Expert: Joe McSorley - 4/3/2005

Question
Hello, my name is Alejandra Aliaga and I am writing a research paper on Buddhism. If you wouldn'd mind, I would like to hear some of your thoughts and beliefs. Any and all thoughts shared would be much appreciated! Also, I am on my own journey and I am extremely interested in Buddhismm. I would love to hear some advice on starting myself up in the religion. Thanks again

Answer
Dear Alejandra,
 For some reason I did not get your question earlier and I am sorry this took so long to get back to you.
  First I'll give you a little history on Buddhism since I don't know what you know.   The historical Buddha was born in 563 AD in the city of Kapilavatsu, 160 miles northeast of Benares, India.  Technically speaking Buddhism is not a religion; it is not theistic and does not have an external means of salvation.  In Buddhism one's awakening and redemption is all through self-effort alone.  Historically speaking Buddhism came about because of the life of the Prince Gautama Siddhartha, who at age 29, encountered for the first time suffering, sickness and death and wanted to find an answer to the cause of suffering for humans.  He tried to lose himself in the pleasures of the world but found no solace.  He then became an ascetic and this too yielded no answers.  After many years of searching and frustration he finally sat under a tree and declared that he would not move until he understood the solution.  According to legend, several days later, as he glanced up at the morning star his mind became clear and he was enlightened.  From this he postulated the Four Noble truths of Buddhism:
Life (human) is dukkha. (suffering, with no apparent cause), There is a cause for the suffering. (avidya or ignorance.), the cause can be abated, and there is a path (Margo yoga).  What the crux of this is that our minds do not see reality clearly, we do not know who we are, both to ourselves and in relation to the universe.  The cause for this is ignorance of ourselves as egos that blinds us to seeing beyond ourselves.  This can be remedied.  And there are many ways to do this, such as yoga, contemplation, self-examination, etc.  When one realizes the true nature of reality, often called ‘seeing things as they are', one has an identical experience to the historical Buddha so there is no hierarchy.  The word ‘buddha' means ‘awakened one' so anyone can become a Buddha.  As Buddhism evolved through the centuries there have been many different sects arising.  Therevada is not unlike western religions as they revere the historical Buddha as godlike and pray to him.  They have many rituals and prayers, gods, saints and icons.  Mahayana and Zen Buddhism do not ascribe to these practices and strive for a direct awakening.
      Bodhidharma was a Brahman who brought Buddhism to China in about 520 A.D.  He is called the wall gazing Brahman and the first Patriarch of Zen.  In the story of Bodhidharma a man approaches him one day by the name of Hui ka.  Hui ka came to Bodhi's cave and waited for the monk to accept him.  As the legend goes he stood there for days but the Brahman did not come forth.  It started snowing and the snow reached Hui's waist and finally Bodhi came out and asked, “ What is it you want?”  To that Hui replied ‘ My heart mind is not at ease' (I have great existential anxiety).  Bodhi replied “ the way is long and difficult'.  With that Hui took out his sword and chopped off his left arm and handed it to Bodhi.  This obviously symbolizes the great dedication that he had to solving his problem.  With that Bodhi says he will accept him and asks again “ what is your problem?”  Hui replies “ My heart/mind is not at ease”.  Then Bodhi replies, “ Hand it to me that I may pacify it”.  With that Hui realized the true self and was awakened.  
  Please note here that Bodhidharma did not tell him to meditate, chant, pray or to do any other technique and he is the founder of Zen.  What he did do was to tell Hui to face himself, here and now in the immediate and present the source of his problem.  This forced Huikka to see that he himself was the problem.  Now it is obvious in this story that Hui had gone through an arduous process of searching to reach the point of such extremity that his concept of self would be shattered by Bodhi's words.  Bodhi wanted him to open his eyes to himself and the process that his mind was creating.  It is the object of Zen to stop the ruminations of the mind, to answer the question “ who is it that seeks” above all other questions first.  This is not done by ritual or chanting or any other device but by a deep and profound inquiry of the individual to the point that he realizes that the very act of searching itself is self-defeating.  This is the  point where we realize that we ourselves are the problem and we reach the paradox of self overcoming self to become awakened.  The first of the eightfold path is right thought and it's extremely important to understand that we must realize with every fiber in our body that the mind cannot realize awakening and yet may be the vehicle to that realization.  Awakening cannot be contingent upon body posture or chanting or any other particular physical manifestation but any one of those things might trigger it.  Historically in Zen those on the path have been so involved with answering their own existential dilemma or natural koan that anything can trigger awakening when the moment is ripe.  This is why you have stories of monks or laymen becoming awakened when a bird chirps, a bell rings, rock hits bamboo or keys drop.  Any one of these things was at the right moment in the striving of the individual.
     In most Zen teaching today the emphasis is put on practicing Zazen or sitting meditation but ask a teacher why this brings about awakening and you are likely to get a blank stare.  Today Zen is followed and not lived.  To be taught technique without a profound understanding of what you are doing is fruitless like practicing swimming next to a lake.  So to approach Zen as something other than you finding you is hopeless.  To practice or Buddhism as a religion rather than to live it misses the point of the historical Buddha.  He never said follow me or believe; the point is to experience what he experienced.  If I eat an apple and want you to taste it can only be done so by you tasting it yourself.  Nothing I can say or do will give you my experience.  So how do you start?  Who is it that asks me this question?  This is the beginning and end of your quest.  Who is it ' who/I' has a quest, anxiety, falls in love, was born and will die?  From what source do these questions arise?  Without conjecture, theory, postulation or belief, who is the self that queries?  This is it, face who stands and asks, here and now and you will start your journey.
  I hope this has helped you. Take care and don't hesitate to question further.
              Joe