Thoughts I've thunk while sippin' at a cup of tea and reading something provoking, often get dropped here for the benefit of humanity and my own hubris.
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Came across an interesting concept in Shunryu Suzuki’s book, Not Always So (page 86), where he says:
When you observe without trying to observe, that is true observation.
But actually, that is not what he wrote. This is just my adaptation of his idea (I’ll give you the entire quote in a second). It occurred to me that trying to observe your mind is similar to Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle that by trying to observe, you actually change the nature of what you are observing.
But obviously observing without trying to observe is not obvious to those of us raised in our self-help-american-can-do sort of way.
But I promised the actual text from Suzuki’s book where I got this quote, for the actual quote is:
If you try to observe the precepts, that is not true observation of precepts. When you observe the precepts without trying to observe the precepts, that is true observation of the precepts. Our inmost nature can help us. When we understand the precepts as an expression of our inmost nature, that is the Way as it is. Then there are no precepts. When we are expressing our inmost nature, no precepts are necessary, so we are not observing any precepts…
Precepts are not rules set up by someone. Since our life is the expression of our true nature, if something is wrong with that expression, then Buddha [our inmost nature] will say that is not the way. Then you will have precepts. The actual event or fact is first, not the rules.So it is the nature of precepts that we have a chance to choose our precepts.
I know, long quote, but there is another thought in there that he expresses so well. When I drive a car, I’m not thinking about the mechanics of driving, nor am I trying to remember all the rules of the road. I learned those rules when I was young, and now I just drive. Those rules, while part of my nature, are also something that I’ve gone beyond. So that sometimes I change lanes without signaling for three full seconds because of some other emergency that came up.
Morals, and other rules are like this. You spend your time trying to learn them (mainly to avoid punishment), but after a while, you go beyond that. Sure I don’t lie, but I also know when not to say anything at all. It isn’t that I’m immoral or anything … I’m just amoral. Following rules for the sake of following rules is not progression, and is, frankly, missing the point.
Excuse while I put my soapbox away.
© 2003-2005, Howard Abrams • Except where otherwise noted, all original content is licensed under a Creative Commons License (see details).
Just a cross-reference with the Tao Te Ching, for in the first verse, we have:
To experience without intention is to sense the world; To experience with intention is to anticipate the world. These two experiences are indistinguishable; Their construction differs but their effect is the same. Beyond the gate of experience flows the Way, Which is ever greater and more subtle than the world.
This translation, btw, is from the GNL Project.
Of course, one of the goals of Taoism is to be an “observer of one’s own existence.”
Comment posted on Sunday, 21 September 2003| Excerpt: | An idea of not having a goal or purpose to "practice," and instead just practice. |
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| Tracked: | March 9, 2004 09:20 AM |
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