The self-destructive nature of religion

Zen Buddhism will eventually destroy itself by its own hand (perhaps it already has).  This goes for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and other religions.  It shouldn’t be strange to hear this.  Nevertheless, the signs are everywhere in the example of trying to experience religion in a literal and historical way instead of in the inner-most self (pratyātman) which no words or books, no matter how elegantly written, can communicate.

Nor will building temples or churches suffice.  No matter how many minarets are erected, religion will always remain empty and dead which rests upon a foundation of literalism.  Religion presented this way is but a reflection of just how blind man’s spiritual vision has become.

Without the opening of the spiritual eye mankind has nowhere to run or to hide except in evil with his technology helping him.  But all of his technological marvels will not save him from his blindness and corruption—it will only deceive him that much more.  And since the truth of evil is to be found in ‘excess’ man will come to crave more and more wealth, sexual perversions, and dominion over others so as to ruin them, spiritually.  Over time mankind will become weaker and weaker suffering from akrasia which is a state of mind in which a person lacks self-control; who is unable to resist their own downfall.

For the truly religious few, it is easy to see these walking, spiritually dead people and get out of their way, avoiding them at all costs.  In Zen, I have to confess, it took me a while to see just how spiritually vapid and empty Zen had become.  Just sit—you’re kidding, right? 

Meditation is practiced in virtually all Buddhist traditions, including Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism).  The only thing that makes Zen unique is the fourth Zen slogan—not meditation.

"See one’s nature and become Buddha" 見性成佛

It was the practice of Siddhartha by which he awakened and became the Buddha.  From its beginning to the present, Zen has been very consistent on selling this idea.  It’s in all of the Zen texts.  But oddly, it has not made it to the West as it should because of Japanese Soto Zen which rejects the fourth slogan and sets up just sitting as the goal of Zen.  Here is the way Zen destroys itself by its own hand.  What we have as Zen in the West is not Zen at all.  Just sitting is not Zen.  Zen is jiànxìng, that is, seeing one’s nature or the same, seeing one’s Buddha-nature.  If you haven't seen it you're wasting your precious human life in which your next life will be a roll of the dice.

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Regina]

Men should not allow the crave of worldly riches ruin their spiritual life's.

[a.w.]

Thank you for your advise and tips. Really appreciated. I would process this piece of information you share. Later.

[thezennist]

Just imagine your psychophysical organism is like a radio and someone mentioned seeing the radio signal. So in order to see that signal you have to transcend the radio completely. Likewise with your psychophysical organism you have to transcend it to see your true nature. It is very difficult.

[a.w.]

I visit this blog now and then, and I believe you. I am sold.

So, please tell (I beg you) how to 見性？