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 Self-Awakening Gate:
Generally, one arrives at this gate by desiring to permanently manifest the universally preferred state of one’s teacher’s framework. For example, in the case of the Buddha, one wants to end suffering forever. In the case of Sasaki, one wants to be clear forever. For other teachers, there is the notion of joyfulness, compassion, creativity, etc.
One passes through this gate by demonstrating the ability to reliably assert the preferred state of one’s teacher’s framework. With respect to the Buddha’s framework, one demonstrates the ability to end suffering, and with Sasaki’s framework, one demonstrates the ability to manifest clarity. And very often, this demonstration is in the presence of and at the urging of one’s teacher.
After passing through this gate, the universally preferred state that once appeared unreachable or perhaps quite random can now be controlled. One has learned how to end suffering and can choose it, or one can similarly choose to manifest clarity.
At this time, the Buddha is teaching the Wheel of Dhamma – The Four Noble Truths, the Three Perspectives, and the Twelve Aspects. Specifically, there is the third Noble Truth regarding the cessation of suffering - which “should be realized” and, now, “has been realized.” And Sasaki is continuing with his koan practice.
Learn to Command the Universally Preferred State.
The Question For Next Week: What do we make of the Unbinding Gate?
What Do We Make of the Self-Awakening Gate?