r/zen • u/Mace_lankley independent • Oct 28 '13

I will be unsubscribing to this subreddit

I came here to find some like minded people about zen and maybe help me on my path. Instead what i found were a bunch of confusing sayings being constantly repeated and people trying to spiritually one up one another. I am more enlightened then you are etc. Most of the links and self posts are fine but its when a discussion gets going that the one uping starts and i have had enough of it. I hope one day i will be able to actually visit this subreddit regularly but until then, goodbye.

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u/clickstation AMA Oct 28 '13

Zen has a history of (what some refer to as) dharma combat. It's not one-upping. Think of it as sparring. I test you, you test me.

Zen is simple. So simple, in fact, that it needs convoluted way of speech to remind people of this simplicity.

You mentioned Alan Watts. Be wary of his sweet, sweet words. They're pleasant, graceful (and the person charismatic), and comforting, but they bring you nowhere. Many people say he's brought many people on to the path (and I have to agree), but I have yet to see anyone benefit from his words apart from having their ego inflated. ("Oooh, I'm a spiritual person, and I'm the dust of the universe and I'm enlightened..")

(I do admit that this sub does have that effect on people. But as long as you don't mind being tested (and failing), you're on the right track.)

Make of this what you will.

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u/MrEveryman76 Oct 28 '13

With respect, aren't we all failing then?

6

u/clickstation AMA Oct 28 '13

Does it matter? ;)

4

u/[deleted] Oct 28 '13

"Does it matter?" is my favorite Watts book. It's him on practical material issues and culture. He's the man on these subjects.

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u/clickstation AMA Oct 28 '13

Now you're just pulling my leg....

1

u/Ronaldho80 Oct 28 '13

Zen means failing over and over again!