Zen bullshit aside, I think there is something to be said for easing up on the fear of fear. Zen practice really is pretty courageous stuff, but that doesn't mean anyone has to be fearless and wander around like some puffed-up samurai. The vestigial notion that Zen practice will somehow send greed, anger, ignorance, fear and other similar downers packing is just that -- a vestigial notion left over from your comic-book days and mine. Treat it gently as you might a lame calf, with attention and kindness. After a while, perhaps, it will dissolve like acne. Then you can be afraid without a second thought.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Zen fear
A friend wrote to me and mentioned his fear. I wrote back and perhaps it's worth noting ... maybe because it's dead wrong:
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"Then you can be afraid without a second thought."
ReplyDeleteWhat on earth does this mean?
If and when serious psychological issues come up it is no doubt better to completely leave the halfbaked Zen sayings behind and find a good therapist.