[Buddha-l] Gradual dimming of the light

[Jim Peavler]

On Aug 9, 2009, at 9:52 PM, Richard Hayes wrote:

> If Buddhism is done quickly, it's not Buddhism at all. For a couple of
> decades now I've been meaning to denounce the doctrine of sudden
> enlightenment. The very idea is a total crock. But I reckon the world
> can wait for yet another pointless denunciation.


A story I once heard (someone better educated than I might verify or  
reject this) told of Renzai, when asked if he believed in sudden  
enlightenment, replied that for 40 years he had studied the sutras,  
and tended the gardens, when suddenly he was enlightened. He was  
opposed to the school that taught that one shouldn't bother studying  
the sutras or working, but should just sit and meditate until the  
miracle happened.

Probably both methods are equally true. I will probably never know. I  
have only been on Buddha-l for about 20 years. And I am getting  
stupider and stupider. Gradually, of course.

Jim Peavler
jmp at peavler.org