Zen story: When is a spiritual initiation, also enlightenment? Only, when it's enlightenment!
By emptychair
@innertalks (23742)
Australia
September 30, 2021 11:49pm CST
A student came into the monastery of the renowned, and widely respected, Zen master, Reblen Zerkski.
He asked him:
"Why don't you Zen masters give out initiations, as do some other spiritual masters, like Sri Lasartha Reminska?"
The old master smiled, widely, and replied:
"Do you want initiations, or enlightenment?"
"Enlightenment, I guess,"
said the student.
The master smiled, even more widely, as he then answered him again like this."
"Boo, boo, boo."
"An initiation is a boo-boo, if it doesn't create immediate enlightenment."
"There are no steps here; no ladders to climb. You jump off yourself, and into your higher self in one fell leap of enlightenment, and it happens just like this."
The master clicked his fingers loudly.
The student clicked his fingers back again, at the master, even more loudly.
The master clicked once more, without any sound to it this time at all, and the student clicked no more, this time either. He was now enlightened.
The master pointed his finger at the student:
"That is the Zen way,"
he said.
Photo Credit: The photo used in this article was sourced from the free media site, pixabay.com
Do we need our finger to be enlightened, or only to see what it points at?
3 people like this
3 responses
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
1 Oct 21
what if we wish both? nicely done!!!
2 people like this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
2 Oct 21
Thanks, Scott.
I used to wish both, but when it took me over twenty years to rise to the fourth initiation, in some religious teaching, where self-realisation was at the fifth level, and God-realisation at the tenth, I had had enough, and I left it.
I prefer Zen, with its instant enlightenment...lol...
2 people like this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
2 Oct 21
@innertalks ah to be or to feel enlightened, regardless of religion that is always the dream. I lean more to the less Zen practices of Buddhism practiced in Thailand.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
3 Oct 21
@DocAndersen Yes, I would prefer a wider sense of enlightenment, than one confined to the boundaries of a certain religion too.
2 people like this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
2 Oct 21
Yes, he had a unique teaching ability, to be able to change his students within themselves, when they were ready to be so changed.
@Shiva49 (28390)
• Singapore
1 Oct 21
I recall Yasser Arafat saying "when I point my finger at the moon, a few keep looking at my finger".
Enlightenment is more a way of how we perceive life in general, I think.
We do not get perturbed by the happenings around us but still observe and act on them.
It is like there is no good or bad news - they are just news.
If the interest rates go up, it is good news for the depositor but not the borrower.
“Neither a borrower nor a lender be" comes to mind but even if we fall into one category. we need not be consumed by vicissitudes beyond our control but take proactive action to face them.
1 person likes this
@innertalks (23742)
• Australia
4 Oct 21
@Shiva49 Yes, I wonder, if we will cry when we finally make it into Heaven too.
God, the old softie that he is, would probably shed a tear too, with us too, if we did that.
@Shiva49 (28390)
• Singapore
2 Oct 21
@innertalks Thanks Steve, learning to let go is a basic of Buddhism.
We tend to hang on to those that are past rather than moving on.
It is applicable in international relations too as past hurts are used to win elections and stay in power. That results in baggage that is lugged around from one generation to the next.
When we are powered by love sans borders, the energy generated will propel us to another realm of peace and prosperity in terms of inclusive pursuits than riven by endless strife and turmoil.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28390)
• Singapore
4 Oct 21
@innertalks Babies are supposed to cry when they make their presence here and it could be because of their finding themselves in a new (hostile?) environment.
And who knows what we could find later once we leave here despite the hype we have built up. Well, I am prepared whatever even if it turns out a damp squib as we could find a good company even in the worst of circumstances.
1 person likes this
