Many years ago, I took Buddhist vows. It was a form of Mahayana Buddhism - Tibetan.
I left the path and studied other beliefs... and I forgot why I left the Mahayana... I've been following the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda for several years now... But on a whim I wanted to read some Buddhist work and came across a Zen book. Having little knowledge of Zen I picked it up... it was called "A guide to Zen" which is based on the book "Zen Training" by Katsuki Sekida.
I was looking at reviews of the original work of Sekida's... and saw the reviews were almost 5 star on Amazon. But one guy gave it a 1 star. So I looked into his review... it was hostile, angry, ego driven... basically saying that Sekida doesn't teach real zen. That Zen isn't his way. You don't close your eyes. you don't control breath. this is wrong.
Well I went on with my day and later was just googling bamboo breathing, and again I saw site after site that just railed on Sekida for teaching this way.
What I found, is that the same spirit of fundamentalism (that drives Christian Fundamentalists to condemn Buddhists and other religions) was alive and well in the Buddhist skin. I then recalled why I left the Mahayana group I studied with so many years ago. That same ego. That same "I know everything" approach.
I know where it comes from. It comes from practical experience. When we do something and get a result... we can often think, "I got a result doing it this specific way, therefore this way must be the true way." The idea being "other ways" are false.
In my spiritual quest, I've found the truth in Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Scientology and Western Mysticism. I've also found things I didn't care for in each of these. But lets talk about the truth... In each of those, I found that "peace" and I saw miracles. yeah... honest to God miracles.
It caused me to not view the world in a black & white way... but to see millions of shades... Real danger isn't in meditating with your eyes closed (can you believe there are Buddhists actually warning people not to meditate with your eyes closed, or not to control your breathing, that it's dangerous?) Real danger is thinking that your way is the only way.
True enough someone will say, but Brian, how can you have a pure tradition if you allow other techniques? That's correct. But to adhere to a set of traditions, doesn't mean you should look down upon someone else's discoveries...
What Katsuki Sekida discovered was not unknown. Hinduism had used similar techniques for achieving a breathless state. Controlling the breath is a tool. The tool is not the goal. But the tool can be useful.
For example, there is a technique of Pranayama that Yogananda taught called Hong Sau. This technique is a basic technique taught early on... yet it's very useful. It's the only technique that ever worked for me to reach breathlessness. Breathlessness isn't "holding your breath." It's a result of the tool/technique, where you naturally are not breathing. In that state I had this amazing bliss. It didn't last long. But it's real.
So, what about this Bamboo Breathing? I think it's fascinating. It's a Zen master who used what works, and not what tradition demands.... and found something amazing in his practice that he offers to others.
What I'm seeing is a lot of Fundamentalism. It may not be as bad as it is in other religions, but it's that same spirit of ego. that "I'm right, this is wrong." "This is dangerous," "how do you suggest closing the eyes."
If you let go of tradition, and open your mind to what might work, you may find some amazing tools out there.
No comments:
Post a Comment