From your one true home by Tich Nhat Hanh

    • Anony MooseEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      Could you expand on that, please? I’ve tried to understand koans a couple of times but never quite got it. I’m also not completely sure I understand what this image is conveying (although I think I have the idea).

      • Bondrewd@lemmy.world
        1·
        1 year ago

        Basically this text is like collecting water with a bucket made of water. Using concepts of existence and nonexistence (duality) to convey reality. Like okay, you can view it as if nothing is lost nor gained. But that will also merely be a model on which you rely among many.

        Zen koans always try to imply. They are merely showing rather than explaining. Explanation gets futile. You do not gain what you are trying to convey. Its a bit like watching a Cristopher Nolan movie with all the weird techy stuff and that “akshually time flows backwards as well”. No wonder they like this Thich guy, you can write all the damn books with this stuff.

        Some of the koans are just about that. A guy trying to do stupid shit like explaining reality and then a master appears like “lol rofl, what are you doing” and slaps him with a stick.

        • Anony Moose
          1·
          1 year ago

          A guy trying to do stupid shit like explaining reality and then a master appears like “lol rofl, what are you doing” and slaps him with a stick.

          😂

          That’s a great explanation, thanks!

          I think I’m the guy always trying to do stupid things like understand/explain reality, which is why things like koans are a bit difficult for me to understand because I try to do so literally. I suppose they only way to see is to just sit down and meditate on the koan till the metaphorical stick hits me. Thanks again!

            • Anony Moose
              2·
              1 year ago

              I’ve always tended to spend a lot of time reading/thinking about meditation and spirituality instead of just sitting. I’ve recently restarted a daily sitting practice (starting with just 5 mins at a time), which is already more than I’ve done for years. Progress!