the energy-reality
May be at last, there’s only a flow of energy, and there’s nothing but energy. The entire reality, entire universes, are just that.
But somewhere and somehow, a self was formed from this very energy. This “self” is very special. Where as the energy just flows, transfers and transforms, this “self” is somehow frozen in itself and tend to sustain itself, i.e goes against the lucidity of its original. Try to distinguish itself from the pervasive energy, it perceive some aspect of the energy as “space”, it see another aspect as “time” and created its “mind”. Going on like this, the “self” re-interpret the energy and thus re-interpret itself at the same time. Based on this re-interpretation of reality, called “conceptualization”, every movement/changes of the energy-reality was named: “animal”, “tree”, “human”, “ki”, etc.,. It going on and on and on like that. But the ultimate truth is, if there is no “self”, all concepts will disappear altogether, only an endless, birth-less energy flow left.
There’s one more thing. Through conceptualization, the “self” classify its surrounding to “negative energy” (an energy thread which may compromise its sustainability) or “positive energy” (an energy thread which may support or enhance its sustainability). Then whenever a “negative energy” coming its way, the “self” avoids or resists it, by exerting “sadness” or “anger” or “hatred”. Whenever a “positive energy” come along, the “self” automatically tries to retain it as long as possible, developing an “attachment” in this case.
And this is where a zen apprentice acts slightly differently. Knowing that the “self” will eventually return to the energy-reality, that any resistance along the way will only ended up in "disappointment” and “pain”, he learn to watch the “mind” (the home of all conceptualization) and take advantage of this observation. When he feels a “negative energy”, instead of avoiding it (thus initiate a cycle of negative energies), he will open up his mind and try to embrace it, knowing that if he is actually also a energy, two threads of energy will neutralize each other with minimum side effect. It’s hard to do so, because it goes against the basics of the “self”, it requires giving up hidden “pride”, “my perception” and “self-loving attitude”, but it’s still the easier part. Dealing with “attachment” to “positive energy” is even harder. One who successfully embraces “negative energy” now can immediately enjoy a life with minimum “anger” and “pains”, it feel very much like an endless “happiness” that he vie for. But still, deep inside, there’s still a “self”, even though now much more flexible, much more “energy-like”. As long as there’s still a “self”, there’re still conceptualization and complete freedom is still out of reach.
But somewhere and somehow, a self was formed from this very energy. This “self” is very special. Where as the energy just flows, transfers and transforms, this “self” is somehow frozen in itself and tend to sustain itself, i.e goes against the lucidity of its original. Try to distinguish itself from the pervasive energy, it perceive some aspect of the energy as “space”, it see another aspect as “time” and created its “mind”. Going on like this, the “self” re-interpret the energy and thus re-interpret itself at the same time. Based on this re-interpretation of reality, called “conceptualization”, every movement/changes of the energy-reality was named: “animal”, “tree”, “human”, “ki”, etc.,. It going on and on and on like that. But the ultimate truth is, if there is no “self”, all concepts will disappear altogether, only an endless, birth-less energy flow left.
There’s one more thing. Through conceptualization, the “self” classify its surrounding to “negative energy” (an energy thread which may compromise its sustainability) or “positive energy” (an energy thread which may support or enhance its sustainability). Then whenever a “negative energy” coming its way, the “self” avoids or resists it, by exerting “sadness” or “anger” or “hatred”. Whenever a “positive energy” come along, the “self” automatically tries to retain it as long as possible, developing an “attachment” in this case.
And this is where a zen apprentice acts slightly differently. Knowing that the “self” will eventually return to the energy-reality, that any resistance along the way will only ended up in "disappointment” and “pain”, he learn to watch the “mind” (the home of all conceptualization) and take advantage of this observation. When he feels a “negative energy”, instead of avoiding it (thus initiate a cycle of negative energies), he will open up his mind and try to embrace it, knowing that if he is actually also a energy, two threads of energy will neutralize each other with minimum side effect. It’s hard to do so, because it goes against the basics of the “self”, it requires giving up hidden “pride”, “my perception” and “self-loving attitude”, but it’s still the easier part. Dealing with “attachment” to “positive energy” is even harder. One who successfully embraces “negative energy” now can immediately enjoy a life with minimum “anger” and “pains”, it feel very much like an endless “happiness” that he vie for. But still, deep inside, there’s still a “self”, even though now much more flexible, much more “energy-like”. As long as there’s still a “self”, there’re still conceptualization and complete freedom is still out of reach.
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