May 28, 2020 THE ZEN REBELS: OBSCURE HERMITS AND EXISTENTIAL REFORMERS (PART 27) - SUBVERSIVE ZEN (A.Glass 2020)
"In this study of Zen Subversiveness, it has to be put into context on the meaning of what subverting against the Zen Establishment entailed in both China and Japan over the course of hundreds of years when Zen was first introduced into China in the 4th Century. What differentiates Zen from other schools of Buddhism is the riddle laced humor known as the Koans, short sentences, in some cases just a word, to revert the student back as a way of mediative practice that all aspects of literal meaning may also hold no actual meaning. A riddle for the Zen practitioner to ponder and grasp as way of penetrating the mind, hence in its mannerism, without responding in abundant detail, a well delivered Koan from a Master to a Zen student may assist in he or she to reach enlightenment. The great Zen master and teacher Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769), who lived in a time in Japan classified as the Endo Period that lasted from 1603 to 1868, that after hundred of years of political turmoil and internal conflicts, the Endo Period was considered to be a stable time prior to Japan's modernization and international military power under what was known as the Meiji Restoration. Hakuin, is heralded for bringing back the intensity of 'Rinzai' Zen via its founder Linji Yixuan with its rigor of Koan practice and meditation. Yet, Hakuin was paradoxical in his reestablishing of the Rinzai school in Japan, to which he was an admirer of the iconoclastic Zen monk Ikkyu Sonjun (1394 - 1481), who, by retrospection utilized the subversive as a way of expressing the impermanence of the material world. Hakuin like Ikkyu, earlier on in their beginning as Zen practitioners, where fraught in their focus of their practice, which is the core understanding of Zen. Both had underlining flaws, yet also an acceptance of their nature, as a way of maintaining the relevance of practice that opened up the noesis that Zen Buddhism attempts to defined, that the mystery of life is also an awareness of its truth. That only the individual can attain. Hakuin, in his early years had a nervous breakdown, which he titled as 'Zen Sickness', Ikkyu, as a novice monk contemplated suicide. Yet, both Ikkyu and Hakuin, went onto become the most recognized of iconic Zen masters..."
___
A.Glass 2020
Full Article: https://chiasmusmagazine.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-zen-rebels-obscure-hermits-and_28.html
Comments
Post a Comment