Thu, 28 Sep 2006
Leftover Mouth
Once again, there's no time for a dharma post, so you'll have to settle for this comment of mine on Flapping Mouths. It's a response to part of someone else's comment:
The whole point of it--i thought--was to learn a technique or set of techniques that we would then apply in our own lives and determine for ourselves whether they hold value.
Meditation can be taught and used as a technique, but when used in this way has limited value. Let me give you an analogy. Using meditation as a technique is like holding a test tube over a bunsen burner. Zazen--if it's genuine--is like sitting in the test tube getting cooked, Somebody else has to hold the test tube--it can't be you. And you've got to trust them. Otherwise you'll jump out of the test tube before you're cooked enough.
I'm not saying you should trust the first guy in flowing robes with a gleam in his eyes. That would be crazy. But you've got to put your trust in somebody.
