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 Buddhism to arise, namely:
An enlightened teacher.
A clear picture of a path.
An understanding of the obstacles expected along this path.
The Three Characteristics of an Effective Teacher
Understands the human quest for certainty - who I am, what I know, and why I’m here.
Understands that enlightenment is a paradigm shift - ultimately aligning an explanation of reality with experience.
Can vividly portray the final destination along with the path and obstacles.
In One Sentence:
An effective teacher recognizes that, at some level, all seek perfect certainty, which ultimately manifests as the realization of infinite mind, and which is invariably obstructed by a misreading of the self.
Definitions:
Effective teachers: Teachers who reliably transmit the understandings that reside in their minds into other minds.
To seek perfect certainty: To pursue the assurance of what one should be doing at this exact moment.
To ultimately manifest: To optimally manifest.
To realize: To simultaneously understand and manifest. (To walk the talk.)
Infinite mind: The notion that nothing lies outside the mind - circumstances and the sense of self included.
A misreading of the self: A variation of ‘the delusion of self,’ but without the possible inference that there is no such thing as the self.
The Question For Next Week: What Is a Proper Reading of the Self?
How Does One Reconcile All the Characteristics of an Effective Teacher?