Reality? Question the Buddha
2 minutes

Reality? Question the Buddha

- edited by: Steve Piscitelli

Share If You Enjoyed It

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Everyone is talking or interrupting and not listening much.

People speak what they want to hear. Ignoring all else.

We find inspiration in surprising places if we choose to stop, listen, and reflect.  A few years ago, I heard a thought-provoking singer-songwriter introduce a song with:

“If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.”

The words come from a Zen koan and are offered for a metaphorical lesson about the importance of reflection and authentic questioning.  The road, in this case, is your journey through life.  “The Buddha” symbolizes the truth or enlightenment that you believe you have attained.  You believe you have found the final answers.

Not so fast.

At times, it’s hard to see what we think we see.

The koan teaches that “reality is an impermanent illusion” and we need to “throw out that image (kill it)” and keep seeking truth.

Do not get comfortable. Do not become complacent.  Keep asking authentic questions, listening to what you hear, and asking more questions.

In No Barrier: Unlocking the Zen Koan, Thomas Cleary shares translations of forty-eight koans. You will find more metaphors that connect to the figurative expression “kill the Buddha” and the powerful lesson above.  For example:

 “A ship cannot moor where the water is shallow.” (53)
o   We must deepen our thought process to understand. Cleary says “whichever perspective you are absorbed in, it is crucial to be able to go back and forth freely in order to attain both ultimate liberation and objective compassion. Either perspective can kill you or bring you to life.”

“Does sound come to the ear, or does the ear go to sound?” (82)
o   Do you hear the message that is being delivered or do you project and hear what you want to hear?

“If you only know how to open your mouth, you won’t realize when you’re trapped in words.” (141)
o   Cleary reminds us that “we wind up entrapped in our own points of view. We may think we are talking about realities when all we are doing is talking about what we think.”

Community building requires conversation—authentic dialogue.  Unfortunately, we often become trapped in collective monologues. Everyone is talking or interrupting but not much listening. People speak what they want to hear—ignoring all else.  Those behaviors will kill meaningful collaboration.

[Previously published on The Growth and Resilience Network® on August 19, 2018.]

Suggest a Story: FCL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so when you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Share This Post

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

Related Post

Cherish Life

Entrepreneur and creative director Andrew Anabi on how to cherish life: A beautiful walk after a storm Dutton…

Timucuan - How a Forest...

This work is about grief, resilience, and recovery, as seen through my connection to a unique landscape in…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Stories

Stories, Articles & Spotlights

This Story Sponsored By

Connect With Us

Sign up for stories & photos to your inbox

 

More Like This

I'm Glad My Mother Taught Me To....

I'm Glad My Mother Taught Me To....

When we consider our parents, teachers, friends, neighbors, spiritual leaders, mentors, and even total strangers…
Einstein - "The Universal Force Is Love"

Einstein - "The Universal Force Is Love"

…”When I proposed the theory of relativity, very few understood me, and what I will…
Cherish Life

Cherish Life

Entrepreneur and creative director Andrew Anabi on how to cherish life: A beautiful walk after…
Upcoming Events
*Jacksonville Farmers Market
Jacksonville
March 30, 2024
*St. Augustine Amphitheatre Farmers Market
St. Augustine
March 30, 2024
Sliders Oyster Bar
Neptune Beach
Restaurants, Food & Drink, Seafood & Steak
Atlantic Beach Arts Market
Atlantic Beach
Art Galleries