An introduction to Zen Buddhism

AN INTRODUCTION TO ZEN BUDDHISM

one's natviralbent withoutquestioning its originandvalue.

Thereisagreatdifferencebetweenhumanactionandthatof

theanimals,whicharelackinginmoralintuitionandreligious

consciousness.Theanimalsdonotknowanythingaboutexert-

ingthemselvesinordertoimprovetheirconditionsortoprogress

in the way to higher virtues. Sekkyowas one day working

inthekitchenwhenBaso,hisZenteacher,cameinandasked

whathewasdoing."I amherdingthecow,"saidthepupil.

"Howdoyouattendher?""Ifshegoesoutofthepathevenonce,

Ipullherbackstraightwaybythenose;notamoment'sdelay

is allowed." Saidthemaster, "Youtruly know howtotake

careofher."Thisisnotnaturalism.Hereisanefforttodothe
rightthing.

Adistinguishedteacherwasonceasked,"Doyouevermake

anvefforttogetdisciplinedinthetruth?"
"Yes,Ido."

"Howdoyouexerciseyourself?"

"WhenIamhungryIeat;whentiredIsleep."

"Thisbwhateverybodydoes;cantheybesaidtobeexer-

cisingthemselvesinthesamewayasyoudo?"

"No."

"Whynot?"

"Becausewhentheyeattheydonoteat,butarethinkingof

variousotherthings,therebyallowingthemselvestobediturbed

;

whentheysleeptheydonotsleep, butdreamofathousand

andonethings.Thisiswhytheyarenotlikemyself."

IfZenistobecalled aformofnaturalism, thenitisso
witharigorousdisciplineatthebackofit. Itisinthatsense,

andnotasitisunderstoodbylibertines,thatZenmaybedesig-

natednaturalism.Thelibertineshavenofreedomofwill,theyare

boundhandsandfeetbyexternalagenciesbeforewhichtheyare

utterlyhelpless.Zen,onthecontrary,enjoysp>erfectfreedom;

thatis,itismasterofitself.Zenhasno"abidingplace",touse

a favourite expression in the Prajnaparamita Sutras. When a

thinghasitsfixedabode,itisfettered,itisnomoreabsolute.

Thefollowingdialoguewillveryclearlyexplainthisp>oint.

Amonkasked,"Whereistheabidingplaceforthemind?"

"Themind,"answeredthemaster,"abideswherethereis

noabiding."