An introduction to Zen Buddhism

ANINTRODUCTION TO ZENBUDDHISM

Zenwasbeyondquestion.Butfromourcommon-sensepointof
viewnoamountofintellectual resourcefulnesscanbebrought

up>onhisflatdenialsothatitcansomehowbereconciledwith

theplainfactitself. Zenis, therefore, quite mercilesstoward

those critics who take the story of the cypress-tree foran

expressionsavouringofMahayanapantheism.

Thekoans,therefore,aswehaveseen,aregenerallysuchas

toshutupallpossibleavenuestorationalization.Afterafew

presentationsofyourviewsintheinterviewwith themaster,

whichistechnicallycalledsem-zfn,youaresuretocometothe

endofyourresources,andthiscomingtoaad-de-sacisreallythe

truestartingpointinthestudyofZen.Noonecanenterinto

Zenwithoutthisexperience. Whenthis pointisreached the

kocnsmayberegardedas havingaccomplishedahalfofthe

objectforwhichtheystand.

To speakconventionally—andI thinkit iseasierfor the

generalreadertoseeZenthuspresented—thereareunknown

recessesinour mindswhich liebeyond thethreshold ofthe

relatively constructed consciousness. To designate them as

"sub-consciousness" or "supra-consciousness" is not correct.

Theword"beyond"isusedsimplybecauseitisamostconvenient

term toindicate theirwhereabouts. But as a matteroffact

thereis no "beyond", no "underneath", no "upon" in our

consciousness. Themindis oneindivisible whole andcannot

betorninpieces. Theso-calledUnaincognitaistheconcession

ofZentoourordinarywayoftalking,becausewhateverfieldof

consciousnessthatisknowntousisgenerallyfilledVNithconcep>-

tualriffraff,andtogetridofthem,whichisabsolutelynecessary

formaturingZenexperience,theZenpsychologistsometimes

pointstothepresenceofsomeinaccessibleregioninourminds.

Though inactuahty there bno suchregion apartfrom our

everydayconsciousness,we talkofitasgenerallymoreeasily

comprehensible by us. When the koan breaks down all the

hindrancestotheultimatetruth,weallrealizethatthereare,

afterall,nosuchthingsas"hiddenrecessesofmind"oreventhe

truthofZenapf)earingallthetimesomysterious.

Thekoanisneitherariddlenorawittyremark.It hasa

mostdefiniteobjective,thearousingofdoubtandpushingitto

its furthestlimits. Astatement built upona logical basis is

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