An introduction to Zen Buddhism

AN INTRODUCTION TO ZEN BUDDHISM

himself,beinglostinonevastemptiness,whateverthismaybe.

ThisinterpretationagainfailstohitZenaright.Itistruethat

therearesomesuchexpressionsinZenasmightsuggestthiskind

ofinterpretation,buttounderstandZenwemustmakealeap

here.The"vastemptiness"mustbetraversed.Thesubjectmust

beawakenedfromastateofunconsciousnessifhedoesnotwishto

beburiedalive.Zenisattainedonlywhen"self-intoxication"is

abandonedandthe"drunkard"isreallyawakenedtohisdeeper

self.Ifthemindisevertobe"murdered",leavetheworkinthe

handofZen;foritisZenthatwillrestorethemurderedand

lifelessoneintoastateofeternallife."Bebomagain,beawak-

enedfromthedream,risefromthedeath,Oyedrunkards!"

Zenwouldexclaim.Donottry,therefore,toseeZenwiththe

eyesbandaged;andyourhandsaretoounsteadytotakehold

ofit.AndrememberIamnotindulginginfiguresofspeech.

Imightmultiplymanysuchcriticismsifitwerenecessary

butIhopethattheabovehavesufficientlypreparedthereader's

mindforthefollowingmorepositivestatementsconcerningZen.

ThebasicideaofZenistocomeintouchwiththeinnerworkings

ofourbeing, andtodothisin themostdirectwaypossible,

withoutresortingtoanythingexternalorsuperadded.Therefore,

anythingthat has thesemblance ofan external authorityis

rejectedbyZen.Absolutefaithisplacedinaman'sowninner

being.ForwhateverauthoritythereisinZen,allcomesfrom

within.Thisistrueinthestrictestsenseoftheword.Eventhe

reasoningfacultyis not consideredfinalorabsolute. Onthe

contrary,it hindersthemindfrom comingintothedirectest

communicationwithitselfTheintellectaccomplishesitsmission

|whenitworksasanintermediary,andZenhasnothingtodowith

'anintermediaryexceptwhenitdesirestocommunicateitselfto

others.Forthisreasonallthescripturesaremerelytentativeand

provisory;thereisinthemnofinality.Thecentralfactoflifeasit

islivediswhatZenaimstograsp,andthisinthemostdirectand

mostvitalmanner.ZenprofessesitselftobethespiritofBudd-

hism,butinfactitisthespiritofallreligionsandphilosophies.

WhenZenisthoroughlyunderstood,absolutepeaceofmindis

attained,andamanlivesasheoughttolive.Whatmoremaywe

hope?

SomesaythatasZenisadmittedlyaformofmysticismit