Andrew, what is your opinion of The Zen Teaching of Huang Po translated by John Blofield?
Also, do you think there are anymore genuine schools or teachers? What do you think of ASZC? I'm kind of at a loss on what I should do now...
Maybe just aim to make enough money to buy a small piece of land near a mountain and live self-sustianably on it while reading poetry? I mean, what is the Way to practice Zen/Ch'an? Should I just read the great minds while I continue to live within the comforts of modernity, or should I eschew it for a life like Stonehouse (Shiwu)? Is monastic/hermitage practices flawed?
It seems my life is just marked by confusion. I feel like modernity has auto-domesticated me. I have never killed an animal to eat, unlike you, and I don't even know how to build a log cabin! I watched Alone in the Wilderness with Dick Proenneke, and I feel like I've lost all the masculinity and strength I used to have... I have to start working out and following my nutrition closely again... especially given how modernity and industrialization may collapse at any moment.
Is life just a fleeting moments of seeing Infinity within the moments of pain and failure that outnumber it...
Here's a quote you gave recently I want to comment on:
"I think wisdom is simple explanations or descriptions that can be “ unpacked ” to fit the detail of our lives . . . . !
so in a sense we are always deriving it or attempting to ! :o)
some of the better cases or stories in zen are really wisdom literature............
I read Charles bukowski and sa'di , you really have to step back and ask what they are really saying though, it is often not apparent on first reading !
if you understand zen as not some special “ ultra truth ” but as being a chinese/japanese/korean “ mystical/wisdom equivalent ” to what is in european and middle eastern cultures then basically you are away laughing............ :o)"
----
an3drew, I think your approach to contemplation and wisdom's unity, across all cultures, is very similar to Baha'o'llah, who I greatly respect. It's a shame Bahais get persecuted...
Anyways, I think a fundamental point you make, which many mystics fail to, is that one's life is ultimately one's own creative expression. In order to make one's life richer, one should study poetry and other people's creative expressions, in the form of poetry and other artwork. Not just a mere glance, but real deep introspection as best as possible... Then one should creatively express oneself, without seeking anything in return.
I am starting to understand you more... Your views have a lot of depth to them I couldn't have possibly understood in the past. I understand what you mean by Huang Po not being good. His works are too stilted, not based off personal experience... Instead he speaks in a doctrinal, rigid tone that reifies the fluidity of life, and boxes up people's creativity to fit within his framework, rather than encouraging solitude in natural scenery and individual contemplation.
I'm not quite sure what you entirely mean by Infinity in relation to artistic expression, but I think lately I've been starting to understand. If I ever understand fully, I shall create a school that reforms Zen, moving it away from the mistakes Soto and Rinzai Zens have become.
When we are hit with artistic inspiration from viewing great paintings, walking in solitude within natural scenery, or whatever, "the words just come naturally... the wind, air, light, and the sound of water running down the stream... I want to write a poem about such things... a poem through which the life of the world flows!"
I got that quote from episode 4 of an anime based off a good classic lit story called "Emily of New Moon". It's about artists' and their interactions with the natural world and their relationships, and how that ties to their creative inspirations and stuff.
I sit outside and read the poetry underneath the willow trees....
What more is there to this koan, this endless running in circles? Just sit and read a poem and then close one's eyes... and listen to bird's chirping...
"Mysticism consists only in the service of the people and the environment: it does not lie in the arguments on reditt boards, or Brad Warner's blog, or the knee problems of Zen idiots."
*feeds the kitty and gives food to food to the needy*
Outside the circle is those that need their suffering alleviated, more circles.
A monk said: ``Your disciple is sick all over. Please cure me.'' The Master said: ``I shall not cure you.'' The monk said: ``Why don't you cure me?'' The Master said: ``So that you neither live nor die.''
Andrew, what is your opinion of The Zen Teaching of Huang Po translated by John Blofield?
ReplyDeleteAlso, do you think there are anymore genuine schools or teachers? What do you think of ASZC? I'm kind of at a loss on what I should do now...
Maybe just aim to make enough money to buy a small piece of land near a mountain and live self-sustianably on it while reading poetry? I mean, what is the Way to practice Zen/Ch'an? Should I just read the great minds while I continue to live within the comforts of modernity, or should I eschew it for a life like Stonehouse (Shiwu)? Is monastic/hermitage practices flawed?
It seems my life is just marked by confusion. I feel like modernity has auto-domesticated me. I have never killed an animal to eat, unlike you, and I don't even know how to build a log cabin! I watched Alone in the Wilderness with Dick Proenneke, and I feel like I've lost all the masculinity and strength I used to have... I have to start working out and following my nutrition closely again... especially given how modernity and industrialization may collapse at any moment.
Is life just a fleeting moments of seeing Infinity within the moments of pain and failure that outnumber it...
I don't like huang po !
Deletewhen you look at dick proenneke you have to realize he is highly skilled and has the constitution and physique for that sort of life !
the aszc seems like trouble !
the question is, what interests you ?
maybe you ought to work towards having your own wilderness retreat/vacation place, that's what you seem to be interested in !
DeleteHere's a quote you gave recently I want to comment on:
ReplyDelete"I think wisdom is simple explanations or descriptions that can be “ unpacked ” to fit the detail of our lives . . . . !
so in a sense we are always deriving it or attempting to ! :o)
some of the better cases or stories in zen are really wisdom literature............
I read Charles bukowski and sa'di , you really have to step back and ask what they are really saying though, it is often not apparent on first reading !
if you understand zen as not some special “ ultra truth ” but as being a chinese/japanese/korean “ mystical/wisdom equivalent ” to what is in european and middle eastern cultures then basically you are away laughing............ :o)"
----
an3drew, I think your approach to contemplation and wisdom's unity, across all cultures, is very similar to Baha'o'llah, who I greatly respect. It's a shame Bahais get persecuted...
Anyways, I think a fundamental point you make, which many mystics fail to, is that one's life is ultimately one's own creative expression. In order to make one's life richer, one should study poetry and other people's creative expressions, in the form of poetry and other artwork. Not just a mere glance, but real deep introspection as best as possible... Then one should creatively express oneself, without seeking anything in return.
I am starting to understand you more... Your views have a lot of depth to them I couldn't have possibly understood in the past. I understand what you mean by Huang Po not being good. His works are too stilted, not based off personal experience... Instead he speaks in a doctrinal, rigid tone that reifies the fluidity of life, and boxes up people's creativity to fit within his framework, rather than encouraging solitude in natural scenery and individual contemplation.
I'm not quite sure what you entirely mean by Infinity in relation to artistic expression, but I think lately I've been starting to understand. If I ever understand fully, I shall create a school that reforms Zen, moving it away from the mistakes Soto and Rinzai Zens have become.
that's a good criticism of huang po !
DeleteDo you know of any good monasteries anywhere?
ReplyDeleteAntaiji sounds horrible, btw.
When we are hit with artistic inspiration from viewing great paintings, walking in solitude within natural scenery, or whatever, "the words just come naturally... the wind, air, light, and the sound of water running down the stream... I want to write a poem about such things... a poem through which the life of the world flows!"
ReplyDeleteI got that quote from episode 4 of an anime based off a good classic lit story called "Emily of New Moon". It's about artists' and their interactions with the natural world and their relationships, and how that ties to their creative inspirations and stuff.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x99ee6_bnr-kaze-no-shojo-emily-op_shortfilms
It's good unlike the others ones as evident by the quote.
this is some sort of image rather than the actual doing !
DeleteI blame modernity. There's no way I can actually do in this kind of setting consistently.
DeleteOne needs money in life prior to doing it because freedom paradoxically requires it.
I agree about the money, but in addition you have a tendency to be "about" rather than do the actual thing ! :o)
DeleteHow does one "do" the actual thing?
DeleteI sit outside and read the poetry underneath the willow trees....
What more is there to this koan, this endless running in circles? Just sit and read a poem and then close one's eyes... and listen to bird's chirping...
Deleteso what's outside the circle ?
Paraphrase Sa'di:
Delete"Mysticism consists only in the service of the people and the environment: it does not lie in the arguments on reditt boards, or Brad Warner's blog, or the knee problems of Zen idiots."
*feeds the kitty and gives food to food to the needy*
Outside the circle is those that need their suffering alleviated, more circles.
"Outside the circle is those that need their suffering alleviated, more circles."
Deletenah, shoot the bastards ! :o)(
don't take the pain personally and run with the circle?
Delete"don't take the pain personally and run with the circle?"
Deletenup, really you don't do the detail work................
A monk said: ``Your disciple is sick all over. Please cure me.''
DeleteThe Master said: ``I shall not cure you.''
The monk said: ``Why don't you cure me?''
The Master said: ``So that you neither live nor die.''
There is nothing outside the circle, right?
Deleteyeah there's something outside the circle, but it's a lifetimes work to sort that out !
Delete:o)(
What is your opinion of Red Pine's translation of the Platform Sutra?
DeleteHow is this book by Judith Farr about Emily Dickinson (lots of poems of E Dickinson given too)?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/Passion-Emily-Dickinson-Judith-Farr/dp/0674656660
I've been reading our past conversations deeply, and I've noticed I tend to regress and progress... I oscillate at an obscene degree...
ReplyDeleteI think I need to improve my nutrition and just be more consistent. Less oscillating.
I understand what you are getting at now though.
Modern life makes one tend to oscillate a lot... from wisdom/contemplation to inanity/entertainment.
yeah nutrition and sleep, aka my compendium : o)
Deletehttp://mueller_ranges.tripod.com/links/compendium/compendium.html
MSC krill oil I find very helpful !
longer term you need to think about a better income imo ! :o)(
Yeah, I take Carlson Fish Oil (liquid)...
Deleteis that what I said?
Deletehttp://www.mediafire.com/listen/uxa1ii37d2rp2k0/01.+Wu+Wen-guang+-+Gu+Feng+Cao+%28The+Tune+of+Antiquity%29.mp3
ReplyDelete