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.
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.
Stillness: The primary characteristic of an unfettered activity.
Framework: The often unique instructional device used by Zen (and Buddhist) teachers.
Zero-Buddhism:
The necessary preconditions for a manifested Buddhism to arise, namely:
A clear picture of the highest good, namely the realization of non-duality.
A clear picture of the path to the realization of non-duality
Motivation and an understanding of the obstacles expected along this path.
Quote From the Buddha’s 1st Sutra:
I awakened to the middle way, which gives rise to vision, which gives rise to knowledge, which leads to equanimity, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to unbinding.
Three Common Characteristics of an Effective Teaching Framework:
The framework must be inherently dualistic.
One of the states must be universally preferred.
This universally preferred state can be asserted (learned and chosen).
The Four Questions:
How is it that one arrives at any particular gate?
How does one pass through that gate?
What changes – from pregate to postgate?
As teachers, what is the Buddha doing at this time, and what is Sasaki doing to help their students progress along the path?
The Equanimity Gate:
Generally, one arrives at the Equanimity gate with one or more unanswered life questions … believing that Buddhism can provide some answers. One may have read about Buddhism or perhaps talked with someone about it.
One passes through the gate by experiencing Stillness. And for most at this point, this experience of Stillness most often manifests as a remarkable moment of peace and clarity … a mode that is often very unique and memorable and ultimately desirable – and therefore quite motivating.
After passing through the Equanimity gate, there is now the presence of real possibilities – mostly stemming from the experience of what we might be calling wonder or certainty or harmony. And the natural question arises: Can this special mode of awareness be duplicated? Can one become perpetually still, perpetually peaceful?
At the time of this first gate, the Buddha is presenting his Eight-Fold Noble Path, and during one-on-one meetings with students, Sasaki is stirring and acknowledging individual demonstrations of Stillness. Also, both make the case that true Stillness is within one’s reach – a human birthright, if you will..
Strive First to Experience Stillness
The Question For Next Week: What do we make of Direct Knowledge?
Share this post