Why Zen now ?
Civilization at an Impass
Science advances rapidly because it can borrow the
knowledge of others. But our human quality cannot be borrowed by anyone,
and this is why we are not evolving.
This creates the worrisome
situation of innocent children playing with deadly weapons.
Master Kodo Sawaki
Our times are characterized by great developments in science and
material means; but human consciousness, our understanding of life and our
relationship to the universe have progressed very little.
Scientific truth advances, but its explanations of the universe remain
provisional, one theory following on the heels of another. Just as a
geographical map is not the land itself, so scientific understanding of
reality is an approach, but does not touch reality itself. It is, as the
Zen masters say, "mistaking the finger that points to the moon for the
moon itself." Like Master Dogen in the thirteeth century on the subject of
space-time, the great Zen masters always had a global and intuitive
understanding of the reality of the universe, beyond theories.
In our time, science and technology are more at the service of economy
and war than at the service of human beings. We increasingly cut ourselves
off from our natural environment and are subject to desires which are more
and more artificial. Material ease is often called progress.
Zen is not opposed to science and technology. But an overly
materialistic life creates an imbalance in the individual. The Middle Way,
zazen practice, creates a balance between materialism and spirituality,
between material life and human consciousness.
Science, if it is not ruled by profound wisdom, provokes a decline in
human consciousness and our way of life, and increasingly distances us
from the cosmic system of which we are a part.
Modern education is based on the acquisition of greater and greater
knowledge; it cultivates memory, Cartesian intelligence, logic,
discrimination. The individual becomes a machine that thinks, calculates
and records knowledge.
Society educates us according to conventions that teach us to judge
things as good and bad according to criteria that come from acquired
habits rather than actual experience. Without realizing it, we begin to
operate according to social schemas, to the detriment of profound wisdom
and true freedom.
We lose our vital force, our creativity, our intuition. We seek to find
success in life rather than to make our lives successful. This creates an
imbalance that often provokes anxiety and stress at the expense of
vitality and energy.
Zen education, based on a practice for the body and mind, rebalances
brain function. Intuition and creativity manifest through the practice of
zazen, and we rediscover our vital force. We learn to know ourselves, and
a true, global understanding appears. When we are faced with a particular
situation, the appropriate gesture springs forth spontaneously and freely
from the unified body/mind, from true wisdom.
Through zazen practice, human consciousness is raised and wisdom
manifests. The body/mind balance is reestablished. In this way, Zen
corresponds to the profound aspirations of humanity, aspirations left
unsatisfied by current civilization.
Finding a Balance
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In our era, humans are essentially thinking beings. Society, education,
and scientific and technological progress considerably develop our logical
brain and diminish our intuition and creativity. This results in an
imbalance in the brain and in the entire being. It saps our vital strength
(ki),
which resides not only in the brain but also in all the nerves and cells
of our body. Master Deshimaru said, "Is this how a truly human
civilization should live? One doubts it. That is the danger of a
materialistic civilization which takes away man's spirit, his ki, his
strength, and which sets his evolution back to an exhausted state of
being."
Material civilization is certainly necessary; but human beings also
aspire to a principle which is beyond the material. Our lives, our
aspirations are not only materialistic but also spiritual. Our activity
should not only be towards the exterior but should also move inward,
towards our minds, towards our consciousness. Master Deshimaru said, "You
must stop working to feed yourselves, but on the contrary, eat in order to
work to attain your great ideal." And he added, "True spiritual help is
giving ki, spirit, to others."
The entire universe is filled with this force, this ki; our own lives
are only waves in the unlimited cosmic life. To harmonize with nature,
follow the cosmic system from which we came, reduce our ego which is made
of desires and calculations--this is to be one with the universe and to
benefit from its energy.
Zazen is not a religion. But it awakens religious principle, which
means, literally, "to link"-- to link humans with nature and the cosmic
system. Zazen, practice of body and mind, awakens our vital force. It
balances our cerebral functions as well as our nervous system; it balances
the material and the spiritual; it harmonizes man and nature. Zazen
balances our lives. | 
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