Anonymous

Anonymous Zen Teaching This aspect of Zen teaching, the existence of the positive in the negative is difficult for many people to comprehend, especially since it is also taught that both the positive and the negative (Yang and Yin) co-exist in interactive interdependency in what is termed the 'Tai Chi' (symbolised by the Yin and Yang aspects linked together in the two halves of a circle. But even more than this, it is further taught that the Tai Chi is only a way of conceptualizing the infinite or absolute which contains 'all that which is, and all that which is not'. This concept seems to be unique to Taoism and Buddhism, and it is usually only advanced students who enter 'mondo' (question and answer, or discussion) on topics such as these, and such matters are not frequently discussed during normal sesshin. The reason for this (apart from the complexities involved) is that Zen students arae not encouraged to consider abstract or mystical matters until they are quite advanced. Such matters as 'the infinite', and 'eternity', are termed 'the song of the absolute', and we are warned in the precepts, "Be diligent in your practice, and on hearing the music of the absolute, zen, life, meaningful, arts, people, meaning, purpose, might, very, taoism, rather, probably, martial, literature, creative, concept, beyond, been, whilst, technique, taoist, state, security, part, others, meditation, matters, known, however, even, although, terms, techniques, teaching, should, sesshin, quite, precept, philosophy, neither, much, made, know, fact, essential, during, both, being, ability