My tenth week have been colored by the hues of Zen. A school of Buddhism focusing of answering a question by reflecting on oneself. The core of this teaching is very simple. Everybody has a problem. Now, to solve this problem, you may have a lot of questions such as what should I do, which decision should I make or even, who am I. Let us take the example of who am I. If you are a scientists, you may answer that you are a sophisticated array of molecules that could perform various biological functions. If you are an absent-minded person, you might just answer it with your name. But, if you give it a deep thought. That does not really answer your question. Now, think again. Who am I? Are you a sophisticated ensemble of biomolecules? How do you know that? How do you justify that? Then, if that's the case, who are you? Why you are not Elvis Presley? or why you are not Eminem? All of you are ensemble of biomolecules. Again, who am I?
If you gave it a deep thinking enough, you will arrive at "I Don't Know".
This........... is Zen.
The teachings of Zen is to turn the question onto yourself instead of the outer worlds. An adventurer may ask himself "Who is he?" and he seek the answer to that question by traveling around the world to find the answer. Well, Zen is the complete opposite from that. Zen teaching required you to keep on reminding yourself that you are nothing, you don't know who or what you are. From those in mind, you can develop more compassion to those around you.
HAHA! I kinda catch the gist of it because I went for a Temple Stay in Korea! The Buddhism order in Korea is mostly Mahayana and its sub-school is Zen. Well, it is SO DIFFERENT with the Chinese Buddhism. =)
Well, I experienced Zen meditations, temple foods and various temple activities =)
It was so fun!
peace
vixklen
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