A letter to an avuso (friend)

It is always necessary to keep in mind that Buddhism, including it various schools, is about awakening to ultimate reality. Next, it is necessary to understand what is blocking our realization of that awakening.  It is over-identification with the psychophysical body otherwise known as the five skandhas. It is, unfortunately, also our criterion — our measure of all things. If you think about it, the Buddha in the Pali Nikayas speaks a lot about overcoming our deep connection with the psychophysical body—these khandhas (S., skandhas). 

Not surprisingly the Buddha says in the Udana, "Bound to delusion (P., moha) is the world (P., loka)" (VII, x). We look upon this world as holding the answer. We trust our senses, etc. We have little or no respect for the transcendent which is outside of the reach of our psychophysical body which, by the way, is called "old karma" by the Buddha. Do you see the problem we face in trying to awaken? Even if I wrote 2000 more blogs I would never succeed in lifting the veil that blocks us from seeing ultimate reality. Even if I provided a reading list that a graduate student of Buddhism might benefit by reading, it would never unbind them from the basis to which they are deeply attached, enough to awaken from the delusion to which they are bound (P. moha-sambandha).

Nothing I can do or say is sufficient to release anyone from their delusion by which they over-identify with the psychophysical body which they insist is the sole criterion for becoming awakened! Every blog I write has its detractors who believe they are right.  They will tell me that I am the one who is deluded even though the evidence I use comes straight from the Pali Nikayas and Mahayana sources.  Where is their evidence?  Only their opinions, that’s all they have.  Pretty soon it becomes apparent that I am dealing with the movement of 'secular Buddhism' or what I label in various blogs as "puthujjana Buddhism" which is worldly Buddhism that denies the transcendent in Buddhism.  

At this rate, I dare say that Buddhism, including Zen Buddhism, is not going to survive very long without transforming into counterfeit Buddhism and counterfeit Zen. Modern culture is not ready to let go of its materialism or nihilism, nihilism being the sad and horrible truth of materialism.  Modern Buddhists imagine that Buddhism might be of use to help advance materialism—to make it compassionate rather than cruel.  This is delusional thinking.  Where this path goes is to epistemological nihilism and moral relativism which is a species of nihilism.

Those who are blessed with good karma (in the sense of being open to authentic Buddhism) know in their heart of hearts that they carry the embryo of ultimate reality.  It only needs to be conceived.  Others not so lucky have to amass good karma.  They must have deep and sincere faith in ultimate reality; in what completely transcends their psychophysical body.  Without such faith how is good karma possible?  Without such faith they will have only bad karma that keeps them deluded; bound down to the world of conditionality.  The more such people accept and cling to conditionality—which is like a growing thirst—the more entrapped they become.  Hence, they are firmly tied down to delusion and all the bad karma that comes with such a predicament.  

I would even argue that there is a spiritual war going on at this point in which the forces of light are trying to help the forces of darkness who fight to hold onto their pain and delusion (we need to remember that the Buddha equates the five skandhas with pain).

It is better for you if you are skeptical of the conditioned world.  Its purpose is to deceive everyone.  However, there is still hope; it’s not too late to have faith that what animates your psychophysical body, is undying—the element of nirvana.

Comments

[The Zennist]

Electric Black:

The Zennist has addressed this. But unless one is steeped in Hegel, it tends not to gain the interest of the blog reader.

"Absolute Mind (ekacitta) had to lose itself to find itself or put another way, because in itself there is no contrast or marks to be found, Mind opposed this by creating an illusory world of dependent originations. In this loss or non-knowledge (avidya) of itself, Mind found the only way possible by which it might recognize itself. It is by penetrating through the empty antithetical veil it had generated."

Believe me it works.

[Kantairon]

"It is better for you if you are skeptical of the conditioned world. Its purpose is to deceive everyone. However, there is still hope; it’s not too late to have faith that what animates your psychophysical body, is undying—the element of nirvana."

Truly inspiring encouragement. Thank you.

[Electric Black]

I guess the confusion stems from the use of language. You seem to be separating the illusion from it's source. I see a single stream flowing in the wrong direction. You can't just take the senses and cut them off. You have to fix the problem where it started. You have to reverse the steam.

[Electric Black]

It is not that people trust their senses too much. The problem is that people mistake where reality comes from. The senses are like a finger pointing to the moon. People assume they are an end in themselves. If observed honestly, the senses will lead us in the opposite direction from material reality. To the source, wherefrom the illusion springs. However, this is impossible for most humans to comprehend. The advice always ends in confusion because nobody understands that a paradox can literally be true.