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Newsgroups: talk.religion.buddhism,alt.zen,alt.philosophy.zen,alt.magick.tyagi,alt.religion.buddhism
Subject: Re: What is NOT zen?
Date: 27 Mar 1996 07:57:27 -0800
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|>|What is NOT zen?

|>Desire, hatred, and delusion - for openers :)

I question the absolutism of this statement

|Really, though? Would this not imply duality? Even sayin zen and not zen 
|- is that zen?

even Zen Buddhism is not radically nondualist.  there are levels of truth
 in Mahayana Buddhism, that which transcends ordinary bounds and that which
 applies in common circumstances (cf Nagarjuna)

|...I have overcome all desire, hatred and delusion. All reactions 
|that appear to other unenlightened beings as being such are really my 
|"crazy wisdom". I have come here to provide enlightenment for the 
|benefit of all. 

|But so few can see this.

|I also have some composted steer manure in the back yard. Now if I can 
|overcome all sarcasm . . . . . . . .

this is what Buddhism attempts to address: desire, hatred and delusion

there is a presupposition within Buddhism that everyone is suffering,
 that the main difference between our experiences depends upon our
 ability to resist grasping, in a way very central to our natures, 
 at things which are impermanent, and that this grasping results in the
 suffering which manifests as desire, hatred and delusion

of course, what 'zen' is and what 'Zen Buddhism' becomes may be entiretly
 separate animals.  social organizations are more likely to be strewn
 with social politics and distracting activities unless tightly controlled
 by the master or strictly regulated by the sangha

some students have difficulties with hierarchic relationships with masters
 on account of their parental or previous instructional experience.  while
 this is understandable, it is not a problem resident in the religious
 system, but a facet of the interaction between the two (arising together,
 in interdependence) and can, with time and cooperation, be resolved