What's wrong with attachments? I suppose that would
depend upon your defintion of attachment. I define
attachments as psychological crutches.
For example, I see no problem with enjoying samsaric
pleasures, so long as they are kept in perspective. I
like a soak in a hot tub as much the next guy, and
Lord knows my stiff shoulders could really use one
sometimes, but the absence of a jacuzzi in my life
does not affect my overall happiness, nor do I feel
that the presence of a jacuzzi would complete me as a
human being.
I view the strict discipline and concentration in many
traditional Buddhist monastaries as a means of ridding
oneself of all dependency on samsaric whatnots.
However, once someone has reached that point of
control, there really is no reason for them to deny
themselves a good hot tub soak now and again if
circumstances permit.
Personally, I lead a lay practice. I am seeking to
eliminate as many attachments as possible, but I'm not
willing to take my moderation to the extreme so that I
can purge myself of them all. At least not at this
point in time.
SPROCKET
_____________________________________________________
Alex said:
>Hey Guy,
I'm in a bit of a rush now, as my course is about to
start in 20 minutes. I'll see what I can squeeze for
now, and then maybe give you something more cogent
tomorrow. How's that? Deal?
I always like to put Zen in the context. Forgive me if
this is old news to you, but I'd like to reiterate
that 'Zen' is a Japanese word which is a translation
of the Chinese word 'Chan' which is a translation of
the Sanskrit word 'Dhyana'. Now the buck stops here!
What does Dhyana mean? Dhyana means concentration.
Concentration on what? On examining phenomena.
Most Buddhist practitioners I know, if asked what is
the most important thing one needs to do in order to
realize enlightenment, would say that it's to get rid
of attachments.
But when we examine attachments carefully (i.e. when
we concentrate on them utilizing dhyana), we don't
find anything particularly objectionable and bad about
them. So, why should we abandon them? Why would
attachments be any worse than non-attachments?
Actually, to be perfectly honest here, pretty much
nobody ever examines these things. Let's face it, we
all take them for granted, simply because we read
about them in some book, or someone told us to do so.
But you see, this is the worst part, the fact that no
one examines anything. Everyone is looking only for
instant gratification. So:
abandon attachments == attain enlightenment
Simple as that. And we're done!
Most people need pithy slogans, simplistic formulas
(like the one above), and such. No one wants to
perform the real work that is absolutely necessary in
order for them to wake up.
Zen is being sold nowadays as this quick and easy high
road to satori. You don't have to know anything about
the Buddha's teaching, just come and sit with us, and
bingo! you'll get enlightened. What's more, expending
any effort to learn about the Buddha's teaching will
only make things worse for you. So, kill the Buddha!
What I'd like to ask all of you here is to try and
explain why do you think that attachment should be
regarded as bad? In other words, what could possibly
be wrong with attachment? Or, conversely, why do you
think it's not bad?
Then I'll return tomorrow and explain myself. But for
now, I'd have to excuse myself.
Thanks.
Alex
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