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The ideal solution I think, is simple: "Followers of the Way [of Chán], if you want to get the kind of understanding that accords with the Dharma, never be mis

The ideal solution I think, is simple: "Followers of the Way [of Chán], if you want to get the kind of understanding that accords with the Dharma, never be misled by others. Whether you're facing inward or facing outward, whatever you meet up with, just kill it! If you meet a buddha, kill the buddha. If you meet a patriarch, kill the patriarch. If you meet an arhat, kill the arhat. If you meet your parents, kill your parents. If you meet your kinfolk, kill your kinfolk. Then for the first time you will gain emancipation, will not be entangled with things, will pass freely anywhere you wish to go." - Linji Yixuan [0][1] Before you object with something to the tune of "But I'm living with them!", I said it was simple, not easy. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linji_Yixuan https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linji_Yixuan [1]: I'm fairly sure he doesn't mean it literally, but then I've never read the quote in context.

prewett 14y ago
If I understand Buddhism correctly, then since everything (including you) is really just ultimately nothing, going to college is unimportant, unless it helps you in realizing that everything is nothing. Debt is bad, because it will enslave you, and likely lead you to think that money, etc. is actually something. College is may also be unhelpful, because it may lead you to think that an Education is not nothing. If you truly understand that everything is nothing, then the only logical choice is to spend your life helping others escape their enslavement of thinking that they truly exist. College may not be useful for that. On the other hand, if you think that we do actually exist and that college might actually be worth something, then I don't think Buddhist philosophy is going to be helpful.
- unimpressive 14y ago
  I'm not exactly a Buddhist, but I'm 99% sure that's not it: Yamaoka Tesshu, as a young student of Zen, visited one master after another. He called upon Dokuon of Shokoku. Desiring to show his attainment, he said: "The mind, Buddha, and sentient beings, after all, do not exist. The true nature of phenomena is emptiness. There is no realization, no delusion, no sage, no mediocrity. There is no giving and nothing to be received." Dokuon, who was smoking quietly, said nothing. Suddenly he whacked Yamaoka with his bamboo pipe. This made the youth quite angry. "If nothing exists," inquired Dokuon, "where did this anger come from?" [0] [0]: http://www.101zenstories.com/index.php?story=82 http://www.101zenstories.com/index.php?story=82 [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101_Zen_Stories https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101_Zen_Stories
- lilsunnybee 14y ago
  It 'isn't' helpful. It's religious nonsense.

prewett 14y ago

If I understand Buddhism correctly, then since everything (including you) is really just ultimately nothing, going to college is unimportant, unless it helps you in realizing that everything is nothing. Debt is bad, because it will enslave you, and likely lead you to think that money, etc. is actually something. College is may also be unhelpful, because it may lead you to think that an Education is not nothing. If you truly understand that everything is nothing, then the only logical choice is to spend your life helping others escape their enslavement of thinking that they truly exist. College may not be useful for that. On the other hand, if you think that we do actually exist and that college might actually be worth something, then I don't think Buddhist philosophy is going to be helpful.

unimpressive 14y ago
I'm not exactly a Buddhist, but I'm 99% sure that's not it: Yamaoka Tesshu, as a young student of Zen, visited one master after another. He called upon Dokuon of Shokoku. Desiring to show his attainment, he said: "The mind, Buddha, and sentient beings, after all, do not exist. The true nature of phenomena is emptiness. There is no realization, no delusion, no sage, no mediocrity. There is no giving and nothing to be received." Dokuon, who was smoking quietly, said nothing. Suddenly he whacked Yamaoka with his bamboo pipe. This made the youth quite angry. "If nothing exists," inquired Dokuon, "where did this anger come from?" [0] [0]: http://www.101zenstories.com/index.php?story=82 http://www.101zenstories.com/index.php?story=82 [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101_Zen_Stories https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101_Zen_Stories
lilsunnybee 14y ago
It 'isn't' helpful. It's religious nonsense.