Zen Enlightenment and the Intellectual Approach
Keywords:
Enligtenment, Diamond Sutra, Vajracchedika, Tao Te Ching, Nirvikalpa-Samadhi, Zen BuddhismAbstract
It is often tempting to neglect intellectual effort in a study of the sutras and teachings in Zen Buddhism. One of the predominant characteristics of Zen is often understood as an anti-intellectual movement. What is the place of intellectualization and the learning of sutras in Zen? How can one be enlightened without any intellectual process? Even though one may not realize truth through intellectualization, the intellectual attempt to understand the true self is inescapable for the beginner. Perhaps "(it) is the only way possible for the beginner," as Garma Chang describes, "for who can get into Zen without having first some understanding or 'conceptual knowledge' about it? There is no exception to this for anyone."
References
Chang, Garma C.C. The Practice of Zen. New York: Perennial Library, 1972.
Suzuki, D. T. Essays in Zen Buddhism: First Series. New York: Grove Press, 1961.
Suzuki, D. T. Essays in Zen Buddhism: Second Series. London: Rider and Company, 1950.
Chang, Chung-yuan. Creativity and Taoism. New York: Harper and Row, 1979.
Sokei-an. "The Clatter of a Broken Tile." The World of Zen, ed. Nancy Ross. New York: Vintage Books, 1960.
