270-The Chan (Zen) Master is Like an Alarm Clock- Buddhism in daily life

The Chan (Zen) Master is Like an Alarm Clock


What makes a good Chan teacher?


He must be like an alarm clock, like the alarm that rings us out
of bed in the morning. He should help us "wake up", pointing with
his outstretched finger to a certain point.


It is completely irrelevant whether the Chan master himself goes
the way he points. It doesn't matter if he himself is
"enlightened", it doesn't matter if he is trembling or strong, he
only has to point and thus awaken.


What made Buddha so special, what distinguished him from other
historical figures? Right, he was "enlightened", that made him
special, that's why countless people follow him until today.


To accompany other people on the way to "enlightenment", to help
them create the conditions for "awakening", to awaken them, to
sensitize them, to explain the way to them, that is what a good
Chan teacher does, that is his only task. How he does it, with
what tools he shows, how he awakens, that is not important.


Buddha left no instructions for "awakening", no instructions
written down. And certainly for good reasons, "awakening" is
after all a very individual process. Every person is different,
there is no button to turn on "enlightenment", no unique and
secret formula, and certainly no suitable magic spell.


There is Buddha as a role model, as the discoverer of
"awakening".


After his enlightenment Buddha had spread his teachings orally,
only later his speeches and instructions were recorded by
disciples. Buddha showed the necessary preparations for the path,
tried to awaken people, to reach them. Of Buddha's direct
disciples, several hundred are also said to have "awakened," a
significant number for the time.


And today, what remains of the Buddha's teachings? How does his
spirit reach people?


Good Chan masters have become rare, the subject is difficult, but
the need is great!


Simply put, you have to try, you have to be willing to walk a bit
of the path with the teacher, to form your own opinion whether
the chosen path is the right one.


Because the Chan teacher can only awaken, show the way, you must
not look at his finger, but you should look at the point to which
the finger points.


THE ALARM CLOCK IS CLASSIFIED AS TORTURE WHEN IT CALLS OUT OF
SWEET DREAMS


- MONIKA KÜHN-GÖRG - GERMAN AUTHOR - B. 1942


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