01) Zen is what happened when Buddhism met Taoism. And taking this article as an example of Zen having more to do with Taoism than with Buddhism, where in Zen would we find anything remotely suggesting that we strive “to attain the state of Noble Tara”? Yet, we speak of “Zen Buddhism” and not “Zen Taoism.” Yet there is much more Taoism to be found in Zen than there is Buddhism. “Chop wood, carry water,” is Taoism. “Eat when hungry, rest when tired,” Taoism. “Recite the mantra as many times as you like, but at least 21 times,” Buddhism. Hard core Buddhism is so Not Zen! Neither is the Dharma. Yet no effort is made to find where the line lies between Zen and Buddhism because it is mostly Buddhism as far as the eye can see.
02) We are to be the Buddha. We are to be the Christ. Living into the realizations that were theirs to the point of being the best Buddha, the best Christ, that we are capable of being by being who we are, where we are, when we are, how we are, “as one thus come,” with nothing in it for us beyond the joy of doing/being it and the satisfaction of having done/been it. Each of us being the Buddha/Christ as only we can be the Buddha/Christ in each situation as it arises, all our life long. Trying to meet someone else’s idea of how we ought to do that is the surest way of not doing that. Who were the Buddha and the Christ trying to please? Who could tell them how to be the Buddha, the Christ? Why are we waiting for some wise teacher to tell us? “Get in there and do your thing!” Which is all the Buddha, the Christ ever did. No?
03) We cannot live like we want to on the planet without destroying it. We are all Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, throwing away Paradise because it doesn’t measure up. To live at one with the earth, we have to drop entirely the concept of having what we want in order to “be happy.” And, instead, take up the work of doing what is called for, when, where and how it is called for, in each situation as it arises all our life long. Simple enough, but I will guarantee you that it will not sell!
04) This is a wonderfully timely exploration of traditions and possibilities. My question of foundations and purposes is: “Is this helpful in my work to identify what is called for in each situation as it arises and do it with the gifts of my original nature, my innate virtues (What I do best and what I enjoy doing most), and my intrinsic intuition?” I don’t need to memorize someone else’s beliefs. I need to know what needs to be done here, now, and how to do it the way it needs to be done, when it needs to be done, and where it needs to be done. With right seeing. right hearing, right knowing, right doing, right being. What will help me with that?
05) We think we can think our way to being like the Buddha/Christ, and all of our efforts are focused on doing what someone else (Some teacher) tells us to do!
06) That’s the one thing the Buddha/Christ NEVER did! Who was the Buddha’s teacher? He went through them all, trying every approach to enlightenment (Which is simply realizing what is called for in each situation as it arises, and doing what needs to be done, when, where and how it needs to be done).
07) And, it came to him under the Bodhi tree that all it takes is knowing what we know. Our BODY is the source of all knowing. The Buddha listened to his body, and followed his body’s directions.
08) Jesus lived spontaneously, unconsciously, at one with his circumstances time after time, saying/doing what needed to be said/done then, there, in response to what was called for situation by situation. And his simple instruction was always,”You who have eyes to see, use them! You who have ears to hear, use them!”
09) It is always as simple as that! Do what you know needs doing, when/where/how it needs to be done! What could be easier? Just listen to your body, and stop overriding it in service to what you want to have, to have happen! Here, now.
10) The teachings of the Buddha may be summed up as follows: “The most important thing is to restrict your wanting to the essential matters of life, and to realize/know what is called for in each situation as it arises–and to do that when, where and how it needs to be done, throughout the time left for living. This is the Way of life everlasting.”
11) It feels comfortable to me to say that Zen is Buddhism without Dharma. And I suspect that Buddha without Dharma is still very much Buddha. I say this in all playfulness, and would be surprised if the Buddha did not laugh and play along. Samadhi is just somewhere else to be.
12) If anyone takes anything “on faith,” they are making it up and saying it is so. And Buddhist cosmology is made up and said to be real. As is the Dharma. As if to say, “We are going to pretend that this is so and act as though it is.” And Buddhists play the game of not playing a game (R.D Laing).
13) Do what is called for in each situation as it arises and let that be that until the next situation arises. If you do not know what is called for, drop into emptiness, stillness and silence and “wait for the mud to settle and the water to clear” and there arises/emerges awareness/realization. If you wait long enough, something will occur to you that needs be done here, now. Do it as it needs to be done and wait for the next situation where you repeat this process. This is called “the essence of Buddhism.”
14) Denial is our refuge, a very present help in time of trouble. Buddhism talks endless about relieving suffering and saving the world, yet in 3,000 or so years of talking about relieving suffering and saving the world, things are worse everywhere than they were in the time of the Buddha. Yet the talk goes on and on. We are playing the game of not playing a game. The end of the game is in the recognition/realization of the game, and in turning our attention to seeing and doing what is called for here, now–and doing it when, where, and how it needs to be done, one here, now after another to the end of here, nows, not bothered by the endless nature of the work, but taking refuge in the joy of doing it and the satisfaction of having done it, here, now by here, now.
15) Live to do what is called for in each situation as it arises whether you get anything out of it or not. Do not live to get by following strategies, schemes, plans and agendas. Happiness is just another addiction. Live to be what the circumstances, here, now, ask you to be, and let that be that. What does wanting know? Wanting is just another addiction. All the hoops we jump through in order to be happy are illusions/delusions distracting us from the essential frame of mind through all conditions of life: Peaceful Abiding, Here, Now!!! No Matter What!!!
16) We are born knowing what is meaningful, a nipple, for instance. Our original nature knows what is meaningful without us having to wonder about it. Our innate virtues–the things we do best and enjoy doing most–home in on what is meaningful through every stage of life. Our intrinsic intuition is built to know meaningful before we do–and communicates it to us to the extent that we are available to sense its directives. We prepare to know what we know by dropping into emptiness/stillness/silence and listening to our body and attending our dreams. And by waiting for the mud to settle and the water to clear in order to perceive the emergence of the recognition of what is called for that we might do it when, where, and how it needs to be done in each situation as it arises, no matter what, all our life long.
17) There is peaceful abiding as one
thus come here, now, forever–
and there is constant striving
for more/better/different/finer.
There is meaningful
and there is meaningless.
And that’s it.
The difference is turning
the light around,
flipping a switch,
seeing what’s what,
and doing what is called for,
in each situation as it arises
all our life long.
Peaceful abiding
or constant striving.
Where are we here, now?
What would it take
for us to be happily at peace,
with things as they are
here, now?
There is “no suffering,” and there is “peaceful abiding, here, now.” “No suffering” implies, “Not this! Not that! No! No! No!” “Peaceful abiding” implies, “This, too! This, too!” ”This is fine just as it is.” Contradiction is at the heart of “non-duality.” Karma is someone’s idea of erasing opposites that won’t go away.
When we make our peace with suffering, suffering disappears. When suffering disappears, karma goes away.
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