12.07.2015 Views

The Zen of Advaita - Stephen H. Wolinsky Ph. D.

The Zen of Advaita - Stephen H. Wolinsky Ph. D.

The Zen of Advaita - Stephen H. Wolinsky Ph. D.

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KOANS<strong>Zen</strong> Saying: “<strong>The</strong> purpose <strong>of</strong> aKoan is to liberate us from thesuffering caused by the rules withwhich we bind ourselves.”Its purpose is to take away allexisting hopes and ideas, or asNisargadatta Maharaj said, “I wantto smash your concepts and put youin the no-concept state.”Koans are meant to intimidate andtantalize the rational mind.All spiritual practices seduceus with the hope and dream <strong>of</strong>going beyond ourselves. If we arefortunate the process shows us theabsurdity <strong>of</strong> that fantasy.This is because there is noself or “I” to go beyond. Andspiritual fantasies, which aremerely psychological regressedmodels and standards superimposedon consciousness, promote and<strong>of</strong>tentimes enable this dream topersist.<strong>The</strong> root <strong>of</strong> <strong>Zen</strong> meditation, likethe root <strong>of</strong> meditation in general,32

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