In other words, you are beginning to realise that "An unawakened existence, in which we drift unaware on a surge of habitual impulses, is both ignoble and undignified." -- to use the words of Stephen Batchelor, in Buddhism without Beliefs.

Before we proceed any further, I think it's an excellent idea that you be given this warning: "Wanting Enlightenment Is a Big Mistake"! The reason why will become clear near the end of this essay-article. So, have patience!

Okay, so much for the opening remarks!

Let's cut to the feature attraction.

Basically, the answer to the "How can the Zen Master guide me ...?" question is simple: the Zen Master may use any way s/he sees fit, in order to help you to find "the Way". For our purpose, we can divide two methods that the Zen Master will probably use, viz., physical and mental -- although this distinction is totally artificial (that is, for the purpose of this essay-article only), because ... really ... the Zen Master will engage you both physically and mentally at the same time.

Let's tackle the physical method first.

Plat! Slap! "Ho!"

As a result of these personal beatings, slappings, and shoutings, you may even end up misunderstanding the Zen Master. You may think that s/he is unkind or sadistic ... and you would (probably) be wrong. Or, you may (mis-)think that the Zen Master dislikes you ... which could be true!

But these sudden and unanticipated close encounters of the physical kind with the Zen Master may just result in your "awakening" from your delusions! However, there may be no such close encounters at all -- and I am not sure whether that means you are lucky or not! -- and there may not be any "awakenings" even if you do get the beatings, slappings and shoutings.

"Urrgh!"

And, during any "debriefing" session (it doesn't always occur, although if it does occur it is a private session with the Zen Master), you may be asked the "how" of what you had been doing -- what was your state of mind, your emotional state, your physical state, and so forth. (More often than not, you may get more beatings and slappings!)

There are no "correct" answers, of course, for why all these hard labors (and "debriefing") are necessary -- other than that the things need to be done, and you are available! But note this: these hard labor may just put you in touch with what you already are (a "Buddha"!), which you didn't even know about.

Actually, it does not really matter what "chore" you are doing or were given to do. In other words, it -- the "chore" or activity -- could be anything (for example, dancing, or learning a language, or writing a paper). What matters is whether you and the activity (or "chore") have sort-of "merged" -- so that you and the activity are "one", you are that activity, you operate in a "go with the flow" mode (or you are "in the zone"). With frequent repetitions of this way of "merging" with any activity you are engaged-participating in, you will be able to "live in the present" (that is, living in the "now" moment) -- and not thinking about the future and/or worrying about the future (unless you are deliberately thinking and planning about the future, as an activity, in which case, what the hell are you doing here in the presence of the Zen Master and the other seekers?). Anyway ... don't sell short the matter of the hard labor!

"Za-zen" (Sitting Meditation; Shikantaza)

While trying to "silence the mind" -- to still the "chattering monkey" that is your usual mental self -- you are also going to "suffer" physical anguish -- that is, you will experience cramps, cramps, and more cramps, not to mention pins-and-needles, from all that (often) cross-legged sitting. Soon, after all that breathing movements, you become thirsty, your backbone is complaining, you want to scream to break all that deep silence, and you feel like flopping on the floor or mat. And all the time, you are embarassed that someone else may not be suffering like you do, and you are trying not to show that you are that weak, mentally and physically. (Of course, some do eventually give up.)

Note, if you have "mastered" sitting meditation by doing it with the "mindfulness" that the Zen Master had previously been talking about, then any other activity becomes a form of meditation. Hence, you can be meditating while walking, jogging, dancing, cycling, swimming, bowling, gardening, studying, attending lectures or seminars, listening to or watching your iPod or MP3-MP4 player, reading poetry or fiction ... yes, even watching TV, driving your car or truck, working at the office, attending meetings, engaging in a conversation, cooking, being served at the hairdresser or beauty salon or spa or health center, having sex ("making love"), and so forth -- including the more exotic activities, such as engaging in the traditional (mostly Eastern, but not solely) art of kung fu, archery, swordmanship, calligraphy, flower arrangement and origami.

But each time you finished a sitting-meditation session, and each day you finished up with your chores, and each time you toughen up both mentally and physically in any way (including getting beatings, slappings, and shoutings! by the Zen Master), you will have "program" both your mind and body into a habitual pattern of operation. And this is a necessary pre-requisite if you are going to be able to handle ALL the activities of life, with the "enlightened" equanimity and quietude of a Zen Master, fill with "Zen wisdom". That does not mean that you are now a Zen Master! Hardly! But you are still a "Buddha" -- and may still not "know it", thus you are still an ignoble novice. However, just know this -- Nothing is hidden from you!)

Anytime along the way, especially when you least expect it, you may experience one or more of what the Japanese Zennists called "kensho's". (Perhaps, one can also call this, "small satori"?)

It is also to be hoped that eventually (or perhaps, "instantaneously") you will arrive at the "big kensho" -- or "dae-kensho", also known as "satori". This would be the same state as that achieved by the Historical Buddha -- that is, "nirvana" (in the Sanskrit language), or "nibbana" (Pali language), or "enlightenment", "awakening", and "liberation".

It is what is also known as experiencing the Great Death of the worldly "I" -- you may wish to check out Irmgard Schloegl's book, The Wisdom of the Zen Masters.

This "enlightenment" is also what Jesus referred to when He taught that the "Kingdom of Heaven" (or "Kingdom of God") is "within" and "at hand". That is what Christianity is all about: "less and less of self, more and more of God".

It is revealed to Christians in the first chapter of Genesis, that each human being is made "in the image" of God, but each of us are part of a fallen creation -- or as the Apostle Paul (or St. Paul, to the Catholics) put it, "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God".

This is the "un-enlightened" state; this is the "un-awakened" state -- this is the habitual and ignoble state.

Thus, the apostles taught us to "be Christ-like" and to realize, with the help of our Counsellor (Comforter) or God the Holy Spirit, that the "Kingdom of God" (or "Heaven") -- the "enlightened" state; the "awakened" state; "liberation" -- is "within" or "at hand". We are to forget about "being yourself".

That would be "soulish" or "selfish", mis-aligning your "soul" -- that is, your will, mind, intellect, and emotions ... collectively, also called "the self" or "the ego" -- away from the Divine, God Himself.

The "self" -- the mis-aligned "soul" -- is the handle that the enemy ("Satan"; "the Devil"; wrongly translated as "Lucifer" in the Book of Isaiah Chapter 14, Verse 12) takes hold of us and do his dirty works in us. So, "slay the self" -- become "awaken" or "enlightened"! Become a Buddha, for a Buddha is a human being (not a god!) ... and a human being who is "awakened" or "enlightened" is a Buddha!

Huh? "Say What?"

But Zen is not mystical at all, I assure you! Nor is Zen ritualistic at all. If you keep your head and are discerning about scam-artists (scammers) and frauds and self-seeking egotists (some of whom are also sexual deviants!), then you will soon realise that all those rituals, koans, physical close encounters, what-have-you, are just convenient devices. They are not what Zen is about. Instead, the Zen Master uses these devices -- especially koans -- to help you break out of the "double binds" that life -- via the society you find yourself born in, of course -- places on you. The Zen Master uses these devices to fully engage you in your delusions, because it is almost impossible, at the outset, to "convince" you that you have delusions; then the Zen Master will engage you to persist in your delusions so fully, until eventually you "break free". Like Blake's fool, who fervently pursues in his foolishness, until he comes to a realisation of what he truly is!

Something like that! Haha-haha!

Anyway, as far as the method of the koans is concerned, it is most certainly a curious -- but very effective -- way to help you cast away your delusions. Don't take my word for it. Check out the books! Two of the best are mentioned here in this essay-article (see pictures below of their front covers), and these two books are based on some of the best of the Zen tradition.

The number of koans that have so far accumulated throughout the centuries in both China and Japan form a rich heritage that anyone -- East or West -- can access easily in the Internet age.

But since there is simply a humongous amount of available literature on koans, I am not going to go into details into koans. You probably have heard of one from the "hippie" days of the Sixties: "What is the sound of one hand (clapping)?" [The original may not have the part about the "clapping"!]

"Wanting Enlightenment is a Big Mistake!"

Two Recommended Books

Irmgard Schloegl's The Wisdom of the Zen Masters (above picture), according to a reader (Jay Van Houten; jvanhoute@aol.com), "is an excellent introduction to Zen thinking for the traditional Western mind". Basically, the book is a collection of Chinese Zen (Ch'an) and Japanese Zen stories and sayings that illustrate the teachings, practice, and spirit of Zen.

Another reader -- James Cook, college don, currently on sabbatical in Vietnam -- said that he has

used this book in my World Religions course for almost 20 years now. The introduction to Buddhism and Zen is not particularly illuminating, but the translations of the stories capture the spirit of Zen better than any other anthology I know. Paul Reps Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings has probably been its most serious competitor. Back in the late 1980's, when shopping around for a book on Zen to use in my course, I narrowed the field to Schloegl and Reps. I found a story both had included about two monks arguing over a flag fluttering in the breeze. One insisted that the flag moved and the other that the wind moved the flag. Then their master intervened. Reps has him say something to the effect that neither the wind nor the flag moves. Mind moves. Very majestic. Schloegl translates the same sentence thus: "It is neither the mind nor the wind, but the hearts of the two brothers that are flapping." Enough said.

Wisdom of the Zen Masters , says the Amazon website, "is the sixth book in the Zen Speaks series of cartoon-illustrated adaptations of Chinese thought and philosophy by world-renowned author Tsai Chih Chung".

The book illustrates the key narrative of The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, (Hui-neng ; Japanese: Eno); this sutra is the only one Chinese Buddhist work ever to have attained the status of an official scripture ("sutra").

Tsai Chih Chung's Wisdom of the Zen Masters, continues the Amazon website:

follows the orthodox line of Zen transmission in a loosely chronological format from patriarch to patriarch, master to master. The result is a delightful romp through the history of forty or so illustrious and irreverent Zen Masters, complete with enlightening anecdotes and disarming wisdom.

In addition to the Platform Sutra, many episodes are drawn from other key Zen texts, including the Transmission of the Lamp, the Gateless Gate (Mumonkan), and the Blue Cliff Record. All of these are recognized as rich sources of famous Zen koans.

Wisdom of the Zen Masters is not only a perfect introduction to Zen Buddhism, but also an essential component of any Zen collection.

In Closing ...

Cheers!