On 7/29/05, mihaeru <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> Last but not least, I would like to ask the following:
> Neutral Milk wrote:
> >"intellectual thinking is absolutely necessary in Zen training"
> Could you give an example? I think we are talking about two sides of
> the same coin.
Earlier I've provided an example of the 'thorn in the eye' (actually,
it's posted in another thread, but I don't feel like reposting the
same thing here, so as to avoid flogging the bandwidth).
In order to get the thorn out of one's eyeball, one needs to use a
thorn. Sounds a bit paradoxical, but it actually works.
In the same fashion, in order to relieve oneself from the terror of
incessant intellectual chit-chat, one needs to use one's intellect.
Paradoxical again, but that's the only way to do it.
Most people don't seem to understand what an intellect really is. They
tend to think that it's our enemy (it makes us think and plan, makes
accountable, increases the burden of our responsibility, etc., and who
on earth needs that?), and that we need to turn our backs on it.
That's why some of them so eagerly embrace the "just shut up and sit
down" doctrine.
Nothing could be more foolish than doing that! The reason the Buddha
explained that it is the most advantageous thing in the world to be
born as a human being is precisely because of the intellectual
propensity that only humans are endowed with. We have the weapon in
our hands, we can certainly slay the dragon of delusion. Everybody can
do it, it's guaranteed.
All we have to do is learn how to use it. Consequently, there is the
need for the Buddhist training.
> Also, some statements seem to be more a question of definition than
> opinion itself to me. Take, for example the word "word(s)". I am
> understanding words as something spoken or written. So, I think, the
> Buddha did not use words, when transmitting the Dharma to Mahakasyapa.
> Or am I mistaken?
Again, see my explanation on the terror of language in another thread.
Everything we do stems from words. It may not always look like that on
the surface, but if you fully concentrate and then examine any
situation at hand, you'll undoubtedly see that the language concepts
underly everything. This is what the Buddha called avidya.
There is no other way for you, me, us, to know about the 'wordless'
incident between the Buddha and Mahakashyapa than through the use of
words. How else would you find out about it? Even if you were actually
there, as a first hand witness, you'd still find out about it through
words and concepts, even if no words got uttered there.
So why would we then spit on the same words that help us soothe our
suffering? There is no other way for us to extinguish suffering than
through words. How else would we know about Dharma, how else would we
know about the Buddhist training? How else would we know about the
Four Noble Truths?
How else would we know about zazen?
Current Book Discussion: Appreciate Your Life by Taizan Maezumi Roshi
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