The Fermi Paradox of Zen

The Fermi Paradox is basically the question, "Where are all the aliens?" Given how many stars there are out there, and what proportion have planets, and what proportion of those could evolve life, and what proportion of that life could evolve intelligence, and how long the universe has been around, it should be inevitable that there are signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life, but there seem to be none.

So we have proposed answers to the problem:

• They're hiding (Star Trek Prime Directive-style)
• Advanced life doesn't bother with spreading through the stars (maybe high-tech recreation is more enjoyable)
• Intelligence is inevitably self-defeating (the smart aliens end up extinguishing themselves before they get to other stars)
• And so on

For Zen, my question is this... Where are all the Zen masters? It's more of an inconsistent tetrad, where at least one of the four following claims must be false (they can't all be true):

1. We have the texts and/or techniques necessary and effective for becoming a Zen master
2. Enough people are reading these texts and/or practising these techniques
3. We would know if there were Zen masters all over the place
4. There don't seem to be Zen masters all over the place

Not all of these claims can be true. So, which one (or ones) do you consider false, and why? Or, alternatively, if you think all of them are true, please feel free to criticise my assertion that they are collectively logically inconsistent with each other.

(EDIT: Fixed mistake.)

For clarity, here are examples of denying each of the above claims:

1. The texts and/or techniques we have are not effective at making Zen masters because karmic conditions have to be correct and they seldom are
2. Most people are misinterpreting the texts and/or practising the techniques incorrectly
3. Zen masters wouldn't publicise their enlightenment
4. There are actually Zen masters all over the place – just look at the teachers and long-time students of Chan and Soto and Zen centres around the world

Submitted January 21, 2018 at 01:11PM by HakuninMatata http://ift.tt/2DVdFBZ