sufferings,
As if I had found a precious treasure
Very difficult to find.
commentary: These lines emphasise the transformation of those thoughts
focused on sentient beings who have very strong negativities; generally
speaking, it is more difficult to have compassion towards persons afflicted
by sufferings and so forth, when they have a very bad nature and
personality. Actually, such people should be regarded as the most supreme
objects of one's compassion. Your attitude, when you encounter such
persons, should be as though you had found a treasure.
(v)
When others, out of jealousy,
treat me badly With abuse, slander and so on,
I will learn to take all loss
And offer the victory to them.
commentary: Generally speaking, if others have done you wrong without any
justification, it is - in worldly terms - lawful to retaliate; but the
practitioner of thought transformation techniques should always give the
victory to others.
(vi)
When one whom I have benefited with great hope
Unreasonably hurts me very badly,
I will learn to view that person
As an excellent spiritual guide.
commentary: Then, regarding sentient beings for whom you have done a lot,
normally you expect them to repay your kindness and thus you place hope in
them. But instead, you should think If such a person harms me instead of
repaying my kindness, may I not retaliate against him, but rather reflect
upon his kindness and be able to see him as a special guide.
(vii)
In short, I will learn to offer to everyone without exception
All help and happiness directly and indirectly,
And secretly take upon myself
All the harms and suffering of my mothers.
commentary: It says, "In short, may I be able to offer all the good
qualities that I have to all the sentient beings," - this is the practice
of giving - and, "May I be able secretly to take all their harms and
sufferings of this and future lifetimes." This refers to the process of
inhalation and exhalation.
Up to here, the verses have dealt with the practice of the conventional
bodhicitta. The techniques for cultivating the conventional bodhicitta
should not be influenced by attitudes such as If I undertake the practice
of giving and taking I will have better health, and so forth, which would
indicate the influence of worldly considerations. You should not have the
attitude If I do such a practice people will respect me and regard me as a
good practitioner. In short, your practice of these techniques should not
be influenced by any worldly motives.
(viii)
I will learn to keep all these practices Undefiled
by the stains of the eight worldly conceptions,
And, by understanding all phenomena to be like illusions,
I will be released from the bondage of attachment.
commentary These lines speak about the practice of ultimate
bodhicitta. When we talk of the antidotes to the eight worldly attitudes,
there are many levels. The actual antidote for overcoming the influence of
such worldly attitudes is to understand the non-inherent nature of
phenomena. All phenomena are not inherently existent
- they are like illusions. Although they appear as truly existent they
have no reality. "Having understood their relative nature, may I be freed
from the binding knot of the self-grasping attitude."
~ ~ ~
"Wise sort of squid,"
said Lobster remembering it was time to
Fin ish
===========
Send blank e-mails to these addresses or
go to Yahoogroups Home to join directly
nasrudin-subscribeATnospamyahoogroups.com
Dervish humour with and without
explanation
Chistiya-subscribeATnospamyahoogroups.com
Forum for the development
of the Divine Jesters ('Chistiya')
and story tellers of Islamic Mysticism
insightpractice-subscribeATnospamyahoogroups.com
Open forum for developing Buddhist understanding
and insightful practice
panhala-subscribeATnospamyahoogroups.com
Spiritual poem each day in HTML format
with sound and pic . . .
=================
http://www.kundalini-gateway.org
http://www.domin8rex.com/serpent/spirit/kindex.htm
DISCLAIMER!
Home | Archive Index | Search the archives | Subscribe
K. List FAQ | Kundalini FAQs | Signs and Symptoms | Awakening Experiences | K. list Polls | Member Essays | Meditations | List Topics | Art Gallery | Cybrary | Sitemap | Email the moderators.
symbol.