Liz Bucher
December 6th, 2003
PHL210

The Mind Beyond Reason

Zen Buddhism has a seemingly paradoxical (yet humorous) way of breaking through the limitations that language and its specific conceptual implications on the mind. Unless one has a relatively in-depth understanding of Zen's aim, they would have a hard time in the beginning understanding any Zen method of breaking past these limitations. These methods that Zen Buddhists use are designed to show that there is more to life and more to one's self than what language can express and that appearances can offer. This way playing around with words and concepts which may seem paradoxical at first are really just trying to show that these concepts are relative and do not exist outside of the mind. These methods also help to express that the actual message Zen Buddhism is trying to deliver is not contained in the words being used to deliver the message, but is contained more within the background; in the bigger picture. So it is very telling that within the great paradox of Zen Buddhist's teachings, it will not ever be understood with reason alone but rather the realization that reason can only get you so far.
To elaborate, one of a few of Zen Buddhism's methods of seeing past the barriers of language is that those in Zen training (i.e. Zen monks) are asked never to refer to the Buddha, or bring about the idea that there is any such thing as “enlightenment” or “nirvana” and so on. What does this mean? Well, the main idea behind this teaching is that once the idea of “enlightenment,” “nirvana,” or the Buddha himself is made into a concept and one can therefore use language to refer to these concepts, it only furthers a trainee from realizing the mind without the barriers of language imposed on it. One would possibly further take these concepts from their true nature by leaving them open to be reasoned with by the mind, which can also hinder progress in training. The ideal end for a Zen Buddhist monk is a mind without these preconceived notions, whether they are Zen-related or not. Furthermore, another more paradoxical method of teaching in Zen Buddhism is the koan. The koan, to one who knows little about them, looks just like a nonsensical riddle. They usually comprise of questions or statements that would never be able to be answered with reason. In books written full of Zen koans, such as Zen Flesh Zen Bones compiled by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki, make it clear in a foreword that these koans are not to be taken literally. In order to open the doors to one's source of being, the answer to a koan must not and cannot be expressed with language. The true message lies in the subtle essence in the backdrop of each koan, but one must learn to look beyond simply just the words used to express it. In addition, there of course is the practice of "zazen" in Zen training, or literally "seated meditation," in which someone meditating practices concentration by various methods such as focusing on the breath. However, what is most unique to Zen training is its directness and involvement of humorous and paradoxical dialogues to point to the clearer mind.
Interestingly enough, the Buddha himself, despite possessing a great metaphysical mind, did not care to debate others on metaphysical issues. This is not to say he never analyzed anything or reasoned things out, because "his dialogues show that he analyzed certain abstract problems meticulously" (Smith 112). However, just the way Zen Buddhism preferred to preserve its teachings and therefore actually help the trainee in purification of mind, the idea of engaging in philosophical discussion to the Buddha would not be preserving the teaching. In this case, it would be ruining the nature of the issues and, in addition, the Buddha saw the debating as empty and would not lead to anywhere. To prepare the mind for what is beyond reason, indulging in reason to try and get beyond reason is itself truly paradoxical and will not work. Endless philosophical debate is not what the Buddha was aiming for, but rather seeing past what can be decided as right or wrong by reason. The Buddha wanted to bring forth the subtle light shining through all of nature that philosophical debate itself could never in reality ruin; but that could very easily bring those who were debating farther and farther away from the state of mind the Buddha was trying to show to them.
A Vietnamese poet and Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh, has a few books out in order to help on in the process of Zen training and a more peaceful life. One of these books, The Miracle of Mindfulness, emphasizes on how to bring mindfulness, the practice of being completely aware of what one is doing at every moment (which is easier said than done). The journey of cultivating awareness and strong concentration techniques helps to pave the way to a serene mind and a deeply-rooted state of inner peace. Consequently, in his book, Hanh must make it a point to say that in the process of calming the mind and developing concentration, one will notice more the many thoughts and various emotions which arise just as in everyday life. However, there will not be any point in trying to dispel them or push them away, since that will just create higher frustration and a noisier mind. Again, it is just as I had mentioned previously with the idea of philosophical debate to try and realize a higher level of awareness. In essence, it is the mind reasoning with the mind to try to get past all reason. Not to mention, to try to deny or push away emotions and thoughts is a bit unrealistic since those are a part of a human being's nature. We will always have various thoughts coming and going and various emotions arising no matter how mild or strong. The idea is to embrace these and note them as they come and go. The idea of awareness of the mind is just to remain aware - not to invite more cloudiness.
Therefore, Zen Buddhism is most direct in piercing through the mind in order that its true nature shines through. The core of Zen Buddhism's seemingly paradoxical methods are trying to show the trainee that you cannot use reason or the typical philosophical debate to get to the teaching of what is past reason. That is the true paradox, but the trick is that at first it is not seen as a paradox to a Zen novice. Reason is a human being's primary way of resolving an issue; deciding the best way to approach it, labeling right and wrong, and so on. When first coming across Zen Buddhism, the novice will feel as though the teachings itself are paradoxical. However, once the trainee has seen the teaching Zen Buddhism is truly trying to transmit, the ideas which seem paradoxical will switch. No longer will the paradox be in the methods Zen Buddhism provides for the true nature of the mind, but the real paradox will be the realization of how silly it was to use reason in order to try to understand the teachings. Language and reason itself will no longer be indulged in and depended on for expression of all that is, but rather the trainee will have seen past the limitations of language and can then use it like a skilled swordsman. Words will be used in a careful manner and only when absolutely needed; reason will no longer be the ruler of trying to define the universe, or the self, or anything of which can ultimately not be perceived in its true nature by it being reasoned with. Therefore, the trainee will come away with a much clearer mind by seeing what there is to learn (or “un-learn”) with a mind focused somewhere beyond reason.

 

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