The Emperor's New Clothes
Everyone
cried: "The boy is right!"
(Hans
Christian Anderson)
Koan
If you research zen
koan,
there are often explanations available.
These explanations are questionable, since the whole point of a koan is the
direct realisation of the truth: an
insight.
Many of the descriptions are Zen Buddhist in nature and reflect a
convoluted, religious approach to zen.
They refer to Buddhist concepts and beliefs.
Koan should not be seen as conceptual.
Whilst you may analyse, explore, question and wonder at
the purpose of the koan, the ultimate point will be as real as a slap in the
face.
You will suddenly see it.
Zen is the immediate, the spontaneous, the moment. It is not found through
thinking.
Understanding koan
David Schiller's excellent book A Little Zen Companion often features
a traditional zen koan (or saying) on one page and then a more contemporary
equivalent on the facing page.
By offering two different routes to the same insight, Schiller helps you to
see through any Buddhist 'red tape' and appreciate the meaning directly.
Conventions
Conventions, ideas,
beliefs and
traditions encase our lives.
When you see
how much is made up, you find an enormous reservoir of
humour within yourself.
So
much that we worry about is not actually real.
It was all made up. It is only
real if you believe it to be.
Consider: engagement, marriage, fidelity, infidelity, trust, faith,
authority, hierarchy, money, mortgages, loans, commitment, debt, insurance,
fashion, prestige, status and
meaning.
The list is relentless, feel free to add your own topics.
None of it is really real.
If you grew up in the jungle, raised by chimps,
would you care about your
car?
Why do you care, now?
Because somebody
conditioned you to be bothered.
More...
Page created 13 May 2003