"While I am thinking about it there is a very good book on Buddhism recently
out called 'Buddhism, Plain and Simple', by Steve Hagen and published by Tuttle
Publishing. I recommend you get it because it shows the similarities, between
the MOQ and Zen Buddhism more clearly than any other I have seen."
Pirsig to McWatt, May 6th 1998.
-------------
"The second form of dukkha is change. All aspects of our experience, both
physical and mental, are in constant flux and change.
"Whatever we think, whatever we can point to or look at or talk about, is
in constant flux. If we are in our ordinary state of mind, as opposed to an
awakened state, this flux registers as dissatisfaction, disturbance, dukkha.
"Even if we manage to make our situation comfortable for the moment, it
can only be temporary. All circumstances surrounding this momentary situation
will inevitably change. And when they do, our momentary pleasure will depart,
only to reveal dukkha once again.
"This attempt to nail down the world is a profound, if subtle,
manifestation of the second form of dukkha. It is so painful and disturbing
because it's nothing more than our desperate attempt to defy Reality. We may
long for an other-worldly abode, a place where such pain and vexation will
never strike. We may even try to create such a place, internally or
externally. But no such place exists, or ever has, or ever can. A moment
reflection on death should make this obvious. Everything that lives must die;
everything that comes into being must come to an end or change its form. It is
simply impossible for anything to exist and not change.
"So long as we remain in our ordinary state of mind, there's no escape
from inevitable dukkha brought about by change. But we tend not to look at
this. Instead, we generally try to control and manipulate the world: our
lives, our relationships, events, people. This attempt is the single greatest
source of the second type of dukkha.
"Until we _see_ that this is so, our highest priority will still be to get
in there and control and manipulate. We honestly believe that in doing so we
can make the world better for ourselves and everyone else. We won't realize
that all we create in the process is havoc --- pain, vexation, and mental and
physical distress: dukkha.
"Our one way out is not through control or intentional action, but through
_seeing_. _Just seeing_ is enough. But how and what to _see_? We 'll come to
that shortly."
(Hagen, Steve, ‘Buddhism: Plain and Simple’, pp.30-31)
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