196-What is Chan? Part 5 - Buddhism in daily life

What is Chan? Part 5


In the last few days we have been exploring the question of what
Chan-(Zen) actually is. A generally valid answer could not be
found.


The question remains, what is Chan at all? A spiritual worldview,
a philosophy, a practice, a teaching, or a concept? And no matter
what it is, can it be described, divided into the various
categories that people have come up with?


Already a definition of Chan-(Zen) is incredibly difficult,
because it is just for every Chan-Buddhist something different,
partly completely different views collide. The development of
Chan over the centuries has been anything but straight, there is
no direct line from the founding of Chan in Shaolin Temple China
by Bodhidharma to the present day, too many masters have been at
the soup, too many countries have had their influence on rites,
language and customs.


To define something has also clear disadvantages. The explanation
found in such a way once settles in humans, gives thereby a
direction, which does not become fair the thing, also cannot
become fair. In my eyes Chan is first of all a possibility to
minimize the fears and hardships of the people, in good cases
even to dissolve them, because only this spiritual world view
wants to get to the core of the matter, to the transitoriness.


Without promising then a paradise for "the time after", because
the paradise would be attainable also already now and
immediately, if one would like then. And if one takes the
necessary steps, if one dares.


Chan awakens in us, just as once the question "what is Chan?"
arose in the first place.


Then we awaken, one fine day everything makes sense, the
questions have disappeared, the previously unthinkable
possibilities have become standard, the realization of the
journey in the footsteps of the Awakened One, the Sublime One,
has become easier and easier.


The answers to the question "What is Chan" are infinite, but it
becomes clearer and clearer with time that Chan is something very
important for us. Just as it has been special to millions and
billions of people before us, so it will be something unique to
many seekers in the future. We have a choice, indeed we are dealt
the cards by karma, but how we play them is our decision.


Whether we will take drugs today, or start a new foreign
language, we choose. Although based on the cards we are dealt, we
are clearly playing the game. So, what is Chan?


The path is the goal!


There are states of mind that people have still not given up
internally


- Buddha - honorary name of Siddharta Gautama - 560 to 480 before
the year zero


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