https://www.lifewithoutacentre.com/writings/the-advaita-trap-a-one-act-play/
It's a criticism of Neo-Advaitin charlatans, who sell a sticky and potent snake oil based on a misconception of traditional Advaita teachings. Infamous for "foisting enlightenment on unprepared minds." I think it is relevant in a Zen forum because there are similar misconceptions about Zen and enlightenment.
Relevant Zen master quotes:
Joshu's "Oak tree in the garden." It's undeniable, no matter what we think.
Wansong said "it (freedom) cannot be attained by mindlessness or known by mindfulness" which kills two new age birds with one statement. I think A has been hypnotised by mindlessness, the 'non-dual egoless nothing to do' delusion. Annatta (no-self) and shunyata teachings were doing the rounds in Tang dynasty China. When a monk claimed to have no mouth, Guishan (?) asked "How will you eat?"
Dongshan was astonished when he saw his reflection in the water after leaving Yunyan, and he came to understand Yunyan's statement "Just this is it." The Advaita trap may be familiar to some. It may be a mirror. Non-dual is just another nest.
Xuedo said, "In One there are many, in two there is no duality." He was holding both ends but it doesn't seem like a smug assurance, and he doesn't deny One or Two. "A" was holding only one non-dual loose end, attached to nothing. If there is a moral to the story, it's that Oneness gets lonely.
In my own words, enlightenment is fundamental.
PS Robert Sharf, a Buddhist scholar, wrote an essay titled "Mindfulness and Mindlessness in early Chan". He doesn't quote Wansong but it's worth reading because it's about the currents of thought which Zen was exposed to, including 'mindless' advaita. New agers have been around for a long time. 30 pages.
Submitted November 21, 2019 at 03:10PM by scendant https://ift.tt/2KGqgO8
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