Idealism, Materialism and Zen
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 3:16 pm
A “Zen” Perspective (1)
The word “Zen” refers to the form of yoga that has been the central practice of Buddhism since the beginning. The ultimate objective of all Buddhist practice, including that of the Zen school, and that which alone gives it all its meaning and beauty, is the occurrence, or creation of the optimum conditions for the occurrence of, a very specific psychic event in the mind of the individual. People normally experience reality only in the form of a dizzying stream of concepts in which they constantly struggle to see stable and useful patterns. In spite of their artificial and ephemeral quality, we try to hold on to these concepts and are thereby twisted this way and that. This in itself is a source of suffering but it also magnifies the other psychological and physical suffering that we must inevitably endure as living organisms. The nature of the psychic event of which I speak is the permanent opening of the mind to the perception of an all-encompassing, ungraspable, undifferentiated field of reality/mind which includes, underlies or forms the true nature of all phenomenal reality
This stream of concepts is the only way we can think, but seeing at the same time that they are ephemeral and not to be relied upon or grasped, except in a tentative way, releases the individual from much feeling of pressure, anxiety, fear, etc. Few people actually fully achieve this release, but a life spent in pursuit of it, ideally under the guidance of one who has, can be more peaceful, beautiful and meaningful than one spent in the blind pursuit of an endlessly shifting parade of ephemeral goals.
What I am calling a “psychic event” is not an experience in itself (to say nothing of “belief” or “faith”), but we can experience it in an infinite number of ways throughout our lives if it is once attained. Just about the only idea that is truly universal within Buddhism is that of “Emptiness”. This term originates from a kind of feeling or awareness -- that is beyond sense or emotion in their ordinary meanings -- rather than any intellectual conclusion. On the occurrence of the psychic event referred to above, even though all sense information remains the same, the individual sees that the distinct and exclusive “existence”, the perception of a separate core or essence of each object or person, including (most importantly) of him- or herself, which he or she had previously understood to be the very meaning and definition of “reality”, had been but an illusion since the beginning. It is as though he or she had awakened from a dream. The realization that all space and time, matter and energy, life and consciousness are all included in one seamless existence makes the conclusion that the nature of reality is basically mind or consciousness rather unavoidable, at least from a human (as opposed to absolute or “factual”) viewpoint.
Such a characterization seems to have taken a few centuries to finally appear in Buddhist teachings, however. This was perhaps because the concept of consciousness itself took some time to evolve. Nonetheless, whether or not one actually describes the situation in this way, any individual, having attained this awakening, will see reality as having a kind of “living” quality within which he or she is included. On the other hand, it is equally obvious that the lifeless or remote, i.e. objective, idea of reality envisioned by Materialism is but an illusion.
By the way, the word “ungraspable”, which appears perfectly descriptive to anyone who has attained this state, is likely to cause some confusion to those who have not. It doesn’t mean here that there is anything murky, confusing or complex to deal with. The true condition of reality is perfectly clear and obvious, and in fact, simplicity itself. It is just that it cannot be touched, retained in the mind, owned or controlled as can anything that is perceived only in conceptual form, which is normally the case. This condition is necessarily utterly new and previously unimaginable to anyone who sees it for the first time, but quickly becomes normal afterwards, and one simply goes on with everyday life.
Within the Eastern Cultural Tradition, idealistic or pantheistic ideas are considered to have always been mainstream, but the idea that all reality is basically consciousness would never have been less bewildering to the average Asian as to any Westerner. On the other hand, to anyone deeply involved with the Zen school, for one example, as a lay person or monk, such ideas would be quite familiar, but thought of by the average person as a kind of subtle metaphor, or else belonging to some transcendental plane of consciousness. I have no trouble thinking such statements to be literally true in the simplest and most straightforward sense, but I’ve been fully aware for well over 50 years that there is no real objective reality as distinct from the subjective.
There is something interesting here of which we should all take careful note. Bernardo often expresses astonishment that such a crude and inadequate picture of reality as that of Materialism or Physicalism could have become the dominant viewpoint of a worldwide civilization and destroyed culture everywhere. If we try to imagine the probable motivations of a thoughtful but intransigent Materialist, however, I think we would find that he (typically a man) was most likely aware of its limitations, but felt that any acceptable answer to the questions it has left unanswered would have to be of a “factual” nature as science demands. The Materialist expects that even though we may never know the answers to many of our questions, they must all be at least potentially answerable in a scientifically provable “objective” form. That is, in a very particular mode of knowledge or definition of truth. The idea that reality is basically mental in nature, however deep a chord it may strike in us, and however many more questions it seems to answer, appears to cross over into the realm of aesthetic -- as opposed to “factual” -- truth. It is a different mode of experience or knowledge that is not available to scientific examination.
The latest discoveries in quantum mechanics, sub-atomic physics, astrophysics, etc. have finally brought us to the end of the world, so to speak, as ancient people imagined would happen if a mariner sailed too far in one direction. Before the advent of science, there were no "facts" in the Modern sense. People understood the nature of mathematical fact in various places around the world since very ancient times, but such thought was strictly compartmentalized and its concept of truth was not widely applied to the examination of nature in general until the age of science. This way of examining nature has been successful beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, stimulated our cravings for power, wealth and entertainment, and has resulted in the disastrous Materialist viewpoint, but this understanding of truth is now finally reaching its limits all by itself. How fascinating it is to see.
But this is a very deep matter and needs to be dealt with separately. Bernardo is starting to write about myth and allegory. This matter deserves consideration, but it is very deep water he’s getting into. His contribution to culture and civilization thus far has been marvelous, I think, but if he’s not careful he could endanger the credibility he has already rightfully established. (to be continued)
James Morton
The word “Zen” refers to the form of yoga that has been the central practice of Buddhism since the beginning. The ultimate objective of all Buddhist practice, including that of the Zen school, and that which alone gives it all its meaning and beauty, is the occurrence, or creation of the optimum conditions for the occurrence of, a very specific psychic event in the mind of the individual. People normally experience reality only in the form of a dizzying stream of concepts in which they constantly struggle to see stable and useful patterns. In spite of their artificial and ephemeral quality, we try to hold on to these concepts and are thereby twisted this way and that. This in itself is a source of suffering but it also magnifies the other psychological and physical suffering that we must inevitably endure as living organisms. The nature of the psychic event of which I speak is the permanent opening of the mind to the perception of an all-encompassing, ungraspable, undifferentiated field of reality/mind which includes, underlies or forms the true nature of all phenomenal reality
This stream of concepts is the only way we can think, but seeing at the same time that they are ephemeral and not to be relied upon or grasped, except in a tentative way, releases the individual from much feeling of pressure, anxiety, fear, etc. Few people actually fully achieve this release, but a life spent in pursuit of it, ideally under the guidance of one who has, can be more peaceful, beautiful and meaningful than one spent in the blind pursuit of an endlessly shifting parade of ephemeral goals.
What I am calling a “psychic event” is not an experience in itself (to say nothing of “belief” or “faith”), but we can experience it in an infinite number of ways throughout our lives if it is once attained. Just about the only idea that is truly universal within Buddhism is that of “Emptiness”. This term originates from a kind of feeling or awareness -- that is beyond sense or emotion in their ordinary meanings -- rather than any intellectual conclusion. On the occurrence of the psychic event referred to above, even though all sense information remains the same, the individual sees that the distinct and exclusive “existence”, the perception of a separate core or essence of each object or person, including (most importantly) of him- or herself, which he or she had previously understood to be the very meaning and definition of “reality”, had been but an illusion since the beginning. It is as though he or she had awakened from a dream. The realization that all space and time, matter and energy, life and consciousness are all included in one seamless existence makes the conclusion that the nature of reality is basically mind or consciousness rather unavoidable, at least from a human (as opposed to absolute or “factual”) viewpoint.
Such a characterization seems to have taken a few centuries to finally appear in Buddhist teachings, however. This was perhaps because the concept of consciousness itself took some time to evolve. Nonetheless, whether or not one actually describes the situation in this way, any individual, having attained this awakening, will see reality as having a kind of “living” quality within which he or she is included. On the other hand, it is equally obvious that the lifeless or remote, i.e. objective, idea of reality envisioned by Materialism is but an illusion.
By the way, the word “ungraspable”, which appears perfectly descriptive to anyone who has attained this state, is likely to cause some confusion to those who have not. It doesn’t mean here that there is anything murky, confusing or complex to deal with. The true condition of reality is perfectly clear and obvious, and in fact, simplicity itself. It is just that it cannot be touched, retained in the mind, owned or controlled as can anything that is perceived only in conceptual form, which is normally the case. This condition is necessarily utterly new and previously unimaginable to anyone who sees it for the first time, but quickly becomes normal afterwards, and one simply goes on with everyday life.
Within the Eastern Cultural Tradition, idealistic or pantheistic ideas are considered to have always been mainstream, but the idea that all reality is basically consciousness would never have been less bewildering to the average Asian as to any Westerner. On the other hand, to anyone deeply involved with the Zen school, for one example, as a lay person or monk, such ideas would be quite familiar, but thought of by the average person as a kind of subtle metaphor, or else belonging to some transcendental plane of consciousness. I have no trouble thinking such statements to be literally true in the simplest and most straightforward sense, but I’ve been fully aware for well over 50 years that there is no real objective reality as distinct from the subjective.
There is something interesting here of which we should all take careful note. Bernardo often expresses astonishment that such a crude and inadequate picture of reality as that of Materialism or Physicalism could have become the dominant viewpoint of a worldwide civilization and destroyed culture everywhere. If we try to imagine the probable motivations of a thoughtful but intransigent Materialist, however, I think we would find that he (typically a man) was most likely aware of its limitations, but felt that any acceptable answer to the questions it has left unanswered would have to be of a “factual” nature as science demands. The Materialist expects that even though we may never know the answers to many of our questions, they must all be at least potentially answerable in a scientifically provable “objective” form. That is, in a very particular mode of knowledge or definition of truth. The idea that reality is basically mental in nature, however deep a chord it may strike in us, and however many more questions it seems to answer, appears to cross over into the realm of aesthetic -- as opposed to “factual” -- truth. It is a different mode of experience or knowledge that is not available to scientific examination.
The latest discoveries in quantum mechanics, sub-atomic physics, astrophysics, etc. have finally brought us to the end of the world, so to speak, as ancient people imagined would happen if a mariner sailed too far in one direction. Before the advent of science, there were no "facts" in the Modern sense. People understood the nature of mathematical fact in various places around the world since very ancient times, but such thought was strictly compartmentalized and its concept of truth was not widely applied to the examination of nature in general until the age of science. This way of examining nature has been successful beyond anyone’s wildest dreams, stimulated our cravings for power, wealth and entertainment, and has resulted in the disastrous Materialist viewpoint, but this understanding of truth is now finally reaching its limits all by itself. How fascinating it is to see.
But this is a very deep matter and needs to be dealt with separately. Bernardo is starting to write about myth and allegory. This matter deserves consideration, but it is very deep water he’s getting into. His contribution to culture and civilization thus far has been marvelous, I think, but if he’s not careful he could endanger the credibility he has already rightfully established. (to be continued)
James Morton