Creating the demons which guard the open mind

The Zen student's mind before it intuitively awakens to what is actually the Buddha-nature, is engaged in trying to predict what Zen is saying as regards direct intuition of this Buddha-nature.  I will say that there is very little if any success in such an undertaking.  It is like trying to know before we actually know. 

Nevertheless, the process of predicting goes on in the study of Zen.  In fact, it goes on to such a degree that it actually reinforces this predictive process.  As a result of this process it becomes even more difficult to overcome and have an open mind. 

Have an open mind is easy to say, but actually having one's mind open is next to impossible.  We are always hampered by the habit of trying to predict, that is, to know before we know or to estimate what the future will be.  Such a course of action always ends by going down the wrong road ending up at a dead end.

How does the student of Zen obtain an open mind?  First of all, it is perhaps easier to look and see what an open mind is not. This would be a closed mind.  This also would be a mind engaged in the process of prediction.  This might even include anticipation or guessing what Zen means by an open mind!  But how can you know before you know?

The scary thing about an open mind is you lose all sense of direction and purpose.  You give up seeking Zen’s holy grail without knowing that you are giving up.  It sounds like this person might be hopelessly depressed.  But this is not always true.  How do you get into a state where you lose all sense of direction and purpose?  Pretending that you are in this state like a movie actor is out of the question.

The experience of having an open mind is much different than pretending to have an open mind.  We could say that an open mind is guarded by demons which are powerful.  The Zen student must fight their way through these demons.  This involves outguessing yourself which has created all these demons to guard the open mind!  Eventually, you don't create any more demons.  One moment you just forget to create them.  That is when you enter through the mysterious Dharma gate.

Comments

[n. yeti]

Zennist:

Indeed so! In that light perhaps you could expound a little more on Marx or Islam?

:)

Be well old friend.

[TheZennist]

Yeti: I enjoy the comments even the argumentative ones. I have long realized that the path of Zen has a lot of instances where a person has to start over after their theory turns into doubt. Then they have to try something else and that fails!
Everyone's comments works in the direction of helping other people to doubt their own approach; to get to that mysterious moment where they no longer have any ideas left; they are at their wits' end, emptied out.

[n. yeti]

Zennist:

I think it goes without saying that everyone who follows this blog wishes you the best of health and enjoys reading your commentary. Just in case it never got said before, thanks for hosting this blog.

[TheZennist]

Eidolon: I acquired this body in 1945. I didn't read the guarantee. If I remember, it mentioned something about old age and death. But I didn't pay very much attention to it at the time. I kept attaching to the zygote. Boy that was fun! Then one day on 17 August I popped out of the paradise I was in. Was I entering hell? I mean it's been a catastrophe since that time. And then I discovered Buddhism. It really helped me to put things into the proper perspective so I wouldn't confuse my fantasies with reality. The Zen (intuition) I realized in 1969 allowed me to see the spirit (pure Mind) from which our thoughts are composed which, in our ignorance, we cannot see. That really helped me to see just how wonderful Buddhism really is! Even in this broken down old wreck of a body I still enjoy this intuition. So happy to hear from you.

[Eidolon]

Thanks, Zennist. This recent thread of your teachings is very helpful. I appreciate it, even tho' I don't comment very much. I am glad you're healthy enough again to continue this, and I appreciate your dedication to it. Keep well.