Selfless = Anatman = Sunyata = Voidness

As I wrote in the previous post “No Teaching ??? ”, what

Lord Buddha was teaching was no other than the state of the brain “Selflessness”

such as when a person was completely absorbed into an action or practice.

(Though his approach to put emphasis on meditation may not be the best way.

==> So that many different methods was invented later).

But unfortunately, this neurological phenomenon and his Teachings has not been

correctly understood and kept by his followers.    The reason was, as I wrote, it was

not clearly explained even to the immediate disciples and not all the disciples

necessary understood, let alone actually reached to a state of Selflessness. 

[]

This history has been reflected to some tradition, such as that the Theravada sect

who is keeping rather ancient form of Buddhism define the “Voidness” = Sunnata is

pertaining to the Selflessness / Non-Self = Annatta, and this Annatta is in fact, no other

than the Sanskrit, Anatman.

Lord Buddha’s teachings had the fundamental stance against the Vadic Atman.

Therefore, it was NO-Atoman = Anatman. —– It showed, in the original teachings, there

was no separate notion of Voidness, because the feeling of Voidness = Detached view to

the world was a part of the Selflessness or Selflessness itself.

(The one who really possess the Selfless-eyes knows this.)

Because, when the Emotion was disconnected, and feel everything were detached, the

stimuli to any 5 senses doesn’t have significance —– it exists though makes no difference

as if it was not existed.   Hence, didn’t need to specially talk about so-called Voidness.

(People who naturally acquired to speak English, as born in England, doesn’t excite or

talk about it.  But foreigner who newly became bilingual tend to show-off that he can

speak English. = A person acquired Selflessness through long practice, doesn’t feel of

the Voidness anything special, since they gradually came together and feel nothing

that they are the separate phenomenon —– in fact the person doesn’t even noticed

such a phenomenon, either Selflessness or Voidness ever existed in the mind.) 

[]

The history of Buddhism was the masquerade of sham Guru who pretended to know the

Lord Buddha’s teachings = Selflessness. —– As, there was a hear-say, the attribution of

the Enlightenment (Selflessness) is such as “Middle way” or a “Detached view = Perception

of Void” —– Those Guru pretended that they know the subject, and deployed the argument

while writing yet another script about “Middle-way” or “Voidness” simply they saw the

opportunities to become famous and rich.     But in fact, some of them were Tantra, or

mixture of Hindu and as they were using their more familiar knowledge to describe

Selflessness and Buddhism, = Buddhism deviated so much.   In fact some of them became

beyond the recognition from the original teachings and end-up almost like the Hinduism.

[]

Fundamentally, there couldn’t be any argument or needs to discuss the matter of

Middle way or Voidness, even the Panya Paramita as a separate phenomenon, since

they are naturally attributed to the same state of Mushin or Selflessness

= Psychological Phenomenon is Just one.

(A man in ill for caught cold shows the symptoms such as “High temperature”

“Headache” “Coughing” etc. so that to deal with “High temperature” alone and

dip him into a cold water wouldn’t help him. :-D)

People who doesn’t know the whole, in its totality, picking-up a superficial distinctive

feature, and talking in loud voice, pretending that he is The expert. Is exactly like a Theory

of Economics = use one monetary index, and try to describe whole economical trend.

Or mimicking the fashion of a star, and buy the same handbag, use the same buzz-word.

All those are the sign of “This person doesn’t know what he is talking about”.

Still, the trouble was that to the eyes and the ears of people standing by, who knows

even less, think those sham Guru looks, sound, great. —– The sensational new fashion

trend with buzzword of Voidness and the thousand of new-Buddha etc.etc. those new

concepts in Mahayana scriptures were made-up in this way.   (But don’t get me wrong

I’m not against everything of Mahayana, as it opened the more flexibility and the

way of free thinking which is the essential to the Zen mind.)  

[]

The worst was Nagarjuna who boasted that he brought back the scriptures from the

Dragon’s cave in the sea bottom. = What a shameless braggart. —– If you see it in

cool head, you may realize that he was a kind of sham doctor, a salesman selling dubious

beauty portion.   And selling new buzzword of Voidness, exploiting the ignorance of the

Buddhists who doesn’t know what was the

Lord Buddha’s original teachings.    (What Nagarjuna said, such as in the Panya Paramita

Sutra was not necessary wrong, and the funny paradoxical phrase was the attempt to

express the complexity of the human mind (co-existent Conscious and Unconscious mind)

though, to put such emphasis to Voidness alone was an indication of that he didn’t have an

own experience of the Selflessness (cut-off  Emotional Region / Hypothalamus in the Brain,

hence the things and the matters were seen remote from Self-interest) = he didn’t know

that the Selflessness and the voidness was not separate phenomenon.

[]

To describe what’s going on inside of our body is not easy,

not mention inside of the mind, even to

Lord Buddha, especially, subconscious is invisible. —– Hence he was very reluctant

on the beginning (so, the scriptures says). That was why

Lord Buddha invented the way to teach direct, without resorting the verbal explanation.

—- though, some were worked, but not everything. So that, many different understanding,

interpretations were bore out, not mention convenient use of the term or notion even the

Divine figures from other religion.

When the person was in Selflessness, there is no need to have a Divine figure to worship.

Selfless hence with Dharma IS its state.  Dharma is there together with

its mechanism of Karma. = It is not for worship but to live with.

[]

—– Of cause, the situation is more or less the same to me, I never seen how a

visual signal running from my eyes to the brain, = only guessing it must be like a

PET Scanner’s screen showed us.    Still, as we know now, how the brain works on the

process of thinking, feeling etc. and we are able to shed the light

to the matter “What is the Selflessness” of which

Lord Buddha pointed out as the way to deal with Life’s problematic situation.

Now is the time to elucidate and Re-construct the teachings of

Lord Buddha to its original form. —– using today’s term = talking in a style and the

words, matched to the occasion and to the audience was the tradition started by

Lord Buddha.    😉

___/\___

[]

How KARMA Works

When Buddha explained the mechanism of the Dharma which is the system of the existences

and the relations between each existence and the rational of the occurrences, each action and

the consequence which shows the rules.

The rule and the reason why a wood burns = wood was made of a compound of the matters.

The matters such as C, H, O,N, Mg, Ca, K, S, P, Fe —–. And each matter such as H, Hydrogen was made of

subatomic particle, Proton, Neutron, Electron —–.

The number of Electrons define which matters are tend to combine, such as  H, C  with  O,  in order to

gain the more stable / balanced / harmonized state to a molecular like  H2O or CO2.

With the existence of those matters preconditions an occurrence of Fire, which occurs when

somebody or something put a fire = by a match or lightning etc —–.

All those observations are the basis of his understanding of the Karma, cause and the result.

Existence of  Hydrogen, Carbon, Oxygen etc are the cause, somebody light it up is the cause too.

The fire is the result.  Still, there is far more ramification such as the produced CO2 —– with huge scale

burning of the jungle, contributes even the change of climate and on the end, small island may disappear

with rising sea level, causing the misery to the people living there, and so on.   All those links are the Karma.

This is, in fact, the approach with the science ( whatever it was  primitive on the time ).

To see the Karma need to have the detached clear eyes, open mind, and the deep insight.

The reason why Buddha approached in this way was, nothing other than to eliminate the

uncertainty caused by the idea of the Atman which said to carry effects of  former life.

To deny the imaginary existence of the perpetual soul, so-called Atman was the starting

point of his philosophy to elucidate the truth of the Dharma.

non

In today’s approach in science, the attitude is the same.

To eliminate uncertainty, make the variables to the clearly defined minimum.

Such as in the clinical medical science,  make the condition the same as much as possible.

And to eliminate the bias caused by the most unreliable factor of human eyes and the mind,

use the double-blind test and so on.   The so-called Clinical Detachment = Selfless eyes is the must.

The Buddha’s approach with [Selflessness] was not a coincidence.   It was the must to deal

with the Truth,  not only for the sake of promoting the idea to deny Atman.

non

Even in a today’s clinical trials, such as try to establish the effect of a medicine, use double-blind test involving

as many as possible number of guinea-pig in two groups, one for a counter test with placebo —– still, there

could be a funny coincidence.

Looks almost the same and complying the same condition in the pre-examination, yet still one of the group

may consist the people who got certain tendency.  Hence, there could be a certain bias toward the result.

Nobody could predict such coincidence. —– Still, it could happen.

This is still the Karma. —– invisible part of it.

non

Somewhat invisible hand acted to cause this bias, as the part of the Dharma is invisible.

Sometimes it acts toward the better direction but sometimes not. Yet strangely, to

somebody toward one direction and to others opposite direction.

To pay attention to this fact and contemplates the existences of this invisible hand is the

spiritualism.

This spiritualism was called as the Panya Paramita in the Buddhism which was not clearly

explained even by Buddha himself. —– In fact he said to have kept silence.

As Buddha kept silence,  this is the part of the Dharma,  human-being shouldn’t

touch = leave as unknowable.  ( Still, strangely it is noticeable to somebody)

An attempt to decipher this unknown was the Tantrism.  Though, as it is unknowable,  it wouldn’t work.

Otherwise thousands of Tantra Superman could have been ruling the world —– but didn’t happened.

non

What I’ve observed so far is,  it seems as long as we live in mushin away from greed and ego,

the Karma is kind to us.   This is the reason why the millionaire become philanthropist in their later life.

(at least avoid to have a premature miserable death) —– Late is still better than nothing.

They buy a time.    Good on them. 😀

___/\___

non

Clockwork DHARMA ?

I just found a good metaphor to explain [What is Dharma] !

It’s a huge gigantic machine !    (No, this is no a joke   😀 )

Gigantic, as its mechanism extend as far as to the end of universe.

And as it is working and ticking,  it’s keep moving,  hence, no same moment ever exists.

But this machine is invisible, except some end-device connected to its mechanism.

Its mean, all the visible existences are the part of this machine.

This machine exists since the start of the universe, long before human kind appeared on the earth.

Therefore, no written specification, operational manual in any language exists, yet still, some part of its

mechanism and the function has been observed and deciphered as a science and chemistry.

As it is a viable working machine, there is certain tendency and the rules of the way how it works,

though, as it is so gigantic and too complicated, it is beyond the capability of the human to know whole function.

—– except Buddha.

Non

While observing the phenomena and its occurrences, Buddha noticed that, this world is a kind of system

which is affecting and reacting to each other. ( This intertwined connection is the Karma )

He found it as the system of infinite size which contains ourselves as a part.

And as it is constantly adjusting and reacting, there can not be a single moment of stillness

—– nothing stays the same.

And as it is a system automatically working like a machine, it doesn’t have human like Ego or its own SELF

—– and the human is its part of mechanism, human has SELF neither.

And this system exists before human and not designed to serve for human, its operation is not necessary

for the benefit of human, therefore to live as a part of this system, occurrences are not centred for human

nor kind to human. —– Hence life is harsh.

—– with those contemplation, Buddha found the wisdom to deal with this system or to live as a

part of the system with minimum aggravation,  hence in peace and the harmony.

And the teaching is —– to know how the mechanism of the system and the mechanism of ourself works.

Only the way to find the function and its internal rules of the unknown mechanism is —– to observe

and find it by oneself.—– (Finding it,  is the Enlightenment)

As the system is working automatic, disregarding the human ego or emotion, to impose or try to understand it,

with human-like mind is pointless —– because the system itself has no such mind.

( You can’t deal with machine with your emotion — you have to do it like handling a machine 😀 )

As the system (include ourself) is operating without the mind, try to think or explaining it with words is

useless.  It needs to observe its function and the results = deeds.   Hence, talking, thinking has no place.

—– This is what the Dharma is.

non

You may not like this description   😀

Especially the western people got used to think the God as a personified figure, as it was imagined as a

super-human,  though,  no such things in the Universe.

Nor so-called great soul, like Brahman or Atman. ( Romanticized idea appeals to the emotion, but

romantic idea is far from the Truth )

The Dharma is the system much more like a huge machine.

That’s why it is operating dispassionately / in Mushin ( Mind of no-mind).

( Financial panic may caused by the fear of speculators which some Buddhist may say “It’s only in the mind”

though, resulting rise of interest will affect all others like a mechanical precision and the force)

 

In fact, human mind is always causing a destruction and a mayhem to the system.

—– that’s why the Buddhism says Mushin, Taoism says Woii —– do nothing intentionally = let the natural

mechanism to take its own course.

( I found this metaphor is the clearest explanation —– in words 😀 —— Convinced ? )

___/\___

non

SELF again ? ! ! !

One of my friend who is a believer of the Brahmanism sent me a link to the site showing a (long )

conversation between a Guru and a follower.

—– www.krishnamurthys.com/profvk/advaitadialoguepage1.html

—————

Gosh !  Is it going on to 1008 lines ?

It’s a good sample of 3~4000 years argument.

My blog having strange conflict about this.  And 2000 years still no answer was found 😀

The argument is time-consuming and on the end no answer —– so,

Buddha cut off the time-waster “No such things like the Self ”

—–Though,  the obvious trouble is — I’m still here,  Who Am I ?

In my Blog,  I’m saying True Self is in our subconsciousness but it is not the self but the Dharma.

And the apparent self — Self-conscious is false or self-conceived illusion.

Still, leaving murkiness — When enlightened man sees the ” Dharma let this hand move” and created

something ( by himself ) — whose hands did the work.  Undeniably it was the same, very man —– though,

he was working in deep concentration (abandon himself  / he was not even aware his eyes were watching

his work )—–there was no Self,  as he was in Mushin, state of the Mind of No-mind ).

———- Your Brahmanism, your Guru is talking about abstract definition of the Self —– but

Buddha was talking about mental-state / neurophysiology.

Because, Life is not in your abstract imagination —– but you actually need to DO and LIVE.

And when you can achieve much better result  “ Do it in Mushin ”  why you need to have

conscious of  Self / notion of  Self.

When a Bank rend you a good money, you don’t need to think about the financial system behind the banking

operation —– you just invest the money into your business and work hard.

—– Buddhism is the pragmatic answer, the best answer applicable to the real life.

Not for a philosopher. Buddha didn’t need to save the Philosopher / Brahman.

He wanted to save the real people.

—

By the way, those conversation is the long tradition of which even Buddha did it with his disciples, and

the origin of the Rinzai-Zen though, as you too might have found, it’s hard to read 1008 lines without

fallen asleep  😀

That’s why I’m suggesting ” Cut a lemon—> and learn Mushin ” 😀

———- Convinced ?  😀

—–

There is a story of Buddha attending to a man wounded by an arrow.

His disciples were wondering from where the arrow could have been shot, the material it is made of, who

could have shot it etc etc,  while the man was dying !

Buddha said  ” Gentlemen !   STOP !!!   Attend to the man first, before he dies  !!!”

This is Buddha’s revolution with respect to Hindu philosophy  😀

—-

I’m well aware except few differences, there is little distance between Buddhism Dharma and

the Brahman / Atman. —– Yet its argument wouldn’t help much to the human life.

So, I would concentrate pragmatic implication ” Just Do It ”  😀

Because we can’t create our life just by imagining it.  We have to LIVE, while we LIVE.

___/\___

—-

ICHIJO / Fuji (oneness)

The truth what Buddha taught was, there is no barrier or separation between

the self and other existences.

Because the both are the part of one Dharma.

And everybody born, has the Dharma within.

————-

The teachings of the Brahmanism defines the one’s soul / Atman and

the universal supreme soul / Brahman as a separate entity. And says

the goal of the life is to make one’s Atman to reach or fuse with Brahman.

In contrast, Buddha said, there is no such separation of two from the

beginning though, one has to find this only one Dharma within, which

is invisible.

Anyone who believes the separate entity of self is having misunderstanding

caused by the delusion of ego.

—— From this simple, clear teachings, big debate started after the

Buddha’s death, whether the self is not really exist or what is the self,what are

the definition of the existences. Because, most of followers grown up with

the popular belief of the Atman, it was rather hard to change.

————

This is the reason why in the Zen books, they are filled with the explanation of

such as ” Ichijo “(oneness) or ” Fuji ” (non two) from the top to bottom.

Or such as the stories of how sward master achieved the ultimate skill by

fusing himself to the sward,

———It took more than 10 years for me to realize that the Key behind of those

stories is the matter of subconsciousness.

So that, the practice adopted by each Buddhist schools are, to carry the

teachings deep into the one’s subconsciousness.

———( Following 10 years or so, I tested all sorts of practices and

tried to find the effect to the body and the brain, as I thought if I could

open the door of subconscious, I may able to see the Holy secret of

the Anuttara Samyk-Sanbodi )

(I’ll talk about those try later)

Karma?

Buddha’s teaching “Everything in life and the life itself is the continuous flow of all sorts of occurrences which

occurs in relation to other existences and in relation to everything in the past, present and future,

therefore nothing can be defined as a solid one existence, since it is constantly changing.

Then the death will halt this constant flow of Karma, therefore, it is the Nirvana”

(This teaching was utterly contrary to the Veda’s foundation, the (imaginary) existence of the Atman

and its perpetuity is the basis of their idea of the re-incarnation.)

Though, the early Buddhist who couldn’t capture the Buddha’s teaching as its entirety, started fuss about

the superficial details “Wait a moment, we have to elucidate the meanings of what the Buddha taught”

and tried to define each notion, word by word ofwhich the written word itself could have been already

mislaid or misinterpreted over hundreds of years.

The result was the huge mountain of Abidharmakosa scripts.

Still, the Buddhism survived more or less in its original form, thanks to the direct transmission.