One of the many difficulties with Zen is that it can not be popularized. Even a thousand years ago poseurs and want-to-be chaps were turned away from the gates of Zen sanctuaries. As with all things mediocrity worms it's way and so even into Zen. The Enlightenment of the Buddha was the awakening of the universe to its Self, not some human realizing something-or-other about something-or-other. The trivialization of Enlightenment by considering enlightenment as a "human" phenomenon is a tragedy, and an opening for mediocrity that all life on earth must suffer for.
The Enlightenment of the Buddha is the foundation for the birth of Transcendental Awareness as a criteria of judgment on a level that would be recognized anywhere in the Universe as Just, but instead of Enlightenment we have "enlightenment" and creatures remain trapped, but with a new complacency, within their humanity.
Zen this, Zen that.........it may make for a catchy title, but as concerning the Zen of the patriarchs.......Pshaw!
No comments:
Post a Comment