Annihilation?

I'm still grappling with the first case in the Gateless Gate, and have been reading quite a bit here on other Cases, such as the one about the monk who asks the Master why he "always bows just so" to which he gets hit, (duh, obvs doesn't get it, right?) "What more do we need than the cushion," etc. (paraphrasing because it's late.)

With each reading/discussion - the real meat is in the comments! - I am again and again reminded of Pema Chodron's quote:

"Only to the extent that we expose ourselves over and over to annihilation can that which is indestructible be found in us."

It seems to me that "that which is indestructable" or that which is eternal, or whatever human word we may choose, is what we seekers are seeking to embrace/surrender to/claim.

I've seen the argument that zen =/= buddhism, so I'm taking a risk here in positing that Pema's on to something with this quote. Am I wrong? Is the passing through the non-gate barrier not a form of annihilating the illusion of self? Is not the swallowing of the fiery iron ball a form of annihilation? Perhaps I am taking things too literally.

I'll probably be sent to the buddhism sub, and that's okay too.

Goodnight.

Submitted March 11, 2018 at 09:04AM by wrrdgrrl http://ift.tt/2FyiHo1