|
Master Gudo Nishijima has been practicing Buddhism for more than sixty years.
He was a student of Master Kodo Sawaki, an itinerant priest famous
for his efforts to restore Zazen to its rightful place at the center
of Buddhism. Master Nishijima was ordained as a priest by the
late Master Rempo Niwa, formerly head of the Soto Sect,
and has written many books on Buddhism
in both Japanese and in English.
For over twenty years, he has been
giving instructions on Zazen and lectures in English.
See here for details. |
Dear Master Nishijima,
Some Neuroscientists in
Many scientists refer to the experiment of Benjamin Libet.
If what the scientists say is true, then if we would stand on a razor edge and would decide to fall on the left side instead of the right side, this decision would be determined/bound by the past and my brain, not by “ME”, although I might think that it was me who had chosen.
Best wishes,
Markus
posted by element | 2:36 AM
5 Comments:
"Is it only possible for people who practice Zazen to be free?"
"Zen mindfulness meditation with its awareness of everything in the moment, each event seemingly happening for the first time, do not exhibit habituation over many repetitions of a stimulus (Kasamatsu & Hirai, 1966; Hirai, 1974, cited in Hall & Lindzey, 1978, p. 375). These results are exactly what we would expect. Likewise, surveys of experienced meditators show an accentuation of positive factors and a diminishment of negative ones (Ferguson & Gowan, 1976; Goleman & Schwartz,1976; Nidich et al., 1973; Schwartz, 1973; Pelletier, 1974; Seeman et al., 1972; Lesh, 1970; Leung, 1973; and Garfield, 1974, cited in Hall & Lindzey, 1978, p. 375)."
I suppose that in another 1,000 years, science could support with studies that which Buddhists have supported with lifestyles.
Cheers,
Chas
Dear Chas San
Thank you very much for your important information of human freedom.
What I say in my book called "A heart to heart chat with old Master Gudo" is that according to Buddhist philosophy, our human action is done always at the present moment, and the length of the present moment is so short like a width of a razor edge, therefore when we put a piece of pearl on a edge of razer, the piece of pearl can fall sometimes to rightside, and sometimes to left side because of so thin edge of razor.
Therefore, even though schientists insist that human beings do not have their freedom, action in Buddhist philosophy is always done at the present moment, which is so short like a width of razor edge, and so Buddhism insists that human action can be free because of so short present moment.
And we Buddhists think that the dimension of science and the dimention of action are fundamentally different. Scientific knowledge belongs to materialistic dimention, but real action belongs to the dimention of action itself. In short when we think about the Buddhist philosophy, we should always think about problems on the basis of the four philosophies, that is, idealism, materialism, philosophy of action, and reality. And even though the scientific knowledge belongs to materialism, but the philosophy of action is different from materialism. Of course in western philosophies there is no philosophy of action, therefore it is impossible for us to think about the four philosophies, or the philosophy of action in western philosophies, but when we think about philosophical problems on the basis of buddhist philosophies, it is necessary for us to think the four philosophies, and the philosophy of action.
Theefore my answers for your questions are as follows.
Q.1) What do you think about what the scientists say?
A.1) I do not know whether it is true or not in science, but in the philosophy of action it is wrong.
Q.2) How can we be free and at the same time bound?
A.2) In the Buddhist philosophy of action, we are just acting at the present moment, and so when our sympathetic nervous system and our parasympathetic nervous system are balanced, we are inevitably free like a piece of pearl on edge of a razor.
Q.3) Is it only possible for people who practice Zazen to be free?
A.3) In the case of animals, usually it is impossible for them to lose their balance of the autonomic nervous system, and so they are usually having their freedom, but in the case of human beings, they are prone to lose the balance of the autonomic nervous system because of their wrong behavior in their daily lives, therefore it is necessary for human beings to be balanced by maintaining the balance of the autonomic nervous system, for example, relying upon the practice of action, or the practice of Zazen.
Master Nishijima,
Thank you very much for your answer, it is very important for me. So maybe in the materialistic view the scientists are right, but while acting we are free. But in the realm of thoughts we must then be bound?
I also want to ask you if you can answer the question by Yudo Seggelke about Flowers in Space (Kuge). It is further down in your Blog.
So thank you very much,
Markus
Dear Markus San
I am afraid that I have made my mistake to change your name as Chas San, therefore I apologize you so much.
Master Nishijima,
My apology, please. I too quickly posted in response to the "Some Neuroscientists in Germany" post by posting neuroscience in America articles that support Zen practice.
gomeinasai,
Chas
Post a Comment
<< Home