Zen Does Not Have An Answer

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

All human questions, philosophical and spiritual, go to one question. To a question that is very simple and primordial, the question “Who am I?” “Who am I and where am I going?”

Zen teaches us to look for an answer and gives us a methodology for finding an answer to this question. It does not give us a guide or a manual that will say who you are. It does not give you any dogmatic answers that you have to learn and trust. Zen teaches you to find your own answer to this question and learn to use it, as I said. We do not have dogmatic answers about who you are and what your essence is. Because as many as there are of you, there are so many unique answers to this question. The answers do not depend on Zen; they do not depend on the Buddha himself or on Buddhism. Because the Buddha was not a Buddhist, [laughs] just as Christ was not a Christian. [laughs] And that’s why this teaching is so fresh.

By Oleg Šuk JDPSN
From Transcendental Wisdom Is Useless to You If You Cannot Use It
Primary Point Spring 2021, Volume 38, Number 1