"Any effort or attempt to break out of the Zen Hedonist thought system would be defeated by loss of ego, which formed the core of the doctrines."
I think that "ego" means a sense of separate selfhood? In this sense, I also think that ego has to be transcended because nothing is separate. Everything is interconnected and interdependent. This self, or individual subject of consciousness, is a transient manifestation and expression of the cosmic totality, like a wave of the sea.
However, ego is transcended by realizing interconnectedness, not by being caught in a thought system or a set of doctrines. Realization is approached by the practice of awareness, not by acceptance of the idea of "interconnectedness." I used to read, think and talk about Buddhism. Now I sit for meditation. No credit to me. I have been incredibly slow to start to understand what all the words have been pointing towards. Books on Zen are legs on a snake.
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I don't think it's enough to say that the "ego" which is "me" can be transcended by "interconnectedness." What is meant by that term? Is my ego transcended if I interpret interconnectedness to mean practicing the Golden Rule in its positive form, as given by Christ?
Sean
Sean,
Interconnectedness: every individual subject and object exists only in relation to the totality of existence. The Golden Rule is an excellent recognition of our inter-relatedness.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I deleted my previous comment because of an annoying error I made.
Therefore, to practice interconnectedness a la the Golden Rule would not mean the loss of our "ego," our "me-ness."
Sean
Sean,
Not a loss of individual self-consciousness. Loss of a sense of being separate.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
It might be put better if "interconnectedness" led to the loss of a sense of alienation, the fear of existing in isolation.
Sean
Sean,
OK. There is no agreed terminology in these matters. Hence a lot of the communication problems.
Paul.
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