The Evolution Of Zen, by Joshu

Andrew Tootell's OzZen Podcast

Joshu (Peter Thompson) is a founding member of the Sydney Zen Centre and a founder of the Wombat Sangha based in Sydney. In this talk Joshu develops a founding narrative for contemporary Zen practice based upon Evolution. Joshu says, “An important part of the story and mystery of our evolution and being here is the existential reality of alienation and separation and anxiety seemingly caused by the emergence of the frontal neo cortex, bringing with it the human thinking mind ...This brought about The Fall from the graceful state of oneness ( The Garden Of Eden , Genesis ) ....In explaining this, I am cross fertilizing a number of religious stories ... In the beginning existed "only The Tao, Silent and Alone " ( Tao Te Ching ) … Tao or Brahma is moved to create a Divine Lila or Game ...A vast game of Hide and Seek - to lose 'herself' in her creation and then to seek to find herself again in the evolution of the human instrument over 4 billion years from the first living single cell! Woman and Man, at first totally lost and ignorant ( Avidya ) , confused , immersed in forgetfulness and clouded by thinking mind are moved and driven to find themselves as absolute and eternal life , which in reality they had never lost or left.” The great master Jesus points to the need for a great search to arrive back at home again-'Seek and Ye shall find , Knock and the door shall be opened ' He demonstrates the centrality of the theme of 'lost and found' in three major and profound parables 1. The Prodigal Son/Daughter 2. The Lost Sheep and 3. The Widow's Coin ....What is most notable here is the grief of the loss, the intensity and unrelenting search and the tremendous relief , JOY and CELEBRATION upon the finding ... ( Ecstasis, Kensho, Sartori , Epiphany etc.) The thesis is thus that JOY and CELEBRATION are the alpha and omega of our existence - the main goal, the main reason for our being here... (Zen Master Hakuin - " Singing and Dancing are the Voice of The Law “) Brahma - Tao - Godhead and the awakened person exhibit these seven main qualities. Universal Love ( Karuna , Agape ) , Joy- Bliss ( Ananda ) , Creativity ( incl - Vishnu -preservation/ protection and Shiva- destruction ) , Intelligence , Conscious Knowing ( Chit ), Energy , Absolute BEINGNESS ( Sat) The thesis here is that these metaphysical considerations enhance our Zen spiritual practice and understanding by embedding us in a most meaningful background context and Universal viewing platform ...