ZEN
“BRUCE LEE ON ZEN”
A few Quotes from the book he had started and that his wife published later, Tao Of Jeet Kune Do.
I’m moving and not moving at all. I’m like the moon underneath the waves that ever go on rolling and rocking. It is not, ”I am doing this,” but rather, an inner realization that “this is happening through me,” or “it is doing this for me.”. The consciousness of the self is the greatest hindrance to the proper execution of all physical action.
-Bruce Lee
The way to transcend karma lies in the proper use of the mind and the will. The oneness of all life is a truth that can be fully realized only when false notions of a separate self, whose destiny can be considered apart from the whole, are forever annihilated.
-Bruce Lee
The perfect way is only difficult for those who pick and choose. Do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear. Make a hair-breath difference and heaven and earth are set apart; if you want the truth to stand before you, never be for or against. The struggle between “for” and “against” is the mind’s worst disease.
-Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was inspired greatly by D.T. Suzuki.
D. T. Suzuki is credited for bringing Zen to the U.S. He had great admiration for Zen Master Bankai (no moon). Bankai was not admired by all though. He had been nicknamed “do nothing” since he had no successors.
Then why did Suzuki like him? Because he was brilliant! He challenged dualistic thinking. He stated this. “The Unborn” , or “The Unborn Mind”, or “Unborn Zen”. In other words he said “look inside yourself, Zen is there”.
THE 2 MOST PREVALENT SCHOOLS OF ZEN IN THE U.S. ARE SOTO & RENZAI.
Rinzai Zen was founded by Hakuin Ekaku (1686-1769). He believed enlightenment happened suddenly, often during some type of crisis in a person’s life. This realization by him was the origin of the important use of Koans in Zen practice by the teachers then & still today. Koans are stories that are unsolvable riddles. Their purpose is to shock a person from their normal, rational thinking patterns to help them question their idea of reality so they may grow towards enlightenment.
Dojen Kijen founded Soto Zen in the 13th century. His inspiration was from the Buddha saying WE ARE BORN ENLIGHTENED. Dojen took this further to ask the question,” than why do spiritual practice. if we are already enlightened”?
He taught that we can sit, just sit, and eventually become enlightened, as we were all born that way.
In other words, “are we overthinking it?” Is just sitting enough? Sitting still, with our thoughts silenced, calmed, looking inward to what can take us back to an enlightenment we are all born with - without original sin? Born innocent? Of course, in the U.S,. this gives rise to speculation and doubt from many.
To many though, regardless of religious affiliates, we sit, we practice Zazen, and it does help. Many people in the U.S. practice both Soto and Rinzai Zen.