 |
 |
Lenny wrote: > The paradox arises in that the silence of the Zen mind belies a language > and, in as much as consciousness is being linked inextricably with language, > denies as well a Zen reality that embraces either consciousness or language. > This forces a realization of kinds of reality, and, further, a question over > any assertion about "a firm base for reality"! Hello Lenny, This paradox arises only when one attempts a fairly superficial analysis using words and logic. There is a story,(apocryphal,I think) that aeronautical engineers analysed the structure of the bumble bee and proved that it would be impossible for such a thing to fly.But it is a matter of fact that they do fly. Common sense might suggest that because a bicycle cannot stand upright without support,it would be unlikely to do so in motion with a human attached,but in practice it does.It works. There is absolutely nothing wrong with rational,logical,verbal thought. However,if you practice intensive zen meditation,you discover that rational thought, intellectual reasoning,can only take you so far. Most Western thinkers - Western culture,as a whole - give up at that point. Like Descartes,most Western philosophers have based their reasoning upon a false premise.Cogito ergo sum. It is part of the tradition to reject even the possibility that truth can be found other than by rational analysis.But zen says that you can go further,you_can_ penetrate the mystery.It's just that rational thought is not the tool which can do that. So you leave reasoning and logic behind,and have an entirely still and empty mind. Then conscious awareness can approach a deeper understanding.It works. There are many technical terms for that experience.But they are just words for an experience which is beyond words. When you come out of that experience,you are back in the world of words and reason again,a world of relativities.Mostly,the way that we explain reality to ourselves,is in terms of opposites.Up/down,Yes/no,right/wrong,life/death,good/bad,etc. That's not what reality is like.It's not all clear cut black/white.But our minds like those simple polar opposites,and our language is built up on that kind of logic. This has been common knowledge in many traditions for thousands of years. It seems to be something that contemporary Western culture has forgotten or overlooked,with few exceptions. When one has pursued the zen path for some time,some of the above becomes very clear.With practice,one can retain the 'zen mind' cultivated in sitting meditation, throughout daily life.That means that one does not get caught up in the world of conceptual reasoning and the opposites.One just sees 'what is'. It doesn't mean that one becomes incapable of thought,or speech,or irrational,or an imbecile.It is entirely compatible with science,or any other pursuit one may choose. But there is a change in the relationship between oneself and 'all the rest'. As I see it,this has implications for anyone who thinks seriously about life,existence, their place in the world,and what it all may mean. Instead of imposing our ideas about 'what the world is like' upon reality,we can allow reality to be what it is.Or we can approach that ideal. Trying to apply logical analysis,or insisting that the proposition is 'impossible' because you don't understand it,misses the whole point. Chris. %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%