From: "Li V.Trahn" <lvtrahn-AT-ibm.net>
Date: Tue, 31 Mar 1998 23:07:54 +0000
Subject: M-TH: (Fwd) [Fwd: Zen and anarchism]


------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
Date:          Tue, 31 Mar 1998 22:56:07 -0800
From:       reply-AT-reply.com
To:            Alexis Buss <alexis-AT-netaxs.com>
Cc:            "Ms.Li Trahn" <lvtrahn-AT-ibm.net>
Subject:       [Fwd: Zen and anarchism]

This is an interesting combination, Zen and anarchism.Zen and 
Marxism?Mmmmmmm,possibly not.

Holden, John wrote:

> Well first there's only one type of Zen Buddhism and that's Zen. Zen is
> really just another word for Mahayana (Great Vehicle) Buddhism, which
> spread through China as Ch'an, and later became Zen the Japanesse >version.
> There are two others, Hinayana (Small Vehicle) and Vajrayana (Dimond
> Vehicle) Buddhism.
> This isn't really necessary to know though.
> I've noticed a lot of similarities in the stucture of Buddism that can be
> seen in anarchism, but it's not very revolutionary.
> Many people have seen the paralells of anarchism and Taoism, and Taoism has
> many things in common with Buddhism. Buddhism was actually confused a lot
> for Taoism when it first spread through china. And when you read many of
> the early writtings of Chinese Buddhists, it can be mistaken for parts of
> the famous Tao Te Ching; with things like the "ten thousand things," and
> the like.
> Unfortunatly, while the foundation of Buddhism is set up in about the same
> way as anarchism and I believe it would be a religion that would flourish
> in anarchism. It's not really the vehicle to get to anarchism, unless your
> a passaphist anarchist.
> Buddhism allows you to understand the nature of suffering and destroy it at
> the begining before its a problem. And it's that understanding of the 4
> Noble Truths to cut out the symptom so you don't have to deal with the
> disease that's appealing. As an anarchist in an anarchist society I
> wouldn't have to worry about being mugged or my car being stolen, because
> the reason or causes of those actions would be absent. And in buddhism,
> once you understand the origen of suffering you can stop it before it
> starts and end the cycle of suffering, all suffering.
> While that make you a master over your own life, makes you totally in
> controll and responsible for your life, and gives you a state of bliss that
> I've had to take hard drugs to compare ... it tends to kill the anger that
> helps create a revolutionary spirit.
> I'm still an agnostic. But I'm a sceptic with an open mind, and studing
> many different types of mystisms and religions; I've found that Buddhism
> has helped me to become much more focused on the moment, more centered, and
> a hell of a lot less angery. All the big things around the world that
> pissed me off before don't have the same impact, because of a basic
> understanding of duality and impermanence.
> Don't get me wrong, I still consider myself a revolutionist, but now I
> don't dream of seeing the last capitalists hanged with the intestines of
> the last Bureaucrats.
> 
> I know that this letter is ratter vage if you don't already have some
> understanding of the Buddha Dharma, so if you have any questions fill free.
> And the best book I've seen on the into. to buddhism is, "Entering the
> Stream."
> 
> Holden(oooooommmmmmmmm)
_____________________________________________

Communist greetings,
Ms.L V. Trahn
lvtrahn-AT-ibm.net
Vietnam/USA/Friensdship/Coalitiom


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