Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!wivax!linus!allegra!eagle!mhuxt!mhuxi!mhuxa!houxm!hocda!spanky!burl!we13!wfs From: wfs@we13.UUCP Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Zen and Intuitive Response Message-ID: <501@we13.UUCP> Date: Fri, 27-May-83 11:35:31 EDT Article-I.D.: we13.501 Posted: Fri May 27 11:35:31 1983 Date-Received: Sun, 29-May-83 06:56:45 EDT Lines: 43 Relay-Version:version B 2.10 5/3/83; site mhuxt.UUCP Posting-Version:version B 2.10 5/3/83; site we13.UUCP Message-ID:<501@we13.UUCP> Date:Fri, 27-May-83 11:35:31 EDT Organization:Western Electric - Montgomery Illinois Zen and Intuitive Reponse(Part 2) The quality of life that you become innerly attuned with, the indefinable force that permeates all existence, is the tao. The tao is the way of all things, ultimate reality, ever present and ever manifest-but only for that part of consciousness that doesn't look for it. Because the tao loses its essence, its flavor and aroma, its appealing quality when consciousness tries to capture and make it an object of the rationalizing mind. This is why Zen decrys terms, symbols, wordy definitions, and the consequent intellectual search for the "meaning of life" as futile attempts-like trying to outrun your own shadow, bite your teeth, or smell your nose: attempts distracting and ultimately frustrating. There are ways but the way is uncharted; There are names but not nature in words; Nameless indeed is the source of creation, But things have a mother and she has a name. The secret waits for the insight Of eyes unclouded by longing; Those who are bound by desire, See only the outward container..... Lao Tzu Zen calls for the primacy of intuition and instinct over reason and logic in matters too tenuous for words or too exigent for the intellect. The tao which cannot be perceived through conventional modes of rational inspection of scientific inquiry is available to consciousness, but only on an intuitive level, not as an object of rational thought. In such a sense Zen might be discribed as the "Radical intuitionism" of William Barret in Selected Writings in Zen Buddhism. "Radical intuitionism means that Zen holds that thinking and sensing live, move, and have their being within the vital medium of intuition". Zen wants to show that our spontaneous movement into each moment is basically guided by our intuitive consciousness. (cont'd. in part 3)