The Interconnection between Three Zen Wisdom Quotes - Essay Example

The Interconnection between Three Zen Wisdom Quotes The three Zen wisdom quotes below are discussed in relation to how they are interconnected with examples to illustrate the connection. The aim is to explain these quotes as clearly as possible as I understand it. Zen Wisdom 1: "Disciples of a master teacher must destroy his formulations so that his teachings do not become an empty shell." Zen Wisdom 2: "The word for water does not quench your thirst... Painted rice cakes will not bring nourishment." Zen Wisdom 3: "When water flows through the bamboo forest, the water turns green. When the wind plays among the flowers, it takes on their perfume." Zen wisdom emphasizes the experiential aspects of mysticism for the pursuit of attaining spiritual enlightenment and involves the ‘cultivation of non-cultivation’. The wisdom in words is intended to provide opportunities for deep reflection, and through this, the mastery of the mind. The above three quotes are thus typical of Zen wisdom because they fulfill this purpose precisely. The first quote highlights the wider role of the disciple and the fundamental need to clear the mind first before the master; the second uses two analogies to show the futility of clinging to illusions, and the third delves on the fruits of enlightenment. First, I shall elaborate upon each of these interpretations individually before making the connections. However, it would be appropriate to mention at the outset here that the three are not only intimately connected as will be shown below, but they are also ordered sequentially. In short, the first sets the framework and defines the goal; the second is in the form of a lesson along the path to enlightenment, and the third describes the possibilities when the goal has been achieved. The first Zen wisdom quote could be made clearer by relating the absolute necessity for the disciple of a master teacher to destroy his own formulations (not that of the teacher of course) prior to receiving ‘blessings’ or wisdom. In other words, for a student to receive knowledge and empowerment from his teacher, all previous conceptions must be dissolved beforehand otherwise it is not possible to acquire anything. For example, if the teacher says that it is ‘day’ during nighttime then this must be accepted without question. It may be that the conception of ‘day’ the teacher is trying to instill differs from the ordinary sense of day. By not accepting, the disciple would only create obstacles for himself and the resulting confusion, mixing of purity and doubts, or misinterpretation would make him become like an empty shell unable to absorb anything. Instead, by emptying the shell of the mind first, the disciple becomes capable of having it filled with true wisdom from the teachings of his master. An important lesson for all disciples is to recognize the illusion of this material reality. The second quote in two parts thus uses two analogies to reinforce this point. It should be clear that only water could quench thirst whereas the word for water is incapable of doing so because it is not the real thing. Similarly, only real rice cakes can provide nourishment whereas painted ones cannot. These analogies serve to enable a contrast to be made between the nature and value of the true reality and this world so that the disciples can aspire for the true reality instead of remaining content with what is unreal and valueless. This explains the importance of cultivation of the non-cultivation. The third quote illustrates what the disciple can achieve, again through the use of analogies. Given the right conditions, transformations do occur and this is what is stressed here. Thus, water flowing through a bamboo forest can turn green, and wind playing among flowers can take on their perfume. Likewise, a disciple can also be transformed. The main theme that binds all the three quotes is enlightenment. Enlightenment is what the disciple strives for and the master teacher assists him but to receive wisdom the disciple must be receptive. Then to become enlightened, it is necessary to remove the illusion of what constitutes the non-enlightenment. When this is cultivated, it becomes possible for the transformation to occur by merely being in the presence of the teacher as easily as the perfume acquired by the wind when the flowers are nearby. Thus, enlightenment is achieved. The first and second quotes are further connected by the idea of having to remove something before acquiring something else. It is like erasing what has already been written on paper (through worldly experiences) before what should be written can be written. Thus, a disciple first needs to destroy his own formulations before the teacher can instill new retainable ones, and must also discard all illusions so that realities can be recognized for what they are. The second and third quotes are further connected by the strong use of analogies for making important points and the use of the element of water in particular. Analogies are useful because they facilitate comprehension especially when a complex idea is explained in simple terms. The use of water in these analogies is interesting because water is something that flows and is associated with wisdom. Quenching the thirst for spiritual insight, knowledge of the meaning of life and attaining enlightenment is a dynamic process, as is actually being enlightened. Thus, the non-flow of water represents stagnation or non-enlightenment, whereas its flow, like the flow of the wind, represents enlightenment, which is full of the experience of true life and joy. The first and third quotes are further connected by the nature of the relationship between the disciple and master. In the first, this is already clear because the words disciple and teacher are mentioned and it illustrates what the disciple must do. In the third, the illustration is what and how the disciple can then become. From the perspective of the teacher, these quotes show that the enlightened teacher is capable of both pouring wisdom into the mind of the disciple, and is also capable of transforming or empowering the disciple when the right conditions are created. Read More