When I read people's opinions about enlightenment, for example, it is about realizing that there is nothing to be liberated, or that enlightenment is when you stop seeking enlightenment, I begin to think that such people are more interested in secularizing Buddhism than learning what enlightenment actually is. This goes for Zen as well. This kind of response reminds me of someone answering a riddle as if to say, "Yep, this is the big secret. There is no such thing as the unconditioned or pure Mind. It's all about realizing that just as you are—that's enlightenment! See, the problem with this enlightenment stuff is you think there is some kind of essence to see which transcends birth and death. Just accept life the way it is. Anyway, when you die, that's it. No rebirth."
Of course, I should expect this since secularism is the authoritative center of the public discourse which is just one step away from Bolshevism which expresses itself as a hatred of metaphysics, religion, including mysticism, and the arts as a means of liberation. No, the secular view of life is not quite here but like Bolshevism it is both materialistic and nihilistic.
Most of the good practitioners I have encountered over the years are not hardcore secularists or even Bolsheviks! They try to bring the best that Buddhism has to offer to their daily lives; seeming to understand that enlightenment is suddenly seeing pure Mind which is unconditioned and, more importantly, the stuff this world is made from. Although they are not there yet, they have sufficient faith that they can intuit it. They haven't fallen into the trap of treating enlightenment or awakening as if it were a riddle that could be answered with some clever words.
I realize that Buddhism, and Zen are not for the huge majority of people. Most, simply, do not have the good karma to comprehend a supermundane world beyond this one, let lone how to enter it. Many of the Western teachers of Buddhism are spiritually blind, who don't have the light. They only know how to teach acceptence of this world which is not a good thing. This world is not a refuge. It's vision is antithetical to Buddhism's. It will only destroy the spiritual nature of man and with it, what little compassion he has left. Just look at the violence of the Judeo-Christian religion, including Islam. What does this religion teach? "The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name" (Exodus 15:3 KJV).
I think there is a buddhism for everyone. Esoteric buddhism is perhaps not for the masses at this moment in time and history, but anyone can enter the realm of buddhas through Amitabha. This is very much in line with the christian compassion of universal saviorship.
Then again it might not be so one-sided after all. I read an inspiring article this morning about a Shingon priest who had converted two million "untouchable" hindus in India, defying the caste system which is completely racist and abominable in my view. This is really amazing and it brings so much hope.
May all beings be safe and happy.
Posted by: Bjorn | August 26, 2015 at 06:21 AM
Yes, take biblical passages out of context, and interpret it literally too. After all, war here can't mean anything other than an actual war, right? Kind of like how Rinzai ordered you to kill your parents, don't you think?
And seriously, both your elitism and your ignorance are incredible. In other posts you have said that Buddhism is atheistic, but now you are not only criticizing secularism but also are talking about metaphysics, rebirth and a "pure mind" and a "supramundane world"? How is this not theism? Why do you criticize Christianity in other posts for teaching essentially the same?
And really, it is disgusting how you say that Buddhism is for the few and that most people don't have the karma to be actual Buddhists. I guess that the 300 million or so of Buddhists in the world are not actual Buddhists then, and that probabl we should not teach people how to reach the divine and instead we should ignore them and leave them to suffer.
At least Christianity teaches that anyone can be saved, and that the love of God should be taught to everyone no matter their gender, their social standing, their background or any other marker of identity.
Not to mention how you contradict Buddhist teachings. Why do you think Buddhism reach Japan? Because the Buddha taught to spread his teachhings, much like Jesus did. In other words, saying that Buddhism is for the few is against what your own teacher taught.
You know, "Buddhists" like you are the reason why I have a problem taking contemporary Buddhism as a whole seriously. It has degraded to the point of being nothing more than a mere hobby by wannabe arrogant philosophers who think they are deep when they aren't.
Posted by: Hellene | August 25, 2015 at 05:49 PM
http://www.ligonier.org/
http://renewingyourmind.org/
recommended strongly for anyone who truly wants to understand Christianity, and consider it from a deep perspective:philosophically, as well as theologically. Not a quick or easy thing to do, but for anyone who wants to truly be educated and understand it, this is the best resource there is.
Posted by: smith | August 24, 2015 at 11:59 PM
I jump into the fray against my better judgement -- it seems what Zennist is saying is not a condemnation of Christian thought so much as exposing the perils of a partial or one-sided view. If one is trapped in the kind of thinking that Islam is evil, they should probably go make some Muslim friends and find out this is not so. Same with one-sided viewing Christianity as "good" -- obviously one need only look at world history, such as the Inquisition or more or less invasive missionary efforts, to see that the good is mixed with a good amount of evil. The middle path is variously interpreted but I see it best -- and I think the Ch'an schools tend and have tended to see it the same way -- as having an undivided point of view on things. If we loathe something, it is probably good medicine to see it in a different, more positive light -- and if we desire and crave something, it is good medicine to see its dark side. So I see Zennist's remark about Christianity in that context, not as a blanket condemnation or stating Buddhism is any better -- in fact he as much as condemns contemporary Buddhism for being worldly and missing the point.
Posted by: n. yeti | August 24, 2015 at 01:49 PM
Well, I'm glad someone else commented on this...because we are not in the Old Testament age.
As far as atrocities committed by Christians are concerned, notice how Americans reacted to Abu Graabe. As soon as it hit the news it was over--and it was a one-time thing by individuals. And it wasn't actually torture, it was humiliation. We Americans are the ones who provide incarcerated terrorist suspects with Korans enclosed in plastic bags so our "unclean" hands won't have touched them. The terrorists are the ones who put beheadings of journalists and contract workers on the internet. That's the difference between "modern" Muslims and "modern" Christians.
Yeah, I practice Zen Buddhism, but I'm not a "good" Zen Buddhist--because I still make those distinctions. I come from a Christian background and I know those people, some of the most loving, gentle people in the world.(I'm talking about the average here, not the cultic extremists that make the front pages.) Painting them with a black brush is unfair, and speaking as someone who has great respect for you, you are better than that.
Posted by: Susan | August 23, 2015 at 01:16 PM