The Great Way, Jesus, Buddha, and the Infinite

With palms together,

Good Morning Everyone,

On our Zen Living list we are discussing comparative religion. Comparative religion can be very interesting and informative. We approach with: are they the same or different? From a Zen point of view, it is this question that is, itself a koan.

Neither, both, whatever, each gets us into trouble because we are looking with categorical, discriminating eyes.

There is only life. From closed eyes, discrimination occurs.

There is only Buddha Nature, the Ein Sof, the Infinite Emptiness, before it is these names.

From this, through discrimination, arise Jesus, Buddha, the Prophets, you, me, plants and animals, up and down. The same or different?

We look at a picture and see in accordance with our neural pathways. We release our eyes, our history of perception, and other images emerge. The same or different?

I feel ice on my tongue, feel rain on my head, feel water in my mouth, steam in my shower: are they the same or different?

We begin with the Infinite, we can see the Infinite in the particular and know the same and the particular are both, one. Same and different.

We begin with the particular and, on the path, see the Universal.

When we don't step onto the path in the first place, we only see what we see from one point of view. Our sight is filtered by history, desire, and a need to protect ourselves from change.

In the end, as in the beginning, concepts and categories have very limited usefulness. At some point along the way, they become clear hindrances to awakening.

Be well.

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