Infatuation

"Being infatuated with sense objects and thereby shutting themselves from their own light, all sentient beings, tormented by outer circumstances and inner vexations, act voluntarily as slaves to their own desires."

– The Platform Sutra of Hui-Neng

I'm going out on a limb with this, because we're talking about English translation, and there are a lot of different ways to translate certain Chinese words (or so I've read – I'm no expert).

But I'm interested in the use of the word 'infatuated' here. The way we generally use this word, you'd think it has something to do with sexual attraction, obsession, lust, or desire.

But the Latin root "infatuat-" means 'made foolish.' Infatuation doesn't mean, literally speaking, 'having a crush' – it means being made foolish.

And that's what happens, isn't it? Well, that's what happens to me. Your mileage may vary.

We most commonly talk about being infatuated as an extreme, brief sexual or physical attraction, but in this context, the Sixth Zen Patriarch (or his translator) is talking about being infatuated with all kinds of things that are seen, heard, smelled, tasted and physically felt. And we could add to that intangible things that are sensed only in our minds – fame (or infamy, which is sometimes just as agreeable), joy, sadness, anger, resentment – even the pursuit of enlightenment.

I often paraphrase Thoreau who said (paraphrasing), 'You don't own your possessions - your possessions own you.' I think this is also true of these infatuations – they end up controlling our lives, telling us how we will act or behave rather than us making our own choices.

And then we are made foolish.

The usual disclaimer applies.