Stark raving mad Zen for beginners
Shunryu Suzuki's book, Zen Mind, Beginners Mind, is not upon my tip list of contemporary Zen books for beginners (if there is such the thing). It is common hold which he didnt actually write this book. It was the work of his followers. It was cobbled together from what students remembered he said, their notes, as well as old fasten recordings.
Be which as it may, when Suzuki says things like, "It is positively required for everybody to hold in nothing" (p. 117), we feel bad for critical Zennists who have to explain such nonsense to the public which is not found in the Buddhist canon. To have matters even more confusing, Suzuki before this said, "Originally we have Buddha nature." (p. 99). So what's the deal? Tying the dual together, have been we supposed to hold which Buddha nature, or the character of Buddha, is nothing? This sounds similar to annihilationism which is the big no, no in Buddhism.
As distant as practice goes (whatever than means) Suzuki goes uncanny upon the reader again. He says, "The bargain passed down from Buddha to the time is which when we start zazen, there is enlightenment even but any preparation" (p. 99). Okay, we got the point. So why even do zazen then? we mean what is the point, we AM BUDDHA; THERE IS NOTHING! If we consider this sounds crazy, serve upon Suzuki says that, "if we have been underneath the thought of we do or not we do zazen, or if your cannot admit which we have been Buddha, afterwards we understand neither Buddha inlet nor zazen (p. 132).
Okay beginners, here is what we have to do. Next time you're during your local Zen core when we have been in zazen admit which we have been the Buddha, chant we AM BUDDHA, we AM BUDDHA. Or if the chanting is too noisy, only keep saying we AM BUDDHA in your conduct over as well as over again. Tell your friends you're the Buddha. Bring Suzuki's book with we as well as preach to them about sitting as well as being the Buddha in the make a difference of ! minutes. They will possibly be converted or consider we have been stark vehemence mad!
For beginners, there is zero to be gained by celebration of the mass Shunryu Suzukis book, Zen Mind, Beginners Mind. It is one particular perspective of Zen which comes from the San Francisco Zen Center which is Westernized Soto. There have been alternative more normal forms of Zen, most notably Chinese Zen as well as perhaps only as good, Korean Zen. It pays to emporium around, in alternative words. My tip recommendation for beginners is to watch Edward A. Burgers film, Amongst White Clouds. The beginner will see genuine dedicated Buddhist practitioners as well as Zennists. It is not an easy life but one, if we design to get anywhere with Buddhism, severely need to consider about. You wont allege during all in Buddhism by only sitting upon your arse as well as celebration of the mass Zen Mind, Beginners Mind.
