‘If You Meet the Buddha on the Road, Kill Him’ – Zen quote.
Like all Zen quotes it is open to varied interpretation. A simple reading would suggest resisting charlatans who claim they are enlightened… It could suggest exposing and challenging the fake teacher... It could insist that reverence leads to the illusion of learning… there are other insights too!
It is pertinent to note that Buddha refers to the one who is enlightened. Siddhartha Gautama was a Buddha who propagated an interaction with the self to introspect, question and search for answers. On enlightenment, one becomes a Buddha!
In order to see the Buddha, you have to BE the Buddha. If you aren't enlightened, you can't really see the light. Once you become the Buddha, you can let him go. Once you ‘meet him on the road’ then you have no more to learn from ‘him’.
Holding on to learning becomes a dependency like that of a crutch. No learning is meant to be held onto. It is meant to provide an experience for where you are at in the moment. In a different situation and different context, the same learning will not be valid. It will lead to a new meaning, and a new experience.
Learning is a stepping stone to the next level of understanding. Holding onto learning keeps one in the same place. One must unlearn and move on to move ahead. Enlightenment from learning (Buddha) is necessary but we have to progress to further learning by transcending restrictive reverence!
Learn from Buddha to become like him
Next unlearn and step beyond his rim!
~ Pravin Sabnis
Like all Zen quotes it is open to varied interpretation. A simple reading would suggest resisting charlatans who claim they are enlightened… It could suggest exposing and challenging the fake teacher... It could insist that reverence leads to the illusion of learning… there are other insights too!
It is pertinent to note that Buddha refers to the one who is enlightened. Siddhartha Gautama was a Buddha who propagated an interaction with the self to introspect, question and search for answers. On enlightenment, one becomes a Buddha!
In order to see the Buddha, you have to BE the Buddha. If you aren't enlightened, you can't really see the light. Once you become the Buddha, you can let him go. Once you ‘meet him on the road’ then you have no more to learn from ‘him’.
Holding on to learning becomes a dependency like that of a crutch. No learning is meant to be held onto. It is meant to provide an experience for where you are at in the moment. In a different situation and different context, the same learning will not be valid. It will lead to a new meaning, and a new experience.
Learning is a stepping stone to the next level of understanding. Holding onto learning keeps one in the same place. One must unlearn and move on to move ahead. Enlightenment from learning (Buddha) is necessary but we have to progress to further learning by transcending restrictive reverence!
Learn from Buddha to become like him
Next unlearn and step beyond his rim!
~ Pravin Sabnis
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