The spellbinding power of illusion
One who is bound down to illusion, or the same, phenomena (sarvadharma) fails to see the absolute substance (tathata); moreover that this substance is the only realitynothing else exists.
This explains why traditional Zen places so much emphasis on seeing ones original face for without insight into the true substance of reality, no authentic progress can be made in overcoming the spellbinding power of illusion. In fact, Buddhists delude themselves to imagine otherwise that ordinary conditions as they are, are the Buddha-nature.
In light of the above, as a Westerner I am aware that the West has traditionally shit on the so-called gnostic path (or the path of seeing), at least since the time of the Nicene creed. This stain powerfully acts to obscure what Zen is really about thus turning its path into a goalless one: a big vicious circle which never advances beyond the delusions of the wayfarer.
On a somewhat happy note, I am aware that not all Western Buddhists have the spiritual brightness of a pismires light bulb. Incidentally, I must say, I enjoy the comments of this blogs commentators and yes, even those with whom I dont agree. I am delightedeven smiling right nowto learn that not everyone is so fucking stupid to have missed seeing the Buddhas huge Dharma forest by being fixated, instead, on a lowly (hina) shrub.
