Say to Back-seat driver...Shut up!

[nowornever]

Zen Master Seung Sahn said:
"You drive your car(your rented car which means your body) and a back-seat driver wants to mislead you(karma, drinking, smoking, ignorance, pleasure, desire, attachment etc.) so you must say to him at that moment:
SHUT UP!"

What kind of back-seat driver is yours?
Mine is...seeking enlightenment, seeking pleasure(hunger, sleep, sex), aloneness, desire to help others.

[Hanzze]

Replay on posts, even if it is without expectedly benefit. *smile* See, he doesn't listen.

[nowornever]

Hanzze - you do not benefit. Ok. But do not answer for others; maybe some benefit...
Once I wrote to a zen master a letter in which I wrote something what zen sensei had said... Later that Sensei asked me to write from myself, not from her, to write what I feel, not what I think she feels... By the way, it is still my problem

[t]

See, he doesn't listen.

Oooh...pot calling kettle black...LOL

[Hanzze]

Hanzze - you do not benefit. Ok. But do not answer for others; maybe some benefit...
Once I wrote to a zen master a letter in which I wrote something what zen sensei had said... Later that Sensei asked me to write from myself, not from her, to write what I feel, not what I think she feels... By the way, it is still my problem

If one would really see that something is from no benefit one would not do it. It's not about intellectual understanding. Sometimes it's even understood by heart, but the problem is actually the real driver. He just needs the back-seat driver to have a reason to drive. Even if there is no more, he continues to drive. So better care about the driver directly. *smile* Observe him good to understand.

[Lobster]

What kind of back-seat driver is yours?
Mine is...seeking enlightenment, seeking pleasure(hunger, sleep, sex), aloneness, desire to help others.

Very good question 
I have invited my back seat driver to steer the car (or raft).
I sit in the back. He is my chauffeur (wot a ride) but the destination is mine.

The so called 'negative qualities' of even a drunk sex maniac (not to mention any rinpoches . . . ahem . . . trungpa . . .) should not be confused with the drive towards enlightenment.

But back to my particular drive . . .
I think anger and passion (the positive aspects of being a sex maniac) are my main demons at the moment. I do not control them too well at times. For example if I do not practice exercise (was running until recent injury) I end up stressed, shouting and behaving like a lobster being boiled. I find chanting and other Buddhist practice has a calming effect.   

[nowornever]

I feel that before each time I want to write something in this forum I should say to my back-seat driver SHUT UP! Out of that perhaps no answer from me will appear in this forum(for the benefit of others ;) or if it does some kind of front-seat driver answer will hopefully come up.

So, non, now shut up and do 108 bows!
Yes, sir!

[Hanzze]

Such a thought might have some latent excuses in prearrange. After an accident, they all sit on the back seat. *smile* "There is no I." A driver couldn't be found, so there could be no deed.

I guess it's always good the keep the Simile of the The Bamboo Acrobat in mind.

[nowornever]

If your way is correct, your truth is correct and your life is correct, that is zen. Congratulations!

[Hanzze]

I am not sure, but for sure, if you enter the Noble Eightfold path, your ways and your life would turn into correct more and more and one day you might own the truth by your self. *smile* Indeed, Zen could also bring you to that point to enter the noble path.

[Spiny le Norman]

Zen Master Seung Sahn said:
"You drive your car(your rented car which means your body) and a back-seat driver wants to mislead you(karma, drinking, smoking, ignorance, pleasure, desire, attachment etc.) so you must say to him at that moment:
SHUT UP!"

With me the back-seat driver usually knows best.

Spiny

[nowornever]

If yr back-seat driver knows better wthan u, how can u drive yr body? Do u always follow others from the back seats who tell u what to do? or do are you not inclined to say SHUT UP! How much do you belive in yourself, your front-seat driver?

[Hanzze]

The Cat

Defilements are like cats. If you give a cat something to eat whenever it wants, it'll keep coming back more and more often. But the day will come when it'll scratch you if you don't feed it. So you don't have to feed it. It'll keep meowing and meowing, but if you don't feed it for a day or two, it'll stop coming back.

It's the same with the defilements. If you don't feed them, they won't bother you. Your mind can then settle down and be still.

[Spiny le Norman]

How much do you belive in yourself, your front-seat driver?

I try not to take the driver too seriously, which is kind of the point of Buddhist practice.
 
Spiny

[nowornever]

Spine - this serious front-seat driver is yr true nature whether u like it or not...so how can u still follow the back-seat driver?! Tell me! Tell me!