The context of Zen is to be found within Buddhism and can only be understood from the larger context of Buddhism. The overarching context of Buddhism involves man’s search for the transcendent which is unconditioned; whose nature is different than the conditioned.
“Bhikkhus, there are these three characteristics that define the unconditioned (asaṅkhata). What three? No arising is seen, no vanishing is seen, and no alteration while it persists is seen. These are the three characteristics that define the unconditioned” (A. i. 152).
With the discovery of the unconditioned in us, which lies concealed by the conditioned, there is liberation for us insofar as we can get behind phenomena (the conditioned) whereas before we were caught up in it, this being samsara. Put another way, we are now able to become more of the unconditioned and less of the conditioned as we become more familiar with the unconditioned through many samadhis, or connections with it.
Zen, from this context, simply cuts to the chase, its adept is focused on awakening to the unconditioned, i.e., their true nature. If Zen were a book it would require just one page but so would Buddhism except that the latter consists of many different kinds of skillful means, so it requires a few more pages.
Looked at from another angle this context is not postmodern—not by any measure. Postmodernism wants to get rid of the idea that there is any kind of intrinsic nature and with it the unconditioned. But according to Buddhism there is an ātman, or the same, a Buddha-nature but one not representing the conditioned psychophysical body which the Buddha referred to as the anātman or not-self (you could even say, not Buddha-nature). This not-self was understood by the Buddha to be evil.
Postmodernism’s project is to deconstruct reason, truth and reality because its adherents believe these elements are the cause of oppression and destruction. They even equate reason with power in a destructive sense. But this leaves us with nothing if not total nihilism and purposelessness. The irony to be appreciated is that postmodernism not only destroys its target but in so doing, destroys itself at the same time.
Keeping Zen in its proper context is not easy. It may be necessary to protect Zen Buddhism from being influenced by postmodern tendencies because they are clearly outside of Zen and totally destructive to it.
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