simmonds@demon.siemens.com (Tom Simmonds) (03/27/91)
>From: joe@athena.mit.edu (Joseph C Wang) >Subject: Re: seeking >The main problem is that most Eastern religions get translated badly >into the West. A lot of Westerners get into Eastern religions hoping >for the "Answer," which does not seem to exist in the Western >religions which they are more accustommed to. As a result, they tend >to create mumbo-jumbo caricatures of Eastern religions which have >little to do with what is actually there. I agree with you. I've heard alot of bizarre interpretations of Eastern religions. >The irony is that the point of many Eastern religions is that the Answer >is that there is no Answer. One can't find Ultimate Truth until one >realizes that it doesn't exist. In one sense this is true, and in another it isn't. Brahman, Tao, and Buddha-Mind are all versions of what might be called "The Answer", or "Reality", or some such thing. The point, as I understand it, is that it is beyond conceptualization. If you think you know what "The Answer" is - if you have some *idea* that you think represents it correctly - you are deluding yourself. It is not that there is no "Answer", it is that you cannot grasp it with your thoughts; and to attempt to do so is an exercise in futility. It is not an "Answer" to be understood, it is one to be experienced. Clinging to the idea that the "Answer" doesn't exist is just as much a delusion as clinging to the idea that it does. Both are addictions to ideas. One finds "Ultimate Truth" by forgetting about the "Answer" altogether. Then, when the misconceptions are out of the way...Reality! No words can describe it and no thoughts can contain it. If you told one of the ancient Ch'an masters that nothing exists, he'd probably hit you with his "non-existent" stick. Whack!...Now THAT'S reality for you! -- (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))tom simmonds)))))))))))))))))))) (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( ))))))) "True beauty consists in purity of heart." - Mahatma Gandhi ))))))))