LARPing in r/Zen: Can one attain the understanding of a Zen master by study, practice and emulation?

For the uninitiated, "larping" stands for "live action role play" and is quite a hilarious put-down sometimes used in r/Zen. To be honest I've seen this behavior quite seriously on myself over time, particularly during the first few months when I first came to r/Zen about a year ago. In my defense, its quite difficult not to "go native" when you immerse yourself in a subject that you've loved, studied and pondered about for so long. Zen masters were cool AF, as the kids say, haha. Who wouldn't want to live on a beautiful mountain in China among nature, and be thought of as so wise, mysterious and interesting that people would travel hundreds if not thousands of miles just to have an audience with you?

After years of study, I see now how the Zen masters "flipped the script" on people: something is in fact quite unusual about someone who has no attachments or aversions to the world, or who could help point you towards attaining enlightenment with a turning phrase. Just like what Zen points to, the Zen masters themselves were radiant by their very 'absence' among the myriad things. Look at the distinct differences between the Zen masters and of all the YouTube, reality tv and Instagram stars so prevalent these days. Its all shallowness seeking shallowness for short term comfort that doesn't last, but I digress.

My point with all of this? What happens when one decides to dive in and fully immerse themselves into Zen? Study, practice and emulation of the masters must mean and lead to something, and if one is introspective they should be able to see some changes in themselves over time. Also, something was distinctly unusual about the Zen masters in comparison to other people or they wouldn't be Zen masters. It could be the attaining and subsequent actions of 'enlightenment', or even their compassion in coming back into the weeds every now and then to save a few ghosts. Either way, I would say that there are certainly worse things you could do with your time than "larping" as if you are a Zen master; a few of us might actually make it.

Submitted January 25, 2019 at 10:43AM by WanderingRoninXIII http://bit.ly/2Hwuc4U