pokii wrote: ↑Thu Nov 09, 2017 1:45 am
how come we are silent, and react negatively to any question, disagreement, or provocation?
if a short kyosaku has been broken on your back, cant u sustain a few jokes?
even insults?
is the internet zen going to stay dead scholastic words,
or can we exchange some live words?
even if they seem rough or dumb?
I've wondered the same thing.
Self-described Zen folks on forums have seemed to me rather easily offended at times. In some cases it has made me wonder if they have learned much about the depths and treasures of their own traditions, that they display so little confidence. It takes some minimal knowledge to correct the misconceptions of others.
Part of it also may be the tendency of some Western Buddhist folks to avoid any appearance of having afflictive emotion, or indulging in conflict. It seems common even for some Western teachers to fall into a kind of gentle, New Age guru meets Protestant minister meets psychotherapist, very spiritual way of speaking, using all the right catchwords, that sometimes frankly makes me nauseous. (Well, it seems perhaps I am the one easily offended here).
I am fond of this quote from the Edo period Soto Zen master Suzuki Shosan:
In learning the Buddhist Law in recent years, many people seem to have forgotten that Zen includes high spirits of bravery and great power. Therefore, those who learn the Buddhist Law become so tenderhearted, admirable-looking, desireless, and good-natured that they somehow lose the will to react to any unfavorable stimulus as angrily as if saying, "Kuso!" ["Shit!"].
~ Meido