Recently a highly respected Western Zen abbot said:
"Shakyamuni Buddha taught that there is no permanent self (atman). This insight distinguished him contemporary Hindu teachers. He taught that a human being consists of Five Aggregates or skandhas and nowhere in each aggregates was to be found a self or a soul. Human beings are only conditioned elements."
This is frankly incorrect. The Buddha never once taught the self was impermanent. On the contrary, he taught that Five Aggregates, which are our psychophysical body are impermanent, and that our self has nothing to do with them! In the passage below which is taken from the Samyutta-Nikaya of the Pali canon, please note that each aggregate is impermanent. Finally, also please note that it is incorrect to regard any aggregate as my self.
Bhikkhus, form is impermanent ... Feeling is impermanent ... Perception is impermanent ...Volitional formations are impermanent ... Consciousness is impermanent. What is impermanent is suffering. What is suffering is nonself [yam dukkham tad anatta]. What is nonself should be seen as it really is with correct wisdom thus: ‘This is not mine, this I am not, this is not my self’ [na me so atta]. When one sees this thus as it really is with correct wisdom, the mind becomes dispassionate and is liberated from the taints of nonclinging.” (S. iii. 45).
In the commentary (atthakatha) to the Udana it says: “The five khandhas are impermanent, (whereas) nibbana, which is the cessation of the five khandhas is permanent” (329, trans. Masefield).
By implication, the self is permanent along with nirvana since both transcend the aggregates or khandhas! If, on the other hand, we cling, to one or more of the five khandhas, we are in deep doo-doo. Bottom line, we are okay, but we should not cling to the Five Aggregates!
Zen abbots of modern times are political appointees, nothing more. They teach errand truths and lead by force or love, not truth.
Anyway the Buddha said "Be a lamp unto yourself" so it doesn't matter who the priests and teachers are. :)
Posted by: anonymous | November 03, 2010 at 05:01 AM