Zen under siege

At times, I think Westerners don’t seem to like either Buddhism or Zen Buddhism.  Why do I say this?  Well, it’s not too difficult when, for example, you examine very popular contemporary books about Zen such as Zen and the Brain by James Austin which is not a book about Zen so much as it is an attempt to reduce Zen to brain functions which suggests, at least the way I see it, that the brain is the Buddha (i.e., the awakened one) insofar as all experience—even awakening (sambodhi)—is subordinated to the brain.  

Such ideas may go further so as to permit us to conclude that our brain acts by itself which is absurd.  It is always the self that transcends the brain who acts.  When this self acts the brain functions.  When the self thinks certain pathways become active.  The brain doesn’t think anymore than watching an automobile’s front tires moving right and left lead us to conclude that the automobile is doing this when it is the driver who is not a mechanical thing.

Zen, simply put, can’t be reduced to brain functions.  It’s not authentic Zen.  Nor can Zen be reduced to the physical act of just sitting in meditation which many Westerners seem to believe it can be.  When Western Zen teachers teach their students that meditation is the most important aspect of Zen they err.  

Zen is under siege insofar as its core principle in the West is being all but ignored which asks us to see our true nature and become awakened (buddha).  According to Zen master Huang-po:

“Your true nature is something never lost to you even in moments of delusion, nor is it gained at the moment of Enlightenment. It is the Nature of the Bhutatathata. In it is neither delusion nor right understanding. It fills the Void everywhere and is intrinsically of the substance of the One Mind” (trans. Blofeld).

Sounds simple, but such words as these are foreign to Western ears.  Huang-po’s words have the ring of ‘mysticism’ or the same, the esoteric, which gets thumbs down from most Westerners.  It’s mumbo jumbo, not backed by science as if today’s science has the final say on what is ultimate reality.  Be that as it may, the siege is on and has been on for some time.  Zen, for now, will have public acceptance only if it rejects the esoteric.  Only then will it be allowed a fair hearing.  But this means the destruction of Zen. 

Comments

[Om nom nom]

I don't know what reality is - and neither does anyone else!

I find a materialistic viewpoint to be generally useful as a working model. It allows me to have some expectation that when I throw a ball up in the air it will return to earth and is unlikely to be grabbed by some fairie emerging from a vortex in the sky.

At the same time I find a mystical viewpoint useful for lots of things.

WhaI don't do is believe that either is wrong.

Since we have a map of the brain as it works we can say what happens when you stare at a wall for days on end. (Boredom)

[Solon]

" Daizo Roshi who has mastered the most secret esoteric teachings of Zen. In fact either description would fit - reality remains."

And what "reailty" exactly are you speaking of? The one you believe is interpretated to you via your senses and your brain? LOL

Perhaps you should take a good look at Morgan Freemans show "Through the wormohole " series, part 8 of 10: "Is Reality real?"

I am sure it will offer a materialist like yourself something to ponder.

[Om nom nom]

After 10 years of research - including using myself as a subject - I'm confident that it's just neuroscience. Some processes in zen cannot be speeded up. Many processes are clearly deterministic. How is it for instance that Tozan could create the five ranks and then have them be found by others to be a reliable model. Morover moving through the ranks takes years and there are no shortcuts.

Overall the evidence keeps mounting to suggest that science not mysticism is at work. If I believed that any of this stuff was in any way magical or esoteric then I'd be dressing up in a kesa, changing my name and treating the precepts as. sacred magic.

You and I are free to believe whatever we want. Where do those beliefs take you?

I'm some ordinary joe who's learnt some shit that is useful. I'm not Ven. Daizo Roshi who has mastered the most secret esoteric teachings of Zen. In fact either description would fit - reality remains.