Coming into this subreddit as a new reader, it is evident that a number of users maintain a strong distinction regarding what should be considered Zen and shove this narrow definition down the throat of those who appear to deviate from that interpretation by alluding to various facets of Buddhistic or ritualistic practice.
Let's discuss this outside of the irritated strings of responses, nestled within someone's post.
It's not a novel opinion, certainly not born on reddit, as I just saw implied in another such argument. You can find expressions of this critical distinction in texts with some authority, like the lucid introduction of 'Instant Zen', where a number of deteriorations befalling Zen are lamented. That same introduction also quotes Dahui on this topic:
In the monastic Zen communities of recent times, there is a kind of false Zen that clings to disease as if it were medicine.
So not only is it evident to translators and scholars, who inevitably observe a change of tune from the Chan boys of old to the religious construct subsequently built around it, but the later period 'real' masters have seen it unfold in their own times. They were disgusted by it. So should we?
Today, in 'recent recent' times in the context of Dahui's complaint, there table has turned from there being 'a kind of false Zen' to there being almost no trace of what Dahui considered the true Zen. Do you disagree?
800 years later, modern man intrigued by this 'Zen thing' browses the book stores (I mean Amazon), YouTube, local Zen societies and what does one find? Buddhism. In fact, one has to dig so deep to find the original Zen, or even a discussion of the distinction, that any person newly interested stands little to no chance to even know about it. Ever.
Just to make it clear, it's not just that the common social media slave who thinks 'Zen' means 'chill' does not find these original teachings among the '10 best ways to be more successful using Zen' lifestyle blog post, it is actually hard to see it, even if you would be interested if you knew about it, because hundreds of years of marketing have hidden it conveniently out of sight. It's almost like finding out that Enzo Ferrari despised cars.
I think this is where a place like r/zen comes in. Either, the people so passionate about keeping the distinction alive go and withdraw into some subreddit with 20 members engulfed in some outwardly cryptic discussion that will prevent any newcomer from joining, or they make use of a large community, nearing 100k members, where the inevitable tone of most newcomers sounds to the bell of some sort of ritualised cult, and try to point to it. I think there need to be places where masses can be converted - away from religious practice for once - and I think the way the world stands now, it must be in places like this. This is it today. The narrow definition is important, or it will get even more lost.
Now the way this is mostly done here is rather...polemical. Whilst that may seem like the old masters could approve, stick and all, it does alienate innocent enquirers. People are a sensitive bunch in general. If someone arrives at the shores of this subreddit, showing interest in meditative practices or seeking assistance regarding scriptures falling into the 99% that have been written to sustain a lifelong cult following, let us not blast them out the door just yet. Can you blame them? With the general search results for all things Zen, the enso in the reddit profile ties in nicely with it, too, doesn't it? Isn't this where I ask about where to buy a wooden buddha for my yoga room?
The documentation on this subreddit is already quite tailored towards a pointing of readers in the more authentic direction, so why can't those that agree, in principle, not in detail as this will not be possible, with the above, concentrate on the following:
- In a friendly manner, point out the fact that there is a Zen that precedes the Buddhist institutionalisation so that those who are keen can see for themselves. To many, this could be a fantastic revelation to explore. If it is not done in a friendly manner, however, human nature dictates that we get hung up in discourse and run out of the room crying without seeing the treasure that was there to take. Next stop: some more dogma somewhere else. Chance missed. Not that you care, but it is a chance to help those teachings you so revere to live on.
- In a friendly manner, refer those mistakenly bringing discussions deeply related to Buddhism, with no interest in old school Zen, to other, more appropriate forums. Not everyone can be pleased or rattled out of the authoritarian grip of convenient directions to blindly follow.
- In an open-minded manner, discuss concepts in regard to their authentic heritage within Zen. Much is not clear. If someone has a meditative practice, for example, rather than throwing them out as cultists, let's explore what the individual's attitude towards 'everday' Zen meditative practice is, whether what they really seek cannot be found through modification of their understanding based on the type of mind enquiry in line with authentic Zen. Not everyone wants to errect a buddha shrine, ruin their health with incense and follow strict rules stipulating which leg must be on top to find enlightenment after 50 years of loyalty. Some just want structure and then call it Vipassana or Zazen or whatever, for a lack of options.
Gentle men and women, if nobody does anything about it, the authentic Zen we speak about will be buried underneath the rubble, hidden in decades-old translations, too foreign for the app-scrolling-monkey to bother with. As much fun as it is to be a dick on the internet, keep it alive. Now go do some bowl washing.
Submitted May 06, 2020 at 04:46AM by Coinionaire https://ift.tt/3fqmlCD
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