Because I don't know what else to call it.
Let's say, for example (since it's a pet issue for me) someone decided he's going to detach himself from, or practice non-attachment to, material possessions. That's an admirable goal. But what if, instead of reaching non-attachment to material possessions, this person just flips his attachment on its head and he becomes attached to not having anything? That's probably preferable to being attached to possessions, but it's still attachment.
A person has to find that state that is a non-state. But he risks becoming attached to finding the non-state, or becoming attached to being in the non-state.
This is the point at which the sage stretches out, puts his feet up, and asks someone to check on his pancakes.
2 comments:
I think that is one of the paradoxes of Buddhist practice, especially Zen practice - that we see that there needs to be some intent and we spin up a "goal" consciously or unconsciouslessly. The intent and goal to save all sentient beings is pretty unfantomable, so something a little closer and familar is chosen. A peaceful life, less desire for 'stuff', honesty about what goes on... it is still something we want in the intent and the goal. But this is just how it is - until you start practicing, you don't have the opportunity to see monkey-mind obviously spinning these things up. And even after the obvious hooks are clear, there are a lot of little subtle hooks going on, too under-the-surface for the intellectual analysis to spy. Start on doing something, like getting rid of 'stuff', not acquiring 'stuff', then begin to see all the little anxieties that arise out of that and the source of them. Maybe it is knee-jerk 'want-its'; maybe it is fear about not-having. Seeing those reactions and practicing with them is more important than getting rid of physical things, really.
What to do, what to do... Suzuki-Roshi said 'to practice with your delusions' which at first doesn't make much sense but the more time you spend with it, the more sense it makes, and in fact, we don't have much choice, do we.
sweeney
too much doing, thinking, intellectualizing and not enough being.
Post a Comment