"...You canot leave this world nor avoid humans, even as the all
mighty perfected monk, because, as the scriptures state on a monk's
daily reflection, "My life now depends on others." Theory and
application are two different things and in this world nama and rupa
are important. What the Dhamma teaches us is to learn that even
though discimination will take place it is how we embody our
relationship to that which is apart of our Path. Being in the world
but not of it."

Yes definately, it is my understanding that wisdom and compassion
must be in balance. One without the other is ignorance.

Jeff

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, redlotustemple@... wrote:
>
> Well,the Buddha once told his closest disciple that having loving
compasions
> on the Path was one of the highest parts they can achieve. Loving
kindness
> and equinimity somewhat seem to counter each other don't they. If
you truly
> have equinimity, then you wouldn't have any feelings what so
ever? But, the
> Buddha has told us that the 4 Divine Abodes/Abidings are equal and
all lead to
> cessation of suffering. Equinimity means that favoritism,
especially when it
> comes to anger, is important!
>
> I think the problem for many outside the practice of Buddhism and
without
> direct instruction/an acarya in the scriptures and day to day
practice is that
> most forget we are all human and have flaws, and are not Arahats
and this and
> that. We should learn to love and have relationships with each
other, we have
> to or we'll never learn to deal with each other. The Sangha is
one big
> relationship, espcially if your living in the monastery.
>
> You canot leave this world nor avoid humans, even as the all
mighty perfected
> monk, because, as the scriptures state on a monk's daily
reflection, "My life
> now depends on others." Theory and application are two different
things and
> in this world nama and rupa are important. What the Dhamma
teaches us is to
> learn that even though discimination will take place it is how we
embody our
> relationship to that which is apart of our Path. Being in the
world but not of
> it.
>
> What we must use is the example of those who take the Path of the
Dhamma,
> embody qualities, love, nurture, and grow with each other, not
simply cease to
> interact. The Buddha never said we had to do that, only that it
is much easier
> to learn to let go without all these attachments. In many
scriptures, there
> are stories of householders reaching heaven and a sublime state
without giving
> up everything. Look to the AN, MN, DN its right there for us to
lead a life
> within the context of a householder and grow to become illuminated
and happy.
>
> Myself, I am married and many other lineages are as well, as all
have roles
> to play in the congreagtion, Sangha. Ours grows very well and the
members all
> embody the Dhamma in many ways and their lives are enriched for
it. Yes, it
> is different than some monk who sets away and separated from the
congregation
> but we are in American that is hard to do with our social
structure. Plus,
> what we have to look at is that many who are these seprated
individuals are
> miserable so they aren't getting it, they missing the point, ha
ha. Religion and
> practice can make one free or chained to misery and
morification. This is
> what the Buddha found on his journey when he first started out.
>
> Do you reach rapture and release or unhappiness and nihilism.
> Do you reach happiness or misery.
> Do you love the Path and feel free from it or bound by chains of
discontent
> and judgementalism.
>
> As they say, the proof is in the pudding....
>
> Virupa Arya
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>