Why are the Zen (not zen™) fellas so based? Huangbo and Joshu for instance, their philosophy is so above and beyond that it even surpasses the realm of spirituality and esotericism
Why are the Zen (not zen™) fellas so based? Huangbo and Joshu for instance...
Landon Miller
Nathaniel Miller
Ever taken a stroll through Dongshan's deadly world of no hot and no cold?
Sometimes I like to have a little picnic there
Nicholas Richardson
It's so peaceful, yet it is akin to a fire god seeking fire. I could never really wrap my head around it, perhaps there is no need to
Adam Gomez
But in all seriousness it's because they understand how to use philosophical aphorisms properly, and how to let the reader/student unpack things on their own. Zen literally changed my entire life forever in high school. I spent the second half of senior year reading the Blue Cliff Record over and over again, catching glimmers of Yuan Wu's message.
Luke Gonzalez
It's like a boat race-- only after you finish can you lie back down on the bank and rest
Matthew Gonzalez
Ten Ox-herding pictures time
1. In Search of the Bull
In the pasture of the world,
I endlessly push aside the tall
grasses in search of the Ox.
Following unnamed rivers,
lost upon the interpenetrating
paths of distant mountains,
My strength failing and my vitality exhausted, I cannot find the Ox.
Sebastian Nelson
2. Discovery of the Footprints
Along the riverbank under the trees,
I discover footprints.
Even under the fragrant grass,
I see his prints.
Deep in remote mountains they are found.
These traces can no more be hidden
than one's nose, looking heavenward.
Nathaniel Martinez
3. Perceiving the Bull
I hear the song of the nightingale.
The sun is warm, the wind is mild,
willows are green along the shore -
Here no Ox can hide!
What artist can draw that massive head,
those majestic horns?
Justin Moore
cringe and bluepilled
Evan Morales
4. Catching the Bull
I seize him with a terrific struggle.
His great will and power
are inexhaustible.
He charges to the high plateau
far above the cloud-mists,
Or in an impenetrable ravine he stands.
Parker Edwards
5. Taming the Bull
The whip and rope are necessary,
Else he might stray off down
some dusty road.
Being well-trained, he becomes
naturally gentle.
Then, unfettered, he obeys his master.
John Gomez
6. Riding the Bull Home
Mounting the Ox, slowly
I return homeward.
The voice of my flute intones
through the evening.
Measuring with hand-beats
the pulsating harmony,
I direct the endless rhythm.
Whoever hears this melody
will join me.
Jaxon James
7. The Bull Transcended
Astride the Ox, I reach home.
I am serene. The Ox too can rest.
The dawn has come. In blissful repose,
Within my thatched dwelling
I have abandoned the whip and ropes.
Henry Carter
8. Both Bull and Self Transcended
Whip, rope, person, and Ox -
all merge in No Thing.
This heaven is so vast,
no message can stain it.
How may a snowflake exist
in a raging fire.
Here are the footprints of
the Ancestors.
Jordan Stewart
9. Reaching the Source
Too many steps have been taken
returning to the root and the source.
Better to have been blind and deaf
from the beginning!
Dwelling in one's true abode,
unconcerned with and without -
The river flows tranquilly on
and the flowers are red.
Dominic Jones
10. Return to Society
Barefooted and naked of breast,
I mingle with the people of the world.
My clothes are ragged and dust-laden,
and I am ever blissful.
I use no magic to extend my life;
Now, before me, the dead trees
become alive.
Joshua Anderson
Any suggestions of non cringey, redpilled literature?
Xavier Sullivan
I assume you went through an "enlightened" period, how did you dig yourself out?
Dylan Nguyen
read Linji he's comfy
Xavier Richardson
Cha’an and related Buddhisms were a highly literate and highly physical shit posting discipline.
As they were rapidly turned into rote learning we basically have text books of epic burns, faithfully redacted, which the reddit of the time, Japanese monasticism, used as Pokémon memes for high schoolers.
I’m not joking.
Lucas Fisher
Kek I agree, what with the autism that is Soto and Dogen that actual Reddit still screeches about. At its heart it was just a bunch of dudes living together and making memes out of Buddhism
Anthony Baker
Why do you assume that? What exactly is an "enlightened" period, also? Any why is it automatically assumed one has to have had "dug oneself" out of it?
Zachary Clark
why are Soto Zen and Dogen 'autism'?
Evan Clark
Because they made a meme religion out of nothing
Daniel Barnes
how's it a meme religion?
Hudson Rodriguez
Zen that’s zen isn’t zen.
Zen that isn’t zen isn’t zen.
Does a dog have Buddha nature?
Christopher Morgan
Also who is the master in the koan of the widow, the kept monk and the slut?
Asher Stewart
Speaking of Reddit, the Zen subreddit is probably the best subreddit on the website. The last time I checked, it was still a shitposting faction war between some dude who has spent 6 years shitposting 12 hours a day about dogen/sex offenders and his supporters versus Soto Buddhists and newbies who don't like/understand the shitposting.
Ayden Cook
Where can I find more of this?
Matthew Nelson
Oh God, don't make me think about that period, makes me cringe so hard.
Cooper Cooper
Gateless gate is a worthy exercise book.
Jacob Evans
anti philosophy