Divinatory thinking

Is thinking permitted in the quest for Zen satori? Are we to understand that Zen satori comes by way of a special kind of psychic osmosis in which case thinking is unnecessary? Are we to take, literately, the words of Zen master Niu-t’ou Fa-jang who said, “Thinking brings unclarity”? 

Lumping the questions together, thinking is permitted in Zen—but rather, it is a special kind of thinking which I call 'divinatory thinking'.  Let me unpack the idea of what I mean by divinatory thinking.  While it seems easy to understand the general notion of thinking, or at least some forms of thinking such as ‘deliberation’, ‘calculation’, ‘reflection’, etc., the notion of divinatory thinking is not in these categories.  Rather it is thinking which is on a path of discovery moving from a state of ignorance or better still, moving from primordial lost-ness to a state of finding-ness in which awakening occurs as a result.  

We might consider as a good example, somebody looking for something precious and valuable they've lost like their wedding ring.  Analyzing this kind of thinking, its trajectory is not so much aimed at thinking about the object it desires, but seeks to have it concretely.  In other words, when I look for my lost wedding ring, thinking about it mentally and abstractly is less important than actually finding the real, concrete ring. 

The critical principle of divinatory thinking, which is necessary to make it work, requires that we really have a burning need to find truth in which the task of finding it becomes almost a matter of life and death.  As it is easy to see, this moving principle is more than idle curiosity which questions, but not at a depth sufficient to engage the drive of divinatory thinking.  

Delving into the trait of curiosity a bit further, curiosity is thinking in which the chief interest is novelty and information gathering.  In no case does it rise above our general satisfaction with ourselves as beings who already find solace in the everyday world and its offerings.  In another aspect, curiosity will not cause an upheaval in our being, whereas divinatory thinking ultimately does lead to a profound change.  

Only divinatory thinking can help us find our Buddha-nature.  But more importantly, only divinatory thinking can walk the path of Buddhism.  At the heart of divinatory thinking, it arouses almost an obsession for finding.

Comments

[Uku]

Thank you for this good post.

Like Dogen wrote in Shobogenzo (Shinjin Gakudo):
"The thought of enlightenment arouses itself. This arousing is the thought of enlightenment. The thought of enlightenment is neither existent nor non-existent, neither good nor bad nor neutral. It is not the result of past suffering. Even beings in the blissful realms can arouse it. The thought of enlightenment arises just at the time of arising; it is not limited by conditions."

Gassho,
Uku