Give gifts with no notion of reward or praise. Like moving something from one hand to the other. Mar 9, 1986
About this episode
Lola McDowell Lee discusses the concept of giving without attachment to reward or recognition, drawing on Buddhist teachings and stories.
Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee, discusses the Diamond Sutra , known as the "Cutter of All Doubts." She story of the Buddha and his disciple, Subhuti, a Bodhisattva. It’s a paradoxical teaching: A Bodhisattva should give gifts without being "supported" by anything—not by a notion of a sign, a gift, or a recipient. If a gift is given with the thought "I am giving this to you," it is limited. However, if a gift is given without support—without the self-identification of a giver—the merit is immeasurable. Lola draws a parallel here to the Jesus’ words that "the Son of Man hath nowhere to lay his head." She interprets this as a spiritual state of having "no support" in the ego or the material world. True giving happens when the "me" is removed entirely, making the giver and the receiver one and the same, much like the right hand transferring an object to the left hand without needing praise. Lola tells the story of Master Obaku, who bows to his teacher. But why? a skeptic asks. If there is not to be praise. Lola focuses on the limitations of human thinking. Lola argues that true listening is impossible when the mind is cluttered with past conditioning and constant chatter if thinking…
More episodes of Talks by Zen Roshi, Lola McDowell Lee
- Accumulating knowledge versus attaining true wisdom. June 22, 1986
- The Lesson of True Listening. June 15, 1986
- An exploration of the subject of death. Delivered Jun 8, 1986
- Does an enlightened Zen master live a saintly, extraordinary life? Delivered Jun 1, 1986
- Learning to live less from the mind and more from the hara. Oct 14, 1981
- Allowing Purusha to extricate itself from the mindless play of Prakrit. Sept 27, 1987
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