From: "Bill Smart" < I have found zazen to be a more successful method of
encouraging awakening than Dharma study. If you can engage in Dharma study
without creating an ego (a separation of the materials read from the
reader), and resist the temptation to intellectualize (try to 'understand')
the texts, then I'm sure it would be fine. >>
I think that what you are writing is true for you and many others.
For me, having a Zen book handy to refresh certain ideas or to read some old
tales of humility or enlightenment, etc. is good for me. I enjoy the
reminders, and I find it helps me to be more conscientious when I regularly
read the examples of others who have had to live in stressful situations.
You have to cultivate the soil before you can plant the seeds which must be
nurtured before you can harvest the crops.
However, I believe that the anti-intellectualism than NM refers to is not
what you are referring to. Many folks have seen Mr. Myagi, Kwai Chan Caine,
Neo and others in various movies tell their friends and/or students to find
the answer within (without mentioning study, books, meditation), and these
film-fans believe they can just blink their eyes and tap their inner Guru
and become instant mystical fountains of wisdom.
I think it is people that frequently join any Zen list and start spouting
their personal philosophy about life and become offended and sometimes even
enraged when any reference to Zen is put forth. They are anti-intellectual
because it is the easier half-assed way to approach spirituality. These are
the same folks that walk into the back of the church at the end of the
service so that they can feel like they attended church, but they did not
have to listen to the sermon (or pray).
Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi
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