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Expert: - 4/13/2009


Question
Hello Shozen.
I have two questions, maybe you can answer them.

1. "... directness and power of animals comes from their very Being. This openness and directness of Being that is created by having nothing hidden and little ego is worth studying and adopting."

--- How do you understand the words "little ego"?

2. THESE ANIMALS (tigers) SHOW EXCEEDINGLY STRONG INNER WILL AND CLARITY, WITH NO EGO-FEAR (AS WE KNOW IT) TO BLOCK TENACITY; AND NO CONFUSION DUE TO REASON’S FAILURE TO CONTROL THE WORLD." - How do you understand the words "due to reason's failure to control the world"?

All the best  

Answer

Tiger - Buddhist Quest
Dear Luke,

1:"not very much ego"
The sentence could have been written as, "...by having nothing hidden and by not having very much ego..." a little ego could be understood as a very small sense of 'self' or identity of what or who one is.

2."The sentence 'Due to reason's Failure to control the world" makes little sense in which correct english is doubtful. However this is my take on it:
Sounds like the author is referring to the failure of human technology to totally subjugate the natural world, and even to control itself. - The tiger would have little confusion as its pure instinct that drives it, not reasoning or self reflection based on something outside of itself. It is first and foremost a killer.

Metta
Shozen
http://www.knowbuddhism.info/2009/03/need-for-action-by-world-buddhist.html

    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you for this helpful answer Shozen. It cleared up some things for me. All the best.


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James Chen Ball is the founder of the Buddhism IS Community Forum and Know Buddhism Blog. His primary focus is promoting Meditation practise through his websites and establishing an active Buddhist social community on the Internet. James' approach to Buddhism is intuitive and you will rarely find him referring to Sutras or similar ancient Buddhist texts but rather his words come from experience and a natural grasp of Buddhism. A long-time lay practitioner and student of Buddhism who has lived and studied as a lay monastic in all of the three major traditions of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan/Vajrayana) practicing alongside Bhikku's and studying under Monks such as Ajahn Sumedho and H.E Lopon Tenzin Jigme Rinpoche III. I am happy to receive any question you have on the vast topic of Buddhism and will endeavor to give you a clear and honest answer where possible.

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