What are some of the common misconceptions about Zen Buddhism? And how do they play out in practice?
To start with, when I first encountered Buddhism I was captivated by the story of an old monk living in a cave on a mountain. Such peace! Such independence. So romantic, living in a cave. I was young and I was hooked. The story went on to relate how a robber came, but there was nothing to steal, so the monk gave the robber the clothes off his back. This was so foreign to me, how could anyone live with nothing worth stealing? How noble to then give the only thing one possessed. This life seemed impossibly simple, so beautifully compelling to me, yet unattainable. And then the monk sat, watching the moon. "Poor fellow," he mused, "I wish I could have given him this beautiful moon." This was the coup de grace, such generosity made my young heart sing.
This story followed me for years. I knew that the monk was radically at home in his own skin, and I knew that鈥檚 what I wanted.
Meditation seemed to be the key. I eventually found a place to learn meditation on a mantra, and practised a little now and then for the next 30 years. As Zen crashed upon the shores of North America like a slow motion tsunami leaving new ideas, culture clash, mistranslations and wonder in its wake, I absorbed many of the mainstream misconceptions: It鈥檚 something you do alone, preferably on a mountain or in a hut, and definitely in some other country. You must control your thoughts and make them stop. Meditate every day for hours, and don鈥檛 worry about the pain. You have to sit in the Lotus Position or it doesn鈥檛 work. Enlightenment is the goal. Not everyone can do it. You have to work really hard to get it. If you just get this one thing (enlightenment) then you鈥檒l be better, best, perfect. Once you attain enlightenment you can rest. It鈥檚 really a guy thing. The teacher is perfect.
Then, one day, I joined the Victoria Zen Centre.
Here (right here in Victoria) I鈥檝e been encouraged by the community, it is not a solitary practice. The teacher is essential, but is just another human being, not perfect. The story or koan related above is about an ancient zen master Ryokan and is called 鈥淭he moon cannot be stolen鈥�. It is simply a teaching tool, and yet it is also a beautiful poem to be experienced on many different levels. Still a beginner after many years, I鈥檝e learned that meditation is not the point, but a tool. I meditate on a regular basis, slowly building up my time, to give my practice a solid foundation. I鈥檝e learned to stretch my body and my being to allow for change. I鈥檝e learned to pay attention to my heart, and to be present more often in the moments of my life. I鈥檝e learned that there is nothing new to add in, that we are already here, we just have to wake up to it.
How did you find your way to your faith? What鈥檚 your story? Leave a comment or contact me at [email protected]
Soshin McMurchyis a Buddhist monk with the Victoria Zen Centre,聽, and serves as the Buddhist Chaplain with the University of聽Victoria Multifaith Services. She works part-time at the Greater Victoria聽Public Library and lives in Victoria with her partner of 35 years, also a聽Buddhist monk.
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