u/AstralFather says: This is one translation. I find this translation doesn't tell the story as well as the Alan Watt's description of it, but I unfortunately can't find it. I'll try to summarize it a bit better.
There was a master named Juzhi Yizhi, who would get many visitors to his temple. Any time someone would come along, they would typically ask him "What is the fundamental teaching of Zen", and Juzhi would say nothing and just raise one finger.
Juzhi had a young boy attendant named Gutei, and Gutei would often watch the master attend visitors, and he would see that when the master was asked about Zen he would raise one finger.
One day the master was out, and a few visitors came. Gutei told them that the master was out, and the visitors asked, "Well you are his attendant, can you tell us what the master teaches as the fundamental teaching of Zen?". Gutei smiled and raised one finger.
But secretly, Juzhi was waiting in the bushes and watching the young boy. After the visitors left, Juzhi approached Gutei and said "What is the fundamental teaching of Zen?" and the boy proudly raised one finger. Juzhi quickly pulled out a sword and cut it off. The boy screamed and tried to run off, but Juzhi grabbed him and said, "What is the fundamental teaching of Zen?" and the boy tried to raise his finger, but only lifted up a bloody stump. The boy looked at it and in that instant the boy was enlightened."
If that is your first exposure to Koans its a bit of a rougher one. Koan's are kinda like jokes, you either kind of get it or you don't. You can explain it, but that doesn't really help you "get it".
u/escapewa pleads: I'm begging you... Eli5!!! Please!
u/AstralFather replies: Well, it is very difficult because koans have many layers and are meant to be contemplated. I can give you my best analysis, but it certainly isn't the "right" answer, because there probably isn't one.
First there is the fact that the child imitated the master, but did not know the meaning. He incorrectly assumed that the finger was the teaching. This is akin to the very popular saying that "Zen is like a finger pointing at the moon". The finger is not the moon. And as such, Juzhi's teaching was not the raised finger, but what it represented. How the raised finger represents a teaching is a bit difficult to get into, but there is lots of discussion in Buddhist teaching about things that
... keep reading on reddit ➡I've added a brief partner perspective section (per request) and my thoughts about codependency; LTRs with BPDs; etc. What happens with an undiagnosed or misdiagnosed pwBPD in therapy often parallels the experience of the unsuspecting partner. Objectivity, identity preservation, reality testing, and optimum distance are difficult to maintain for anyone who encounters an untreated pwBPD on the more severe side of the spectrum. My goal is to provide clarity and intellectual honesty about the tendency to over-pathologize our own shortcomings and failures when interacting with a disordered person, thereby adding insult to injury. This is not meant to exculpate "codependent" contributions in the face of a pathological relationship, but it may offer reprieve for those of us who continue to ruminate, continue to blame ourselves, and suffer from interminable regret. Hello to the community!
The only one for me is you, and you for me. — Alan Lee Gordon
There’s much debate regarding the term codependency and the popular idea that all individuals who are attracted to, fall in love with, or “enable” a person with Borderline Personality Disorder are essentially “codependents.” Codependency being defined as excessive emotional or psychological reliance on a partner, typically one who requires support on account of an illness or addiction. However, Codependent Personality is not recognized in the DSM because codependency is considered a non-clinical psychological construct. Furthermore, human psychology is a soft science that does not allow for all statements, or any declaration that demands 100% certainty, to suggest otherwise would be committing the fallacy of illicit transference. Although common pairings in borderline relationships involve partners with Narcissistic Personality Disorder and nominal codependents, there are plenty of healthier-minded individuals who find themselves caught up in these relationships before understanding anything about the disorder; sometimes several years after the relationship has ended, sometimes never. In many cases, the partner of a Borderline has tried everything at their disposal to make the relationship work until a combination of confusion, frustration, exhaustion, and unexpected fallout forces a contentious separation—the personal, social, and financial burden can be enormous. Maybe this is testimony to a partner’s patience, compassion, commitment, love, and resilience rather than a tendency towards codependency? In
... keep reading on reddit ➡Hello, I was interested in studying some of the philosophical thought puzzles presented by the Zen Buddhists. Having trouble finding any good books on the subject. Any help would be appreciated.
Two monks walking through the woods.
One monk points to a large boulder and says, "that looks heavy".
The other monk replies, "only if you lift it".
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Then a certain devata, in the far extreme of the night, her extreme radiance lighting up the entirety of Jeta's Grove, went to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down to him, she stood to one side. As she was standing there, she said to him, "Tell me, dear sir, how you crossed over the flood."
"I crossed over the flood without pushing forward, without staying in place."
"But how, dear sir, did you cross over the flood without pushing forward, without staying in place?"
"When I pushed forward, I was whirled about. When I stayed in place, I sank. And so I crossed over the flood without pushing forward, without staying in place."
[The devata:]
At long last I see
a brahman, totally unbound,
who without pushing forward,
without staying in place,
has crossed over
the entanglements
of the world.
That is what the devata said. The Teacher approved. Realizing that "The Teacher has approved of me," she bowed down to him, circumambulated him — keeping him to her right — and then vanished right there.
-- SN 1.1, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, quoted here in its entirety.
You'd expect such a Sutta to be eccentric and obscure, but it's in fact the very first Sutta in the Saṃyutta Nikāya!
Credit to u/essentialsalts for pointing it out to me originally.
Books that make you meditate about things in life but not implying a certain answer.
>Shoichi was a one-eyed teacher of Zen, sparkling with enlightenment. He taught his disciples in Tofuku temple. Day and night the whole temple stood in silence. There was no sound at all. Even the reciting of sutras was abolished by the teacher. His pupils had nothing to do but meditate. When the master passed away, an old neighbor heard the ringing bells and the recitation of sutras. Then she knew Shoichi had gone.
I'd like to know more about Shoichi, but can't seem to find anything written about him.
I'm extremely curious as to the psychological effects that meditation can have. So, naturally, I'm inquisitive of a couple of things. [Personal experiences are especially welcome]
Are there any other methods of producing Great Doubt* other than through Kōan? (if so, is Kōan better, worse, or equal in producing Great Doubt?)
Are there any (scientifically validated or researched) psychological/neurological benefits to experiencing Great Doubt? What are your thoughts and experiences on Great Doubt?
*It seems there may be confusion as to what "Great Doubt" even means. For the purposes of this inquiry, I'll define it as this (until someone can provide me with a better description): Continuous and growing desire to comprehend or understand something that, essentially, has no end or limit
http://www.reddit.com/r/Buddhism/comments/2ce9c5/inquiry_on_k%C5%8Dan_and_great_doubt/
Can anyone answer this kōan?
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. Then a certain devata, in the far extreme of the night, her extreme radiance lighting up the entirety of Jeta's Grove, went to the Blessed One. On arrival, having bowed down to him, she stood to one side. As she was standing there, she said to him, "Tell me, dear sir, how you crossed over the flood."
"I crossed over the flood without pushing forward, without staying in place."
"But how, dear sir, did you cross over the flood without pushing forward, without staying in place?"
"When I pushed forward, I was whirled about. When I stayed in place, I sank. And so I crossed over the flood without pushing forward, without staying in place."
[The devata:]
At long last I see
a brahman, totally unbound,
who without pushing forward,
without staying in place,
has crossed over
the entanglements
of the world.
That is what the devata said. The Teacher approved. Realizing that "The Teacher has approved of me," she bowed down to him, circumambulated him — keeping him to her right — and then vanished right there.
-- SN 1.1, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu, quoted here in its entirety.
You'd expect such a Sutta to be eccentric and obscure, but it's in fact the very first Sutta in the Saṃyutta Nikāya!
Credit to u/essentialsalts for pointing it out to me originally.
