Buddhism

[the Robot Vegetable]

On Wed, 11 Jun 1997 Origenes at aol.com wrote:

> "Are we not all one? Which is your choice," Fahringer now, buzzing and flat
> through the filters of memory, "the little cart, or the great one?" 

	My favorite story, I seem to hear Joseph Campbell's voice:
	You are standing in Manhattan staring over at New Jersey,
thinking how much nicer things look over there.  So you begin to
scrimp and save and finally, through great sacrifice, manage to
build a little boat.  You cast off, picking your way carefully,
avoiding poisonous crap and huge vessels for whom you don't exist,
and after tremendous struggle you reach New Jersey.
	"Yow!  This is great!"  You look around cheerfully, and
eventually you find yourself staring back at Manhattan.  There you
see much struggle and pain, unhappiness and terror.  You know that
there is no need for it, and your heart goes out to the people there.
	At first there is sadness for their plight, and then you are
recharged, enfused with mission.  With your hard won knowledge you
build a fine robust vessel, and head back to do what you can.

> ... Hinayana Buddhism's approach was a slow
> difficult ascetic journey of the individual through many reincarnations.
> Mahayana on the other hand is distinguished by the Bodhisattvas who choose to
> remain in the world and help the rest of humanity to enlightenment.
> apologize for the half-assed scholarship here.  ...
> The main point being the difference between the two is again the classic
> Pynchon argument of the elite vs. preterite, Hinayana and Mahayana
> respectively. 

	It may be painted either way, with the one who returns
to grant benevolent knowledge actually being one who seeks
unjust control,  or provides the harsh truth to set us free.

	veg