The consensus reality is not true reality—it never can be. Certainly there is no truth, in the Buddhist sense, to be found in it. At best, the consensus reality has only managed to come up with useful fictions in which fiction is often confused with truth. It almost goes without saying that where consensus reality is there is no real Buddhism
Buddhism really wants us to withdraw from the consensus reality as much as we can manage.
Imagine that you are living alone in a small cabin in an old growth forest with enough supplies to last for more than three months. There is nothing around you to keep reinforcing the consensus reality. Then comes a huge dose of stillness. You might even be able to hear your ears buzz.
Gradually, in a week or two, you become used to being alone. Let’s further imagine that you brought along the Lanakavatara Sutra (Suzkuki’s trans.), The Awakening of Faith, the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, John Blofeld’s, The Zen Teaching of Huang Po, and The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma, translated by Red Pine. We could add to this the Dhammapada and the Sutta-Nipata.
Will several months living alone in this old forest, away from the consensus reality, studying these books, cutting firewood, etc., take you deeper into the what Zen is really about than, say, joining a Zen center; maybe showing up once or twice a week? Most Chinese and Korean old school Buddhist practitioners agree that it will. Of course there is no guarantee that you will discover the essence of Mind. Nevertheless, there is a good chance.
Just arrived!
Posted by: Bob Morris | January 13, 2012 at 09:08 PM
Bob...
Just had an update on the new Red Pine Lanka release:
The new estimated arrival time is between:
January 17, 2012 - January 19, 2012...
Meaning, we should have the book within the next week or so. This is exciting since its original release date was late February...
Happy reading!
Posted by: MStrinado | January 09, 2012 at 11:47 PM
Just-in-time new reading assignments for 2012! I just finished Suzuki's Lankavatara Sutra and Studies In.... Then I pre-ordered the new Red Pine Lanka translation but it has not arrived yet. Probably time to reread the two "Zen Teachings..." books also (previously recommended by the Zennist) since I always get more out of a book on the second reading.
Posted by: Bob Morris | January 09, 2012 at 03:25 PM
What happened to your archives?! I was patiently reading my way up through them, from the beginning forward, and just a couple of hours ago they all disappeared! Are they coming back? I was only up to May of '08. Please bring them back if you can, they are extremely interesting!
Posted by: Eidolon | January 08, 2012 at 03:28 PM
Thank you for this.
Posted by: Sansiddhah | January 08, 2012 at 12:32 PM