THE WAY OF ZEN by Alan Watts

I’ve asked myself these questions many times as the word Zen started to become more popular.

What is Zen? Is it a philosophy? Is it a religion? How does one practice Zen?

Allan Watts does the difficult job of presenting the bigger picture about Zen in a way that is understandable by us, westerners, while looking into the two religions that have had a great impact on Zen: Buddhism and Taoism.

As he dives into the background and history of each, he emphasises the difficulties of translating texts between the East and the West especially as we, human beings, are conditioned to seek causation.

“Words are limiting and can only transfer concepts if both parties share the same ways of thought.”

In short, here are the main differences between Zen and other Buddhist philosophies:

• Awakening is seen as something that anyone can attain

• No symbolism or ceremonies

• Focus on working or doing what you love in a state of flow to achieve awakening

• The use of “Koans” - a way to prompt the students to not confuse thoughts and ideas with reality

• Zazen (similar to meditation) - Quiet awareness

Core principles:

• See through the universal illusion - pleasure and pain are interlinked and necessary.

  “For there is never anything but the present, and if one cannot live there, one cannot live anywhere.”

  “There is nothing further to seek or to be gained”

• Act naturally - any action the occurs when the mind does not try to control itself.

  “One cannot be intentionally unintentional”

• Zazen - The idea of practice without purpose, sitting just to sit.

  “Allowing the mind to act on its own”

The book can be quite overwhelming at times with so many new concepts to grasp but the “aha” moments along the way are worth it.

“The body is the tree of enlightenment,
The mind like a clear mirror stand;
Time and gain wipe it diligently,
Don't let it gather dust.”

- Shenxiu