An introduction to Zen Buddhism

AN INTRODUCTION TO ZEN BUDDHISM

disappointmentwehaveneverbeenabletoobtainpeaceofmind,

perfecthappiness,andathoroughunderstandingoflifeandthe

world.Wehavecome,asitwere,totheendofourwits.No

furtherstepscouldwetakewhichwouldleadustoabroader

fieldofreality. Theinmostagoniesofthesoulcouldnot be

expressedinwords,whenlo!lightcomesoverourentirebeing.

ThisisthebeginningofZen.Forwenowrealize that "A is

not-A"afterall,thatlogicisonesided,thatillogicalityso-calledis

notinthelastanalysisnecessarilyillogical;whatissuperficially

irrationalhasafterallitsownlogic,whichisincorrespondence

withthetruestateofthings."Empty-handedIgo,andbehold

thespadeisinmyhands!"Bythiswearemadeperfectlyhappy,

forstrangelythiscontradictioniswhatwehavebeenseekingfor

allthetimeeversincethedawningoftheintellect.Thedawning

oftheintellectdidnotmeantheassertionoftheintellectbutthe

transcendingofitself.Themeaningoftheproposition"AisA"

isrealizedonlywhen"Aisnot-A".Tobeitselfisnottobeitself

—thisisthelogicofZen,andsatisfiesallouraspirations.

"Thefloweris notred,thewillow isnot green."This is

regardedbyZendevoteesasmostrefreshinglysatisfying.Solong

aswethinklogicfinalwearechained,wehavenofreedomof

spirit,andtherealfactsoflifearelostsightof.Now,however,

wehavethekeytothewholesituation;wearemasterofrealities

;

wordshavegivenuptheirdominationoverus.Ifwearepleased

tocallaspadenotaspade,wehavetheperfectrighttodoso;

aspadeneednotalwaysremainaspade;and,moreover,this,

accordingtotheZenmaster,expressesmorecorrectlythestate

ofrealitywhichrefusestobetieduptonames.

Thisbreakingupofthetyrannyofnameandlogicisatthe

same time spiritual emancipation; for the soul is no longer

dividedagainstitself.Byacquiringtheintellectualfreedomthe

soulisinfullpossessionofitself;birthanddeathnolongertor-

mentit;fortherearenosuchdualitiesanywhere;weliveeven

throughdeath.Hithertowehavebeenlookingatthingsintheir

contradictinganddifferentiatingaspect,andhaveassumedan

attitudetowardtheminaccordancewiththatview,thatis,more

orlessantagonistic.Butthishasbeenrevolutionized,wehaveat

lastattainedthepointwheretheworldcanbeviewed,asitwere,
fromwithin.Therefore,"theirontreesareinfullbloom";and"in