What is the secret of (Zen) wisdom?

@VVroom (255)
Romania
October 23, 2009 9:40am CST
There is a very short Zen story that goes like this: Once there was a well known philosopher who devoted himself to the study of Zen for many many years. One day he finally attained enlightenment. Then, he took all of his books out into the courtyard, thousands of them and burned them all. This is the story. Think deep about it's meanings because it is about our everyday life. What do you think?
1 person likes this
5 responses
• Romania
22 Dec 09
:)) that thing about 'a man who attained enlightenment doesn't burn books' came to my mind too! nice synchronicity going on:)) recently I came across an interesting story that says just about what your zen story is saying. You can see it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7icAFa8fdLY and here (it's in 2 parts) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yymdkfDVm-E People carry too much baggage around. Wise men travel light, so their road is easy. Of course, at that point (enlightenment) you know you don't need anything, so it comes naturally to 'travel light'. It's harder for us, the others. We still need the books... even the zen master first studied (books and his own self) and THEN attained enlightenment.
@VVroom (255)
• Romania
22 Dec 09
I watched it one more time. The scene from the beginning with that without ending long row of every things...wow, fabulous!
• United States
3 Nov 09
Hi VVroom, okay, anyone who burns books can not be enlightened (joke, poor one in light of your discussion but it was the first thing that came to my head). Having said that, my response to your discussions is as follows. The philosopher, if truly devoting himself to the study of Zen would realize that only by focusing on himself, through meditation and not seeking any external answers could he truly become enlightened. If one were to follow the true path of Zen teachings, then the written book would have no merit to attaining enlightment. So, if upon his enlightenment, he may have burned all his books as they were external influences. So in relation to everyday life, the answers we seek are within ourselves and not to let the external forces get in the way of our way of life.
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@VVroom (255)
• Romania
4 Nov 09
That's right. Any external tool we are using is just indicating the path to the white rabbit hole. Once we get inside, which is not easy at all, we don't need any more indications. We already start to KNOW things (zen) and not anymore KNOWING ABOUT things. I love your last sentence: the answers we seek are within ourselves not outside of us.
1 person likes this
• United States
4 Nov 09
Thanks, though writing down the answer is much easier than actually practicing it.
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@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
31 Dec 15
In short it sounds like his message was that it was all for nothing, but I think the meaning is much deeper. In his mind I believe he had achieved his full state of enlightenment and he had at that moment surpassed all knowledge on the earthly plain. I believe enlightenment can be different for every person on this planet, for the racing driver it can be driving at 250 MPH, but for the zoologist it may be finding a new species, the point is for each of us enlightenment comes in very different ways. Perhaps for the racing driver it is driving at 200 MPH moments before that fatal crash, taking everything of value on the earthly plane with him, the excitement, the crowd, the noise, etc. Neither is my course to wisdom.
@innertalks (20909)
• Australia
1 Jan 16
Thanks Peter, I like your idea that enlightenment is different for every person. This would mean that nobody should judge another person, or claim they are not enlightened, based on their own version of enlightenment, or on what they think that it is.
@innertalks (20909)
• Australia
31 Dec 15
I also like this longer version, of it as told by Anthony de Mello in his book, "The Song of the Bird". The Zen Master Munan sent for his disciple Shoju one day and said, “/ am an old man now, Shoju, and it is you who will carry on this teaching. Here is a book that has been handed down from Master to Master for seven generations. I have myself added some notes to it that you will find valuable. Here, keep it with you as a sign that I have made you my successor.” “You had better keep the book yourself,” said Shoju. “/ received your Zen without the help of written words, and I am quite content to let it be that way.” “I know, I know,” said Munan patiently. “Even so, the book has served seven generations and may be helpful to you too. Here, keep it with you.” The two happened to be talking near the fire-place. The instant the book touched Shoju’s hand he flung it into the fire. He had no lust for written words. Munan, who was never known to be angry before shouted, “You must be crazy! What are you doing?” Shoju shouted back, “You are crazy yourself! What are you saying?”
http://www.arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/songofbird.pdf
@innertalks (20909)
• Australia
31 Dec 15
There is some other underlying message here, underlying the apparent wastage of his books, which could perhaps have been given to one of the other monks, or scholars to benefit from, what is it? To me, this is about the fact that he has used his mind until now, but having reached enlightenment, going past his mind and where it could take him to, he knew then that he knew it all now all inwardly, and that his books could only place into his mind again what was already in his heart. They were unnecessary to him now. This story is symbolic in the sense that we can’t burn our mind as such, but surely the reverse is true. Our mind can be allowed to burn us, if we let it. The ultimate burning though comes from enlightenment, and this too is another paradox that the mind can never work out. The fire in your heart never goes out. It just burns brighter when the dampness of your mind is removed from its smothering of it.
@pgiblett (6524)
• Canada
31 Dec 15
@innertalks Agreed because of enlightenment the books were no longer necessary, but I also feel he should have left the library to the school.
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@innertalks (20909)
• Australia
31 Dec 15
There is a story that Alexander the Great burned his boats on the shores of Persia, when he arrived there to fight against the Persians. In this way, Alexander thought that he had committed/motivated his men to victory over the Persians, who far outnumbered the Greeks in their far greater numbers. Also at that time, Persia had what was said to be the most powerful naval fleet in the world. His decision to destroy his army's only way of retreat was either an inspired one, or a really stupid one. But as he was the victor here, most of the historians say, that it was the correct one. Was it really so, or not? Does this idea of destroying our past hold merit at times? The past is the past and it cannot be destroyed. He didn't destroy a way to not go back to the past, he more destroyed one of the future options of himself and his army.
BurningBoats A His­tor­i­cal Excursus I t was the year 1519 and Hernán Cortés, with some 600 Spaniards, 16 or so horses and 11 boats, had landed on a vast inland plateau called, Mexico. The Span­ish con­quis­ta­dor and his men were about to embark on a con