----- Original Message -----
From: "Bill!" <[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 5:12 AM
Subject: Re: [Zen] Is Chan Buddhist?
> ED,
>
> The Noble Eightfold Path is a very good example of why I don't consider
> Zen a subset of Buddhism. First of all to assert there are 8 items of
> conduct such as this borders on hubris. Also to proceed all of them with
> a qualifier 'Right' is also an example of the impertinence that
> characterizes most religions.
Bill,
First, I don't think The Eight-Fold Path makes any sort of ontological
assertion about the number of sub-categories of the category of conduct that
exist, as you seem to think it does. It is simply a pragmatic mnemonic
identifying eight areas of human action in which to apply cultivation. Might
one identify more or fewer such areas? Of course. But the particular eight
that have come down to us are (presumably) those that Shakyamuni found most
useful in teaching his students his way of applying cultivation.
Second, I don't think the qualifier "right" is meant to be taken
deontologically, as you seem to think. Substitute "skillful" for "right" (if
"right" offends you), and it is STILL The Noble Eight-Fold Path.
Another apparent tension between Zen and The Eight-Fold Path (as it is
usually presented) that has long intrigued me is this: The EFP is usually
presented as a *means* to the elimination of suffering/the attainment of
enlightenment/etc. But Zen is continually repudiating any sort of thinking
in terms of means and ends, goals to be attained, etc.
After meditating on this paradox for some time, I have come to think of the
EFP as NOT a means to enlightenment, but a *pragmatic* definition of just
what constitutes enlightenment. Enlightenment JUST IS living skillfully,
living the EFP (to the ideal?).
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