tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post9071144255728744190..comments2023-10-22T01:48:29.378-07:00Comments on SlowZen... Again: Song Of Freedom Breakdown, lines 37-39SlowZenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10589294912054724123noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37983535.post-65449725758559391452007-12-05T06:56:00.000-08:002007-12-05T06:56:00.000-08:00Jordan, thank you so much for the encouragement to...Jordan, thank you so much for the encouragement to be careful with "voidness". Getting lost in voidness or emptiness is a form of Zen sickness that leads to nihilism. <BR/><BR/>When I first started out I thought getting to a state of voidness/emptiness/blankness was the goal. Mostly because when my mind quieted, I felt so connected with the world. I equated a quiet mind with an empty mind. At first I didn't notice that this quiet mind is not really empty, it is capable of holding the entire universe and everything else too. <BR/><BR/>The last line here and the next line are linked. <BR/><BR/><I>I’ll freely speak the lion’s Roar of Reality<BR/>which strikes fear into the hearts of beasts.<BR/><BR/>As the elephant flees, forgetting his pride<BR/>the heavenly dragon listens silent and joyful.</I><BR/><BR/>I understand these lines to point to teaching the dharma <I>(Roar of Reality)</I> and the potential reaction of beings caught up in conditioned mind. This next line describes the reaction of forgetful elephants and heavenly dragons. I just don't know enough about the mythology of early Zen to understand how this applies to the modern era.<BR/><BR/>It is obvious that my knowledge in this area is less than perfect. I look forward to being straightened out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17017153635384930856noreply@blogger.com