Originally posted by karoly aczel Designed to quieten the mind while keeping it alert.
The "answer" to a koan is for the student himself. it would make no sense to any other than the master
Would you say that absolute certainty is the prime objective of Zen?
Yes. But apparently to reach that "certainty" one must past through the "moment of Great Doubt" There is no "gradual enlightenment" , only a sudden one.
So the closer you get, the greater your doubt becomes.
a Zen student must have absolute conviction and a splash of origonalitiy
Originally posted by divegeester Do you hold to the view or belief that my not being a member of your religious organisation in any way. preclude me from accessing eternal life?
I guess this is not one of those "anything" questions, huh robbie.
Originally posted by karoly aczel Zen masters should answer all questions. It's just one of their things. And I do remember Robbie proclaiming.... something about being a zen master
Zen masters may answer a question in an unexpected fashion. I remember reading about one chap (Danish I think he was) who spent time in a Zen Monastery and had asked a Zen master some convoluted question about the reason for existence. The Master had simply poured the contents of the teapot on to the tatami mat, before nodding wisely.
Originally posted by Ghost of a Duke Zen masters may answer a question in an unexpected fashion. I remember reading about one chap (Danish I think he was) who spent time in a Zen Monastery and had asked a Zen master some convoluted question about the reason for existence. The Master had simply poured the contents of the teapot on to the tatami mat, before nodding wisely.
Levon Aronian the Armenian super Grandmaster told an interesting story after beating Anish Giri. He had lost the previous game in the Tata steel tournament badly.
A man comes to the Master and asks, please teach me. The master says go outside and stand for sometime until you get a sign. The disciple went outside, it started to rain and the disciple was soaked through. He came back to the master. The master asked him what he learned. I did not learn anything except that I am an idiot for following your teachings. Exactly retorted the master now you realise that you are an idiot, you can begin learning!