Master of Buddhism lesson 12

master of Buddhism lesson 12: Zen

Exercise:
1. Why do Zen Buddhists strive to break the language barrier? Have you had an experience where language has gotten
in the way of something intrinsic?

When one is attempting to describe ideas, especially ideas about what experience is, words cannot adequately suffice.
Even art merely approaches what is trying to be expressed. Using words and language to describe an experience always
falls short; it's like attempting to build a magnificent mansion with broken two-by-fours.

2. Why do you think the text compiling koans is called the Gateless gate?

It is crossing a boundary that doesn't really exist. Insight comes out nowhere and allows one to understand what was
previously unknown. Thus one has opened a gate. Yet we have understood all along, we just couldn't see because of all
the foolishness that runs around our heads. So there really was no barrier to our understanding, hence the gateless-ness
of the gate!

3. Why do you think Zen is so appealing to Westerners?

The Western, scientific approach is a good bed for this type of Buddhism. Both the Western mind and Zen like to get down
to the bones, to strip away the non-essential. Westerners want answers NOW and Zen seems to allow for direct insight
(although it takes longer than NOW!)