Archive for the ‘Zen’ Category

Zen Buddhist Resources

Friday, June 12th, 2015

Four Spiritual Laws

 

Jesus Film

 

New Testament/Bible

 

Audio Bible

臨済宗

Tuesday, October 14th, 2014

臨在または臨済宗とも知られる禅宗仏教は、明庵栄西(栄西禅師)によって日本で創設された折衷主義的な宗教運動である。
栄西禅師自身は天台宗の一修験者であったが、当時の仏教界における政治的/軍事的癒着が横行した堕落ぶりを目撃し、純粋かつ無傷な状態に回帰することで仏教を再建/復興させることが喫緊であることを悟った。その実現を志し、彼は一路中国へ渡ったのだ。

しかし当初意図していた生粋の仏教を日本へ持ち帰る代わりに、栄西はより異種混合性の増した実践法の修得を探求する結果となった。中国から禅を取り入れた結果として天台宗の密教主義と、外国の臨在宗に影響を受けることで得た要素とが合成されたのである。後に臨在宗の指導者たちが信条の合成的部分を除去し、他の競合相手たちと明確に差別化をはかりながら独自のアイデンティティを形成。その一環として立ち上がったのが「禅」という固有の宗派である。

明庵栄西が編み出した仏教形態はさらに様相を変えながら組織化され、非伝統的かつ彼の個性に応じた仏教になっていく。だが結果的に、彼が本来抱いていた原始仏教を再興する理由を煙に巻いてしまう。さらに主流の仏教家たちに受け入れられることで世に知られるようになり、大日房能忍が目指す純粋な禅宗とは一線を画すようになった。
栄西がこの新しい仏教形態を世に受け入れさせる上で採った方式には納得し難い部分があり、皮肉にも彼の当初の立場を相矛盾するようにも映る。なぜなら一般の日本人市民や大衆たちの悟りに対する関心をよそに、現状維持を目的に武士の身分や侍層たちへ門戸を開いたからである。つまり平民社会と袂を分かつ反フェミニズム的なエリート主義者たちしか相手にしなかったのである。
将軍や天皇、およびその兵士など上流層から関心を得ることに執心し、霊的な達成感や満足感を見出す一般市民のための権利を蔑ろにする態度は、到底納得し難く理解に苦しむ。この現代、その歴史的な立場に関する検証結果を受けながら、なおも厚かましく世に訴え出ようとするこの宗派の信奉者たちは、一体何を拠り所または権威の土台とするのか?
その開始当初からエリート層を対象として考案されたものであるなら、今日一般大衆に向けてアプローチする妥当性がどこにあるのか?

この他、この宗教運動に関する指摘すべきもう1つの特徴は、軍事的および愛国主義的な方法論を支持しない、原始仏教の教義を犯している点に見出される。その代表的例が仏教の大本の原理である五智に反するような、武術および剣道への回帰による攻撃的な非正統的アプローチである。仏教の信仰形態が持つ意義を考えても、この宗派は正統仏教からは排斥されて然るべきである。
嘆かわしいことにこの反発的思想は、戦前の日本において国粋主義および帝国主義を喚起し戦中における中国侵略を促したと非難される、幕府と称される武家政権台頭の種となった。
ある意味、日本の繁栄と安全保証を実現するという理想主義を広めた、臨済宗による論説的な支援行為であったと言える。しかし不幸にも、国家の壊滅状態を招く行為へと日本を後押ししたのである。もしやこの事実は、当宗派の真理告白にも該当するような隠喩として見ることができるのではないだろうか?

この他に浮上する問題は、臨済宗の改革者である白隠の下で使用された公案と、人の本質のありのままを見極める見性の哲学にある。白隠は問答および謎掛けを用いながら相手に理論を尋ねる公案と呼ばれる方法論を編み出し、修練者に人生に関する様々な側面について疑問を持たせる試みを行った。しかし皮肉にも、その疑問の中にはこのプログラムそのものや、臨在宗の教え自体に関する価値も当然含まれることになる。

この概念を命題として据えることには本質的に限界がある。このシステムでは二元論的思考を回避または克服することに執心させることを基準としているため、自らの個人的な目標、課題、傾向、推測、偏見を無にすることは過ちであるとするからだ。また全てを概念化しようとする試みは過ちであるとする信条にも、殻を破った立場から悟りを概念化しているその立場を見るとき、やはり首を傾げざるを得ない。

その上、この方法論を修得することは不可能であると断言できる。たとえ自分の心を変えることができるとしても、これらの制度的実践を活用するという発想から、それが完全な無を意味しないことが裏付けられる。そこにもやはり最終的な悟りの境地に到達したいという欲や願望が同時に働くからである。

これらを踏まえながら尋ねるが、この宗派が悟りに行き着くために用意された送迎車であるとする根拠は一体何か?また弁証法として適しているのかを推し量る手掛かりは?さらに生命の根本的機能と衝突することから、この哲学が存続することも達成されることも現実としてあり得ない。

理論に対して本能的または直感的に抱く常識とは水と油の関係であることからも、悟りへの道として抽象的な謎掛けや隠喩に傾倒する公案を用いるという発想には、疑問を禁じ得ないのではないか。結局、頭の体操によって考えをグルグルと回旋させても、頭痛を招くだけで何も得るものはない。西洋人がおそらくその様相を窺いながら察知し断言するように、この方程式を解くような頭の作業は無限の数字を熟考するようなもので、そこに真の答えを見出せない。

それに加え公案に基づく問答の応酬のみならず、目上の存在による怒号や喝および殴打/張り手などを実践し、まさに軍事訓練そのものである新兵訓練的方法論を採用する。こうして最終的に人を覚醒させる器を気取りながら、効果的に人に衝撃を与えて意思判断能力を奪う方法は、まさにカルト特有のやり口である。彼らはマインドコントロールや洗脳を使って人を催眠術にかけながら、霊的な師匠または教師としての立場を誇示し、相手の思考を自らの都合の良いように服従させる。

Brainwashing and Mind Control in Religious Cults and Elsewhere

このようなニヒリズムおよび禅病を意味する焦燥感は、地震や津波などがもたらした結果から窺えるように、「衝撃」が常に忌むべき無益な事柄であることを明確に示唆する。

知識を土砂のごとく押し出す人を混乱させるような技には、理論の枠組みを逸脱し、さらに理性的考えを重んじる社会から信者を隔離することで、悟りを開かせる意図がある。しかしこれは知性的な自殺行為を意味する危険なことであることを留意していただきたい。頭の中に植え付けられたトラウマが現実を歪めあなたを悟りの境地に達したという錯覚に酔いしれるまやかしへと誘い、最早あなたは正常ではいられなくなる。

終わりに際し、これまで理性をもって疑問に思うことを語ってきましたが、もしこれを読んで下さったあなたの気持ちを害してしまったのなら、この場でお詫びを申し上げます。ただこれはあなたを再覚醒に導きたい意思と願いから出たことであると理解していただきたいのです。しかも決して虐待的にではなくむしろ誠実にあなたと向き合い、あなたの置かれている立場への再考および再検討を促すことを通して。

最後、栄西がインスプレーションと真理を求めて中国に渡ったように、私もあなたに願いたい。ただ祈り、そして上述のことを瞑想しながら、あなた自身の心の深みを探る小旅行に出かけてみてはいかがでしょう?そしてイエスの言葉を思いめぐらすのです。

マタイによる福音書11章28〜30節
28 「疲れた者、重荷を負う者は、だれでもわたしのもとに来なさい。休ませてあげよう29 わたしは柔和で謙遜な者だから、わたしの軛を負い、わたしに学びなさい。そうすれば、あなたがたは安らぎを得られる。30 わたしの軛は負いやすく、わたしの荷は軽いからである。」

 

 

神と関係を持つ方法

 

その他のリンク

臨済宗の情報資料

Rinzai

 

 

Encyclopaedia Britannica,Inc., copyright 1993, Vol.10, pg.81, Rinzai

Encyclopaedia Britannica,Inc., copyright 1993, Vol.15, pg.290, Buddhism

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.2, pg.1244, Michio Araki

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.4, pg.2306, Roland A. Delattre

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.4, pgs.2741-2742, Martin Collcutt

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.14, pgs.9943-9951, Steven Heine

臨済宗の情報資料

Saturday, October 11th, 2014

四つの霊的な法則

Four Spiritual Laws

 

イエスの映画

Jesus Film: view in Japanese

 

新約聖書/聖書

Japanese Living Bible

 

オーディオ聖書

Faith Comes By Hearing

The Illusion of Pantheism

Thursday, May 8th, 2014

The old adage that god is all and all is god sounds something more acute as describing the camaraderie of the three Musketeers as “all for one and one for all” rather then an accurate metaphysical construct toward the nature of God which is demonstrably, fundamentally and practically flawed as incomprehensible and philosophically irreconcilable on so many levels.
First of all how is it possible for an infinite god to be anything but infinite with a corruption or change such as a fragmentation with a multiplicity of finite parts as a contradiction to gods ontology? Moreover what brought about this illusory state of ignorance away from the absolute sense of god to begin with as becoming a schizophrenic disunity? In other words how did this essential reality become an illusion? Thus if God is anything less that than ultimate then essentially god is not ultimate.
Likewise how reassuring is it that this disjointedness could ever be ultimately rejoined once again with this possibility of a relapse towards a cyclical system of samsara? Furthermore with the current population explosion what proof is there that these temporary and illusory material modes of existence are moving towards extinction resulting in a absolute state of union?
Another dilemma to the pantheistic view is that the ultimate or absolute sense of god is portrayed as being amoral and yet humanity, as god, functions as moral creatures. Again how is it possible that this higher form of amorality is able to devolve into a lower form of morality? Yet Hindus are encouraged to behave benevolently towards others which intuitively seems contrary to reaching their final amoral state. Essentially their actions, not their pantheistic philosophy, pragmatically suggest that such philanthropy is of a greater, rather than a lesser, order in comparison to its amoral counterpart especially as it contributes to the very survival of civilization, culture and society. Thus to accommodate their theory as a stepping stone in reaching nirvana or moksha is plainly irreconcilable to how they value and conduct their day to day lives. Also how can moral distinctions be illusory and virtually meaningless and then somehow mysteriously transform these meritorious deeds as making them meaningful or substantial which seems to be more like magic than ultimate truth? In reality, according to pantheists belief, there should be no need in differentiating between the acts of Adolf Hitler and say Mother Teresa since there is no real difference and to otherwise object would be to criticize god. Yet which pantheist lives beyond moral attributes as idly standing by while being morally violated which again is a testament towards the realism of a universal justice system as deliberating right from wrong? To say there is no distinction in the value between a friend giving a gift and for a thief to steal that gift is just plainly dishonest and a lie. Can you imagine a world and society that is governed without moral boundaries as having to live in a lawless state of anarchy? Basically the pantheist innately understands that there is something real and significant to having ethical standards for social engagement as something which they can not and should never be liberated from or avoid and which survives even beyond death or the grave as believing in the karmic forces of retribution which shows that moral values, according to Hindu beliefs, are significantly relevant in understanding the consequence of immorality as violating the universal principles of right and wrong/good and evil. Finally in this regards I am not saying that Hindus are immoral but what I am establishing is that they really don’t have a firm basis to act accordingly if such behavior is essentially unreal or illusional and to accommodate their belief as stating that this is merely a necessary means to the end takes special pleading which is falsified by their lifestyle. Finally to say that god is amoral is making the concept of god equivalent to that of an insane sociopath.
Another matter is that the pantheist will reject reason and logic such as with the law of non contradiction as stating that “A and non A “ are one and the same reality, and yet their daily living does not coincide with this belief system nor does their pantheistic philosophy which supports a dualism of what is true and false based on differentiating between reality and illusion. Some examples of this unfounded theory would be for the pantheist to assert that a person does not exist which ironically requires a person to exist to make such claims. Also it specifies that there are actual infinities within a time/space dimension which is a fantasy and a myth that only resides within mathematical formulations. Moreover to declare in their limited state that god is unknowable is self defeating as well as making an omniscient and absolute statement about knowledge as a finite creature.
Additionally, if the pantheist was consistent with their own doctrinal beliefs it should cause them to be skeptical of their very own statements which come from finite beings and who could be deluded themselves to invent the concept of man as being divine. Therefore they can’t really even trust their very own system of thought as being subjected to its limitations as depending on the illusory minds of human teachers and texts that may be delusional in their content of which I strongly suspect as this whole philosophical system is basically and self evidently counterintuitive as being unnatural and irregular especially as there is no confirmation or effective demonstration that supports these beliefs as being falsified through the actions of their daily lives. After all what evidence does the pantheist have to suggest that the material world is unreal? What verifiable method do they have to prove their point against a naturalistic reality? Moreover which pantheist would dare cross the street without looking both ways for traffic as only believing that vehicles are just a figment of their imagination? Consequently, it is much more conceivable to believe in a physical reality then the science fiction of the Matrix which is only the creative illusion of a Hollywood production. In addition to all of this, to state that we are merely living in a dream like fantasy world that isn’t really real but only appears that way is just plain nonsense. Thus this whole kind of irrationality regarding illusions is just unsustainable and abnormal in showing a lesser degree of probability or plausibility then its antithesis.
The other unrealistic aspect of their philosophy is that individuality or personality such as the conscience, will, emotions, and intellect are likewise illusional and are opposite to the simplistic nature and character of god and yet in reality what person does not function this way unless they are comatose? It appears that this oversimplification of god is unconvincing in light of the cosmological and teleological evidences regarding the complexity of design and origins which I have previously written about as well in other articles.

Atheist and Agnostic

Moreover to say that god is more congruent to that of a rock or a stick basically signifies that humanity is really lagging behind on the evolutionary scale of progression towards godhood. It seems like going backwards in reincarnation is a move forward as aligning oneself with god.
In regards to this whole god concept it also seems contrary to how some Hindus relate to others as differentiating between the members of their society with a caste system which treats the Dalit as sub-human. Yet to disrespect another representative of god is essentially to disrespect yourself.
Another value within Hindu society is to be tolerant in teaching that “All paths lead to God” which I have already written about in another blog and yet for the nationalistic Hindu to violently react against invading philosophies and religions shows that they really don’t believe or accept this as they see it as a disharmony to their culture by which they  vehemently attack other belief systems.

All Paths Lead to God

In conclusion this whole methodology towards pantheistic realism is really just a mirage of backwards or reverse engineering to accommodate or manage the struggle of life with its pain, suffering, and death as an attempt to erect a monument as trying to establish an institution to house all of life within the framework of a single structure. It is a reactionary attempt to explain and unify such diversity in life as trying to force a square peg in a round hole and yet it just doesn’t work that way. Therefore to make such claims of orthodoxy without orthopraxy is virtually unreal, unenlightening and unorthodox. Jesus referred to this mentality as hypocrites who pretended to be something they weren’t.
Perhaps this whole conceptual idea of illusion is a way or path of coping with the tragedy and differences of life as giving a sense of hopeful reconciliation. However to believe or desire something no matter how sincere you are does not necessary make something real or unreal for that matter. Respectfully, to think that Hindu society at large is more advanced in enlightenment based on their religious views is contrary and unfounded based on the infirmity of its society which contains many of the world’s lepers and blind which show that such practices and beliefs do not lead to a more enlightened path or society.
Lastly I would like to propose a biblical world view that has been scrutinized and yet shown to be historically and philosophically reliable as a coherent, relevant, and plausible system as an explanation to life as a defining a more probable reality.
The bible offers an overarching explanation to reality as revealing that a eternally transcendent, omniscient and omnipotent God created all realities, both physical and spiritual, with mankind as the pinnacle of His created order. Mankind is made in Gods image, though not God, as sharing in His qualities as a consciously moral and intellectual being who has the volition as a free moral agent and yet in spite of this greatness has paradoxically chose to rebel against the holiness of his Creator causing a corporate split or separation between humanity and God as mankind received a sinful nature. The good news in all of this, is that God as the sovereign potentate, as a personal and merciful being, brought forth Jesus into the world, who as Lord, became flesh and blood to save and redeem mankind in bringing humanity back to God through a reconciliatory and redemptive effort of obedience in giving His physical life as a type of sacrifice to liberate and set free mankind as offering His perfect self on the implement of human suffering, namely the cross. This legally forensic and substitutional transaction satisfied God’s justice in making this transaction a means of payment as securing salvation for those who trust in Him resulting in eternal life and peace with God in unifying us with Him as forgiving humanity in saving us from the final outcome of eternal death which would have otherwise resulted in the perpetual suffering of those who willfully reject this gracious and provisionally kind offering which in the most ultimate sense has eliminated the consequence and outcome of pain and suffering by removing the curse that had once alienated us from God. Conclusively, this may all appear as a mystery of words, terms and concepts but apart from the self attempts of human religion and its rigors of meritorious deeds, those who simply call upon His name will receive complete liberation in this life and the life to come as relationally receiving a glorious and heavenly inheritance.

John 8:36

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Mt 11:28-30
28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
How to know God
jesusandjews.com
English

 

 

 

Holman QuickSource Guide to Christian Apologetics, copyright 2006 by Doug Powell, ”Reprinted and used by permission.”

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007

禅宗資料

Monday, September 30th, 2013

四つの霊的な法則

Four Spiritual Laws

 

イエスの映画

Jesus Film: view in Japanese

 

新約聖書/聖書

Japanese Living Bible

 

オーディオ聖書

Faith Comes By Hearing

禅宗

Monday, September 30th, 2013

日本から持ち込まれた禅は、アメリカ合衆国内だけでも数十万人の信者を擁し、欧米で流行の宗教となっています。

この形態の仏教は仏陀(釈迦)にその起源があるとしていますが、現実には伝統的形態の仏教から分岐、新生したものであり、もしも仏陀自身が現在生きているとすれば、彼自身がこの新形態を持つ宗教の集まりを認めることに困難を覚えるであろうと思われます。

この結果として生じた仏教哲学の非永続性は、自己陶酔的見地へ更に進んだだけのものであり、多くの信者、特にアメリカ合衆国で、またハリウッドでさえ、この生活様式をすでに承認し、この信仰という車の後部座席に乗り込み、悟り到達へのよく知られた快楽的ドライブを楽しんでいる人たちの心を惹きつけてきました。

禅宗においては、主観主義と神秘主義とが、何らの従うべき一連の儀式や聖典を伴うことなく宗教的性質の秩序となっています。

瞑想が行いに取って代わり、悟りは即刻到達できるとされています。

禅宗の危険性は、倫理相対主義という棘のあるバラを摘んでしまったことにあります。一見、それは自己表現の美しい形態のようにみえても、本質的には無法、混沌、そして最終的には無秩序へと繋がっていきうる見解なのです。

禅宗はまた、それ自体の動向に従い、進むべき方向を決める方法として直感に頼るため、正しい方向であれ、誤った方向であれ、どちらに向かうべきか、人々を様々な方向に導くことになります。最終的に、この種の哲学は、車のハンドルをコントロールしたい支配者の導き以外には従うべき交通規則というものがないために、人を衝突が避けられない路へと導いていきかねません。

また、この形態の無神論的信念には究極の道徳律や、人々の心を律する立法者がないために、その哲学は社会的責任という意識を付随するものでもありません。それは歩行者でごった返している下り道をブレーキのない車を運転して下るようなものです。私たちは、この種の神を恐れない向こう見ずな行動が、そのプロパガンダを最終的解決法として布告しながら、その道筋に大殺戮の犠牲者たちを残してきたのを目撃してきました。

人道主義だとか利他主義だとして主張されているものが共産主義や社会主義の領域を通じて働き、皮肉にも、この理想主義の惑わしのもと、人間の命の本来の価値や尊厳を無視した社会病質的な何百万人もの殺害へと繋がりました。

このことについては、私がブログに記載したものこちらのリンクにありますので、ご興味のある方はお読みください。

宗教は世界における諸悪の根源である

禅宗はかつてこれらの極端な犯罪を犯したことがないとはいえ、理論的にはそのまま放っておけば、その最終的に向かっている方向から判断して、何も抑制力を引き出すものがないであろうことが十分に考えられます。

それは、禅宗には他者を侵害することとしての罪の概念が全くないために、支配的権威に対して反逆的であり、むしろ、個人を仏心を持つ者としての自己神聖化の可能性と権利を持つ究極の権威者としてみなしているためです。

この宗教は自己に中心をおいてはいますが、それでも社会との接点が不可避であるため社会的です。

そこでお尋ねしますが、あなたは本当に禅精神の教理にコントロールされ影響された世界秩序をお望みですか?

個人的には私はその主目的が自己実現の瞑想に焦点を当てるような自己中心的で自己支配的ないかなるカルト的運動団体にも懐疑的です。

ですから、この哲学体系に関してあなたのとられるポジションを、客観的真理の理論解釈分野に向かってこの運動の概念的見解を見越して熟考し、再評価されることをお勧めいたします。

また、テモテへの手紙二第3章15節に、イエス・キリストに対する信仰によって救いにいたる知恵を与えられるのは聖書の神の御言葉を黙想することによってであると述べている聖句について思いを巡らしてみていただきたいとお願いしたく思います。

 

 

 

神と関係を持つ方法

禅宗資料

Zen Buddhism

Soto Zen Buddhist Resources

Thursday, October 4th, 2012

Four Spiritual Laws

 

 

 

Jesus Film

 

 

 

New Testament/Bible

 

 

 

 

Audio Bible

Soto

Saturday, September 29th, 2012

Dogen Zenji developed what is known today as the Soto sect of Japanese Zen Buddhism as taken from the Chinese Caodong school of thought. Dogen Kigen was originally a practitioner of Tendai and like Myoan Eisai travelled to China to find the true path of Buddhism. His quest led him to study Chan which involved the use of Koans which he eventually became disenchanted with leading him to search out a different style of Chan under the tutelage of Rujing. This form of deviant Zen would take the expression of Zazen or Shikantaza which is a seated meditation that involves no objects, anchors or content in allowing streams of thoughts to freely come and go without interference which if practiced is said to be equivalent to enlightenment. Amazingly these two men were basically contemporaries that had both travelled to China for nearly the same reasons and even studied the same religion of Chan but came up with two completely different methods or systems for attaining enlightenment. Whereas  Myoan Eisai focused on the use of Koans; Buppo Dogen emphasized the practice of Zazen which both believed were critical instruments for enlightenment. Thus my question is which was right if either?

Also Eihei Dōgen supposedly sought to restore Buddhism to its original and pristine state and yet it is not even historically orthodox to the more traditional form of buddhism known as Theravada but rather supports the Mahayana branch of devotion. Joyo Daishi also deviates from the religious practice of Chinese Chan by formulating his own brand of buddhism as incorporating faith in one’s master and the Buddha along with the study of the sutras apart from the zen teaching that stresses self realization. This movement was further altered and degenerated by the influential teaching and practices of Keizan Jōkin also known as Taiso Jōsai Daishi who brought in a mixture of expression which incorporated such matters as Tendai esotericism along with Dogen’s monastic rules and rigorous meditation which seems to move further away from the practice of “zazen alone” for enlightenment. Keizan’s disciple Gasan Joseki, in a popularity campaign, further joined the elements of shamanism and religious folklore such as the belief  in divinities to protect the welfare of sacred sites. This along with attaining worldly benefits such as prosperity, fertility and safety during travel is a compromise from the traditional practices of Zen. This movement was further influenced by the superstitious practices of Keizan who used such mysticism as finding religious authority through dreams, astrology and the invocation of the local gods including his preeminent devotion to the bodhisattva Kannon which shows how far this group has gotten of course in straying from the truth of its original journey to China as it has evolved through the ages of time in incorporating the syncretism of which Dogen was trying to eliminate in the first place and which stands contrary to his original enlightenment.  If that weren’t enough even the very thing he opposed and rejected was the practice of the Koans which was studied by this group during the medieval ages. Finally it underwent yet another revision by the monk Otori Sesso who modernized buddhism to eliminate the dissonance between traditional monasticism and secularization among monks/laypersons by producing an abbreviated version of Dogen’s teaching as a source of guidance for the lay practitioner known as shushogi which does not even mention zazen but emphasizes a life of gratitude and penitence which has resulted in several associated lay movements or kyodan.

My question is based on all of these models by whose supreme authority does any of this really represent a pure teaching on enlightenment or satori especially as it stands in contrast to the brotherhood of other Buddhist organizations as well as its own internal inconsistencies? Who knows maybe a future leader may change things again which calls to question if enlightenment is standardized as being foundational or is it in a constant sate of flux? If enlightenment can be attained through various means and paths then why the need to practice under an exclusive movement of Sotoshu? If the patriarchal figures of Koso and Taiso aren’t in complete agreement then essentially what hope is there for you and in what or whom do you base your confidence in? Furthermore how ironic is it that the majority of the people who associate with this movement don’t even take their organization  seriously as they only attend the temples for the observation of funerary rites which is a commentary that calls to question the efficacy amongst it own adherents towards enlightenment.

Anyway regarding the philosophy of zazen here are some snippets in how the this practice is viewed which is said to be free of thoughts, directed to no object, and attached to no particular content. It is regarded as a defocalized method as giving attention to the entire screen of consciousness in a non attached way without reaction or elaboration just a randomness that is open to the flow of mental contents but does not think about them or get carried away by them as it is a non thinking, themeless practice. However,  how can you follow this procedure wholeheartedly or with single mindedness when you have distractions which may really be a valid indication that you do have anchors and how do you know if these stronger ties or associations are really contrary to enlightenment in favor of this unnatural practice of disassociations.

Also just to say that this is an unique experience or a different train of thought does not necessitate or qualify this experience as enlightening no more than embracing a contradiction. Essentially how do you know this is enlightening except to agree or accept what you have been taught as a blind leap of irrational or illogical faith?

Moreover once you have mastered this technique then what if you get off track do you then lose enlightenment only to have to regain it again? In other words does neglecting this meditative practice undo the doer resulting in unenlightenment? If this is possible then the next question is whether a person really had it to begin with.

So what confidence can you put in such a procedure which has to be continually practiced as a post enlightenment experience of cultivation or shushu Itto and shotaichoyo in order to be realized and sustained and whose to say that you will properly maintain or nurture this to the end of life?

More importantly  this deviant practice is not livable nor is it consistent with a persons lifestyle as it requires cognitive associations to manage basic life functions and decisions even as regulated through the simplicity of a monastic lifestyle. Furthermore to use the phrase to put on this so called monkey mind is a derogatory statement towards your humanity and is even slanderous to  chimps who are able to make simple rational choices based on intelligible thoughts.

So on one hand to daily act or live as a walking and thinking unenlightened being is not practicing what you preach and is likened to the equation that 1-1=0 as there is no positive result as these factors cancel one another out through their counterintuitive and unsustainable practice as trying to allow your meditation to be random while your non-meditative state of thinking to be determinative.

Also to have thoughts come and go as not holding on to them by allowing the mind to be emptied of all discrimination and attachments is contrary to even Dogens reasoning as he questioned the very nature of sitting in providing a range of different possibilities yet he was determined and discriminatory in his solution as selecting a particular form to represent this art of sitting. If we rightly applied his methodology it would seem to lead to a relativistic view of skepticism and a degree of nihilism as nothing can be rightly determined or known  except to say that there are many ideas floating around and to act otherwise is to behave contrary to the theory as making concrete associations. Conclusively, that is why I think that one of the main reasons this whole methodology falls apart and should be challenged or questioned is that it just doesn’t correspond with a universal reality.

This anti-intellectual approach to life which Dogen espoused in taking on a distinctly nonattached or non clinging kind of action, that is, an activity completely unconcerned with benefits or the accomplishment of ulterior goals as being self seeking  is also not consistent with its own ideal as reaching the goal of enlightenment. Moreover, for this practice to be regarded as a silent illumination is antithetical to the position of Dogen as the ‘dropping off’ of sensations and thoughts has lead to the “dropping into” the minds of others. Thus it has failed to purge the mind of all concepts and notions but has succeeded to clutter the thoughts of it practitioners.

So in closing I would simply ask to meditate on what I have said but not in a disconnected way but as making a connection with the intent of a more rational approach  which may lay beyond your present religious experience. Likewise I challenge to take on the pioneering spirit of Dogen himself who was dissatisfied and sought enlightenment beyond his geographical boundaries as looking farther than the cultural venue as defined by Japanese buddhist expression.

Finally his method of sitting straight without any effort essentially takes great effort as disciplining oneself under this demanding practice which requires diligence as well as alertness. This isn’t daydreaming which is more descriptive as being effortless but rather it is an arduous practice of nonthinking which perhaps has wearied and worried you as being unsure about your meditative efforts and Jesus provides a solution to enlightenment through Himself as He states:

 

Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

 

 

 

 

How to have a relationship with God

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Encyclopaedia Britannica,Inc., copyright 1993, Vol.4, pg.150, Dogen

Encyclopaedia Britannica,Inc., copyright 1993, Vol.15, pg.290, Buddhism

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.1, pg.605-606, Philip Novak

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.2, pg.1244-1245, Michio Araki

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.2, pg.1293, Clarke Hudson

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.4, pg.2306, Roland A. Delattre

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.8, pg.5109-5110, William M. Bodiford

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.14, pgs.9943-9951, Steven Heine

Religions of the world: a comprehensive encyclopedia of beliefs and practices/ J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, editors; Todd M. Johnson, World Religious Statistics; Donald Wiebe, Introduction-2nd ed., Copyright 2010 by ABC-CLIO, LLC. Reproduced with permission of ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, CA.

Rinzai Buddhist Resources

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

Four Spiritual Laws

 

 

 

Jesus Film

 

 

 

New Testament/Bible

 

 

 

Audio Bible

Rinzai

Saturday, September 15th, 2012

The Zen buddhist sect known as Rinzai or Rinzai-shu school was originally  established in Japan by Myoan Eisai (Eisai Zenji) as an eclectic movement.

Eisai Zenji was but one among other Tendai practitioners who saw the corruption of Buddhism during his time in respect to the political/military influence and recognized the need to reform/revitalize Buddhism by returning it to a pure and pristine condition which he sought to do by means of traveling to China.

However instead of bringing back to Japan a purified Buddhism, which he initially intended, he ended up being persuaded to adapt to a more syncretistic practice as incorporating Chan resulting in a blend of combining Tendai esotericism along with elements from the foreign influence of the Linji school. It would only be latter that the  Rinzai leaders would remove this admixture of beliefs in finding a separate identity as definitively differentiating themselves among other competing religious movements by erecting its own school as uniquely Zen.

Anyway Myoan Eisai’s form of buddhism would be further altered and systematized to fit his unique and non traditional way of doing Buddhism which seems to cloud his primary reason to restore buddhism to its original state. Moreover it was marketed in such a way to be accepted among the mainstream Buddhist association apart from any purist Zen movement such as what Nonin pursued.

One of the main controversial ways in which he adapted this new expression of Buddhism, which again seems to be conflicting to his original position, was to accommodate the warrior class or Samurai for the purpose of protecting  the  state apart from the concern for enlightenment among the common Japanese citizen or general public as it was only reserved for the elitist juxtaposed to ordinary society which also excluded women. I find this difficult to reconcile or swallow as primarily being attentive to the interests of the imperial class as relating to shoguns and emperors along with these militants while neglecting the ordinary individual rights to find spiritual achievement and fulfillment. So on what basis or authority does the modern or contemporary practitioner find confidence regarding its presumptuous  application today in light of its pre-qualified historical position? If it was  contrived for the elitist from its beginning then what would be it pertinence today for the masses?

Additionally another characteristic to this movement is it’s violation with the basic Buddhist principles which does not support such militant and patriotic measures such as the unorthodoxical approach of aggression in reverting to the martial arts and sword fighting which is  antagonistic to the original principles of Buddhism’s five precepts and thus should be excluded as a meaningful expression of the Buddhist religion.

Grievously this contradictory philosophy resulted in the development of a warrior government or bakufu which has found criticism as contributing to the prewar nationalism and imperialism of Japan as the aggressor against China in World War II.

It was in part the theoretical sponsorship of Rinzai which propagated this idea of leading Japan into the ideal of prosperity and security for the nation which unfortunately supported this action leading to its demise. Perhaps this is an analogy or application towards its spiritual truth claims as well.

Adding to the controversy are the use of Koans under the Rinzai reformer Hakuin and his philosophy of Kensho as to see ones nature as it really is.  Hakuin uses the methodology of utilizing riddles and parables or Koans as a way of questioning logic so that the practitioner would doubt every aspect of his life which ironically should include the very program and values regarding  Rinzai thought itself.  Just to propositionally present this concept is inherently flawed as  emptying oneself of personal goals, agendas, predisposition’s, presumptions, biases, etc. is equally fallacious to its own system which has a unique criteria that is not neutral to preferences such as circumventing or defeating dualistic thought. Additionally to state that all conceptualization is wrong is equally questionable regarding its own position regarding its conceptualization towards enlightenment with regards to its unconventional attitude.

Furthermore this methodology  is impossible to attain and even though you can change your mind it is never completely empty including the very mindset of using these procedural practices as coinciding with a drive or desire to  achieve tranquility with the final culmination of satori or enlightenment.

Conclusively how do you really know that this is a vehicle for achieving enlightenment and how livable is it to defy logic? Moreover this philosophy is not even realistic as it is both unlivable and unattainable as conflicting with even the most basic functions of life.

This whole concept of using Koans as a path towards enlightenment should give you great doubt as going against the instinctual and intuitive conclusions of the common sense of logic in favor for some abstract riddle or parable as a means to the ends. After all for the mind to play with convoluted ideas in a head game sort of way may not accomplish anything except a headache and perhaps the westerner really sees through this facade as stating there is no real answer here in that this mental workout of equations only leads to nowhere just like contemplating infinite sets of numbers.

Additionally to use a boot camp methodology that is more consistent with military training as utilizing shouts or katsu and blows/slaps delivered by the master along with a question and answer routine of mondo coupled with these paradoxical statements or koan as a way to effectively shock someone in breaking their will in being instrumental as ultimately awakening an individual is also characteristic of cults who use mind control or brain washing techniques by hypnotically subduing someone into their way of thinking as being subjected to a spiritual master or teacher.

www.apologeticsindex.org/5934-brainwashing-and-mind-control-in-religious-cults-and-elsewhere

Such feelings as nihilism and anxiety or zen sickness should be a strong indicator in the same way an earthquake or tsunami is in that the end result of “shock” is not always desirable or beneficial.

This brain dump technique of confusion is intended to awaken insight that transcends logical distinctions and yet to divorce yourself from the human society of rational thinking is dangerous as well as intellectually suicidal as this head trauma will never leave you the same as it distorts reality bringing you into this make believe land of enchanted enlightenment.

In closing I apologize if I offended you through my rational approach of questioning as my heart and intentions is meant to reawaken you but not in an abusive matter but rather as an honest challenge for you to rethink or reconsider your position.

Lastly in the same way that Eisai travelled to China to look for inspiration and truth I too would ask if you would take a small journey by looking deep into your soul by simply praying and meditating on these matters along with contemplating  this saying of Jesus.

 

Mt:11:28-30

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

 

 

How to have a relationship with God

How to know God

Redirect to homepage

How to know God

Other links

Rinzai Buddhist Resources

 

 

 

Encyclopaedia Britannica,Inc., copyright 1993, Vol.10, pg.81, Rinzai

Encyclopaedia Britannica,Inc., copyright 1993, Vol.15, pg.290, Buddhism

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.2, pg.1244, Michio Araki

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.4, pg.2306, Roland A. Delattre

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.4, pgs.2741-2742, Martin Collcutt

Encyclopedia of Religion Second Edition, copyright 2005 Thomson Gale a part of The Thomson Corporation, Lindsay Jones Editor in Chief, Vol.14, pgs.9943-9951, Steven Heine