So I was wondering what to blog. I had no idea (yep, one of those days). So up pops a text message from Cecil who has some schizoid type problems (I don’t want to get into what they are, specifically. He lives next door to me). He texts:
Yeah from what I read it seemed like I just had to stop identifying myself as the thoughts etc
I texted back:
This is why Zen masters taught no-thought 無念. Think of thought as interference which hides their very source. So, if you want to intuit the source, thoughts/interference is blocking you.
To see the very source of thoughts also means transcending our thoughts which is very difficult to do. We are always aware of our thoughts not to mention the ‘head chatter’ and the emotions. So how can we ever see this mysterious source — the source of thoughts?
So far he hasn’t responded to my last text message. What I have learned from Cecil is that he is almost a slave to his thoughts, his imagination and his impulses; maybe more so than the average person but by and large nothing like a psychotic break (he had one a year or two ago).
From Zen’s point of view, our thoughts can easily become adversarial and almost harmful to the study and practice of Zen. For some of us, it is almost like we are in a wagon being pulled by a team of horses, suddenly, we just lost hold of the reins! Now we are at the mercy of these galloping horses. Eventually, the horses stop, being tired, but for us humans thought, as being adversarial, can continue for what seems like a long time.
Zen, to be frank, is not well equipped to deal with problems like this. The cause could be anything from psychological (terrible child rearing practices, etc.) to physiological causes. Zen is really meant for those who are well put together who have not lost the reins; who in fact keep the reins tight and take good care of their horses and wagon!
Comments