I came down with the flu yesterday and wasn't able to attend class today, but here are my notes about our topic Zen. Please fill me in on the discussions.
Zen focused a lot on doubt...not in the sense of problems, but in the sense of mystery. They believed that the wonder of being can only be experienced and not explained. Zen emphasized the importance of awakening...primarily doubting the issues of life, the nature of existence, and the character of meaning. They explored the mysteries of the universe without the expectation of understanding them. Zen held great importance in humans' own intrinsic state of enlightenment. People sought enlightenment by asking questions called "koans" and only understood the answer after exploring the truth within themselves.
A discussion question I came up with:
Can humans only find truth by looking within?
I think there are several influences in finding truth. External influences like experiences, other people and society play a role in what we learn. Internal influences like beliefs have a significant effect on what we perceive as true. Although all of these factors play a role, I think people only truly understand a concept after they have evaluated and rationalized it within themselves. I could tell you "2+2=4" and although it is a fact, you won't fully be able to understand it until you make sense of it yourself...until you have that "a-ha!" moment of enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Zen point of view where although they seek truth, they do not feel the need to explain everything. I think a sense of wonder is important in life...and I really like how they emphasized that.