Zen Newcomer Sees It as an Insider’s Game

 

The other day, I read a Facebook comment from a Zen newcomer. The basic idea was that Zen is an insider’s game of haves and have-nots. The suggestion was that those in the group, those that are the seekers of enlightenment, are some kind of snobs. The complaint was pretty direct. “Of course you know what this is all about, you people have been studying this for years” Believing that those who have been around for years, look down on those who don’t get it. The person posting the comment seemed to think that this Zen employs some kind of hazing ritual, taunting the newbies with enigmatic terms such as non-attachment and detachment, mind and no-mind, illusion and delusion. Sometimes that’s true and sometimes the uninitiated is way too far outside to grasp what is going on.

The Zen Newcomer

Obviously, one looking for some kind of spiritual experience would come to a Zen forum or Zen Facebook group or ashram with a preconceived concept of what it is they are seeking. Aside from the desired end result, they bring with them a vague notion of what they will need to do, to achieve their goal. This is where frustration sets in for a Zen newcomer. The “if…then” mindset doesn’t work in Zen. If I work real hard, then I will attain my goal… doesn’t really apply. This is not a test. You can not find your nature, if it is your true nature you seek, it’s already there. It’s like searching everywhere for your keys and then realizing they were in your pocket all the time.

If you wish to realize your nature, my advice would be to work on peeling back that, which obscures it. Do you identify with your past experiences? Is that who you are? Suchness is the thing that we all share. Everyone has different experiences, so obviously your nature is something other than your history. The same goes for your biology. Your DNA makes you a unique individual, physically we are all different. So, what is that common thread we share with the rest of reality?

Years ago I saw the Andrew Wyeth exhibit at the Philadelphia museum. His time spent on the Kuerner farm produced a painting entitled “Ground Hog Day”. The painting was of a table set for Karl Kuerner — plate, knife and cup waiting — without Mr Kuerner in the picture. Accompanying the painting was a quote from Wyeth, “I wanted to get down to the very essence of the man who wasn’t there.”, one of my favorite Zen quotes of all time.