Last Few Posts:
Terms In The Audio:
Zero: The fundamental teaching of the late Zen master Joshu Sasaki: “As the Buddha taught, zero inevitably splits into mutually opposing activities which inevitably disappear into zero.”
Reconciling Zero: The investigation of Zero in the pursuit of Effective Zen.
Effective Zen: The one path on Zen Mountain that gives any one individual the best chance of reaching the peak (realizing non-duality).
Zen Mountain: The collection of all possible Zen paths.
Buddhism: The set of spiritual activities where the highest good is the realization of non-duality.
Highest Good: That which exists for its own sake (there is nothing greater).
The Realization of Non-Duality: The complete understanding of a self inseparable from circumstance – where complete understanding implies manifestation.
Zero-Buddhism:
The preconditions necessary for a manifested Buddhism to arise, namely:
A clear picture of the goal of Buddhism.
A clear picture of the path to the goal
An understanding of the obstacles expected along this path.
From the Tevijja Sutta:
“Suppose a man were to say, ‘Whoever the finest lady in the land is, it is her that I want, her that I desire.’”
“They’d say to him, ‘Mister, that finest lady in the land who you desire, do you know whether she’s an aristocrat, a Brahmin, a peasant, or a menial?’ Asked this, he’d say ‘No.’”
“They’d say to him, ‘Mister, that finest lady in the land who you desire – do you know her name or clan? Whether she’s tall or short or medium? Whether her skin is black, brown, or tawny? What city, town, or village she comes from?’ Asked this, he’d say ‘No.’”
“They’d say to him, ‘Mister, do you desire someone who you’ve never even known or seen?’ Asked this, he’d say ‘Yes.’ What do you think, Vasettha? This being so, doesn’t that man’s statement turn out to have no demonstrable basis?”
“Clearly, that is the case, Master Gotama.”
“In the same way, doesn’t the statement of those Brahmins who have never seen Brahma but claim to know the path to Brahma turns out to have no demonstrable basis?”
“Clearly, that is the case, Master Gotama.”
“Good, Vasettha. For it is impossible that anyone should teach the path to that which they neither know nor see.”
Zero-Buddhism (Revised):
The preconditions necessary for a manifested Buddhism to arise, namely:
A teacher who has achieved the goal of Buddhism, that is, one who has realized non-duality
A clear picture of the path to the goal
An understanding of the obstacles expected along this path.
The Question For Next Week: What Constitutes an Enlightened Teacher?
Can We Now Summarize Zero Buddhism - Those Preconditions Necessary For the Activity of Buddhism to Arise?