Suresh,
Yes, I am a Zen fanatic in the best sense, and on my best days. ;-)
A true fan.
A fan of the wisdom and compassion of the path that has been worked-out by
compassionate, wise, geniuses over centuries, and a fan of its efficacy for me
and certain others.
I am very glad it reached America and other countries from the places of its
original evolution. It is still very "early days", here, but I think Zen
practice has a chance of surviving longer than at least these first critical
formative generations, especially if the practices remain true and simple and
direct, and if good and safe places are established to introduce them and to
allow people to take them home.
I own-up to and reiterate that holding an image or impression of Buddha or a
god can be an impediment to our own true practice, which, yes, I repeat, is the
only process that can awaken us. Everything else written or spoken of in or
about Zen is someone else's wisdom, and will not transform us. Awakening is
transformation, it is not Information, and neither is it therapy, nor is it
learning how to "cope creatively". Awakening does not come through reading,
...nor does it come through suffering-through withering rants like this one of
mine.
Shall I say again that practice is the key? No need: I think you know this.
Hence your interest in Zen practice?, and in this forum.
Converts are the worst zealots. That is me to a "tee".
But maybe an emphasis on practice is what is needed while Zen gets established
in new areas. Otherwise, false impressions will take root instead, and people
will think Zen has something to do with thinking, reading, or understanding, or
even with commercialism.
In old areas, people already know what Zen is, and old people there will know
that people like me are only beginners, and not very wise or balanced. But, I
think they would smile and be glad, just as they smile upon other children to
whom they entrust the Future. What more could I ever hope for? Any such smile
is all the sign I need that I am just fanatic enough.
And how can I ever let myself disappoint them?
Too sleepy to answer myself tonight, fortunately.
With wishes!,
--Joe
> SURESH JAGADEESAN wrote:
>
> Dear Joe,
>
> Thanks for suggesting some good books on zen. I have gone to that
> MLBD.com website, but it listed only 4 books and three of them by
> OSHO. Please note I have read Zen through OSHO may be 5 or 6 books.
>
> Please note your remarks on Mr.Tolle are totally false. You are
> assuming everything on your own for granted. You become fanatic about
> zen. As per you, only zen is the final truth, and practice is the only
> tool.
>
> I thought zen people will be more intelligent, but you seem like any
> religious fanatic like in Christianity or Islam or in Hinduism. If you
> talk to any hard core Christian he will say `Christ is the only way'.
> If you ask hard core Muslim, he will say `allah is the only
> salvation'. If you ask a hard core Hindu, he will say only shiva is
> the way and veda is the ultimate knowledge. Now you have joined on
> this line. Alternate thinking seems impossible for the fanatic.
>
> Please note I am not against zen and the practice. But if you convert
> everything under zen and state only practice is the way, then it is
> stupidity.
>
> Please note as per zen there is no `self', then who is doing practice?
> or who decides to practice? You say it happens. Yes it is true it
> happens. All things happen in the world but there is no one is doer,
> but everyone is part and parcel of it.
>
> Yes as per zen or Buddha there is no `god'. But the word `god' has
> been misused by all religion. So in your mind the word `god' has some
> impression according to various religions such as Christianity or
> Islam or Hinduism, which is not `god'. What you have in mind for `god'
> a definition is not god.
>
> What I state as god is what you so mention as "no mind", is what I
> represent as god. For the word god what suits is this existing
> universe itself with all contents of it.
>
> For example if water is god, then water exist in gaseous form
> (non-visible) and water exist as solid in Ice form verily visible and
> water exist as liquid state, a flowing state. i.e Space, matter and
> mind (thoughts) all put together is what god is. What exist is only
> god and no individual. And hence all activity of the universe is one
> unitary process and no individual action from individual person and
> hence "karma" or you may call it "law' is in place and hence no free
> will.
>
> We are destined to discuss like this.
>
> Best regards
> Suresh
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