according to zen, the path to well being is proportional to how much you desire... the less you desire, the better off you'll be in life. according to psychoanlyisis (Freudian, Lacanian...), desire is precisely what keeps us going -you can't help it. moreover, our nature is one of constant insatisfaction: we're always wanting more or something else, otherwise, something would be wrong with our "psychosexual development", signaling a considerable neurosis.
besides the obvious intentions of clearing your mind or reducing the turbulence of your thoughts, how should you aproach the practice of zazen if you know you'll never stop desiring? you know you'll be searching for "things" within that space (meditating) but you are told that you shouldn't and you should have no expectations or anything whatsoever. how do you go about that?
2007-09-01 02:50:06 · 6 answers · asked by Pedro del Castillo 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The stages of psychosexual development are complete and utter bull - i'm 18 and even I know that. He was an opium-addicted, sex-obsessed dysfuntional narcissist, and his theories may have survived, but they are highly critiqued.
Greed perpetuates dissatisfaction. The idea is to not lust after things - be happy with what you have, focus on what you enjoy and move forward that way, don't just decide that you want everything - you will be torn in every direction, and will never understand who you truly are. If you follow the things you like, your own unique charecter will guide you to happiness, and you will achieve all you want in life, because you will be constantly doing that which you enjoy, and that which lifts your spirit up.
We do not *need* to desire things. For example, i'm perfectly happy living at home with my parents, wearing old tatty jeans which i've sewn up like 20billion times, lounging around in comfy hooded jumpers, slobbing in front of generic (not sky or cable) TV... I don't need to desire anything more, i'm alive, i'm reasonably healthy. I'm doing a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice... is that because i've got my eye on the goal, some big legal job in the future? Nope. I'm just doing it because it's what I enjoy - i've always been interested in the criminal mind. It's not about wanting NOTHING, it's about being happy with what you have, and striving to keep balence rather than to swing everything around to 'you'.
Emma
xXx
2007-09-01 03:30:48 · answer #1 · answered by Pebbles 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's a miracle going on, there really is, and it's everything. Come really close to dying and you may get a glimpse of that.
Zen is about appreciating that miracle. The practice of zazen is about being that miracle. It's always already everything, including you, just as you are, in this moment, just as it is. In order to realize that, however, it behooves us to suspend reifying our incomplete notions and beliefs about ourselves and the world. We live inside those notions most of the time and never get out from under them because we're motivated to hang onto them without question. Thus the classic Buddhist formula for an unsatisfactory existence -- an existence marked by ignorance perpetuated by our "thirsts" and desires.
Freudian libido is a bit of a different thing. It's more like a life energy. Zen has no problem with that. Our life force is part of the way things are, part of the "suchness" of it all. It is that which prompts us to practice zazen in the first place. Not many Buddhists use Freudian philosophy, but one could appropriately suggest that zazen is an expression of all that we are; it is a manifestation of "life force."
Zazen isn't so much trying to stop desiring as it is about being non-identified with desires. That's also called being non-attached. You see them, you feel them, you enjoy them even. It's just that you also "let them be" without identifying with them. They're just part of the show.
Zazen is like holding a mirror to your true nature, how you really are ... and then letting go of the idea of there being a mirror to hold up, and simply being the way you really are.
In effect, there's nothing to search for, because the Miracle is always already here.
Zazen is you.
.
2007-09-01 10:17:59 · answer #2 · answered by bodhidave 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is said that if you have to ask the question, then you are not ready for enlightenment. It's when you stop asking that enlightenment comes. They are right. If you desire nothing, you will never be disappointed. You can do this through zen meditation.
However, don't confuse zen with earning a living and being a responsible member of society.
2007-09-01 10:25:23 · answer #3 · answered by lotus1s 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is humanity ready to hear the truth ?
No matter what is the questions or the answers and no matter what we think we are or what we thinks about who we are ,meaning either prisoner or the warden , rich or poor, you eat meat or beans you love or you hate you except or reject ,leftist or rightist , black or white ,religious or atheist, and all other species living with us on planet earth and beyond which we all share a common bond that's we are really one ,but there is a down side to our existence a hidden secret which kept from us and they continue to suppress the truth and to protect their system of deception from crumbling , and humanity will be free ,but are you really wants to know ,are you ready , I hope so ,and I hope SO called man in authority read it and TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE GAME IS AGAINST ALL OF US , HERE COMES THE TRUTH MY FRIENDS THAT WE ALL LIVING ON THIS PLANET AS A GUINE PIGS , LIKE REALLY ANIMAL FARM FOR EXPERIMENTS. PURE AND SIMPLE LABORATORY
2007-09-07 07:53:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to zen nothing is nothing, personally I am a christian, zen makes no sense to me, I believe in Jesus, The bible says he came to earth and died on a cross for our sins, The bibles says that if we give our hearts to him and serve him we get eternal life in Heaven, I don't want to go whereever zen is, I want to be in paradise. Zen just leads you back to him, whoever he was, I will stick with Jesus, since I got saved and baptized I have had more peace in my life than I ever thought possible. I sleep in peace, I smile a lot, its hard to get me depressed about anything, Christ has made a huge difference in my Life, He can in yours to. He will take your desires and use them for his glory, He will give you talents you never knew you had and use them for the church. Of course you first have to be a born again Christian, you have to be willing to submit to him totally, you have to be able to confess to Jesus that you are a sinner in need of a Saviour. If you believe and would like to become a christian just pray this Prayer believeing in Jesus with all your heart, as sinners we must first submit and confess, just say Dear Jesus, I just ask you right now to come into my life and save me, I admit and confess that I am a sinner. I believe that you came and died on a cross for my sins, and that you rose from the grave as a perfect sacrifice to cover the sins of all mankind. I do believe you are the Son of God and I ask you to make me one of your children in the Kingdom of Heaven,and be my Lord and Saviour, in Jesus Name Amen, If you Prayed this Prayer with a sincere heart you are now saved, You should feel a burden being lifted off your heart and the days will seem brighter as Christ begins a work in you, find a church, and start reading your Bible, may God Bless YOU!!! If you have any questions please feel free to email me. Mercy and Grace have been applied!!!
2007-09-08 21:26:50 · answer #5 · answered by victor 7707 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cut off your wee wee's. Cut off your fingers & poke out your eyes. Sounds like a great life if you cant enjoy it.
2007-09-01 09:55:43 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋